Best Schools in Bloomington, Indiana
35 schools · 21 Elementary · 3 Middle · 5 High · 6 Other
Choosing a school in Bloomington?
Use this page to compare every school in Bloomington by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
The Acad of Sci & Entrepreneurship
High · Monroe County Community Sch Corp. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Childs Elementary School
Elementary · Monroe County Community Sch Corp. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Marlin Elementary School
Elementary · Monroe County Community Sch Corp. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Bloomington for 2026 are The Acad of Sci & Entrepreneurship (9.6/10), Childs Elementary School (9.3/10), and Marlin Elementary School (9.2/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 28 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
35
26 public · 9 private
Avg Score
7.3
out of 10
Median Home
$275,800
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Schools
35
26 public · 9 private
Avg Score
7.3
out of 10
Median Home
$275,800
home value · ACS
Districts
4
serving the city
Rates 8.4/10 despite 78% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.1 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Bloomington schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Bloomington
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (28 of 35). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Acad of Sci & Entrepreneurship | 9.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Childs Elementary School | 9.3 / 10 |
| 3 | Marlin Elementary School | 9.2 / 10 |
| 4 | Bloomington Montessori School | 9.1 / 10 |
| 5 | University Elementary School | 9.0 / 10 |
| 6 | Jackson Creek Middle School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Bloomington High School South | 8.6 / 10 |
| 8 | Binford Elementary School | 8.5 / 10 |
| 9 | Fairview Elementary School | 8.4 / 10 |
| 10 | Edgewood Intermediate School | 8.3 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 7.3/10
- Median household income
- $58,651
- Median home value
- $275,800
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 51%
- Avg commute
- 20 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 51%
61% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Bloomington compares
Indiana rank
#39 of 218
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+1.0
above Indiana avg (6.3)
Median household income
$59k
81% of Indiana median
Schools in this city
31
About Schools in Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington, Indiana gives parents 24 ranked public schools to evaluate, spanning elementary grades through high school. The city's average school score sits at 6.7 out of 10 — a solid baseline for a mid-sized college town, with meaningful separation between the strongest and weakest performers. Exactly half the schools, 12 of the 24, clear the 7-out-of-10 mark, so parents have real options at the upper end of the performance range.
At the top, Marlin Elementary and The Academy of Science & Entrepreneurship both earn 9.0 scores — the highest in the city. Marlin is the standout for families with younger children, while The Academy offers a specialized high school path with a dual focus on STEM and business. Fairview Elementary follows closely at 8.8, and both Binford Elementary (8.4) and Bloomington High School South (8.4) round out a strong five-school tier. That means families who prioritize attending a top-rated school have several credible choices across age groups, not just one.
The gap between the city average of 6.7 and the top cluster near 9.0 is the most practical data point here. Bloomington is not a uniformly high-performing district — school assignment matters. Parents whose address falls into a lower-scoring attendance zone should look closely at whether magnet, charter, or open-enrollment options provide a path to schools like The Academy, which draws from across the district.
The practical move: identify your neighborhood's assigned school first, then check whether it clears the 7-plus threshold. If it doesn't, research transfer options before assuming your address locks in your school. With 12 schools scoring 7 or higher and two at 9.0, Bloomington rewards parents who do the legwork — the strong schools are there, but reaching them may take an intentional choice rather than a default enrollment.
Elementary Schools
21 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 493 students · Pre-K–6th | 9.3 |
| 2 | 217 students · Pre-K–6th | 9.2 |
| 3 | 532 students · Pre-K–6th | 9.0 |
| 4 | 491 students · Pre-K–6th | 8.5 |
| 5 | 376 students · Pre-K–6th | 8.4 |
| 6 | 597 students · 3rd–5th | 8.3 |
| 7 | 328 students · Kindergarten–2nd | 8.2 |
| 8 | 321 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.0 |
| 9 | 659 students · Kindergarten–2nd | 7.7 |
| 10 | 614 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.6 |
Show all 21 elementary schools in Bloomington
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 535 students · 7th–8th | 8.8 |
| 2 | 543 students · 7th–8th | 7.4 |
| 3 | 474 students · 7th–8th | 5.8 |
High Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 86 students · 9th–12th | 9.6 |
| 2 | 1,670 students · 9th–12th | 8.6 |
| 3 | 1,562 students · 9th–12th | 7.9 |
| 4 | 112 students · 7th–12th | 5.7 |
| 5 | 116 students · 9th–12th | 3.6 |
Other Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | — | ||
| 2 | 14 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | — | ||
| Private Schools 4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Harmony School
Private
140 students · Pre-K–12th | 7.7 | ||
| 2 | Lighthouse Christian Academy
Private
253 students · Pre-K–12th | 7.6 | ||
| 3 | Covenant Christian School
Private
141 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.7 | ||
| 4 | Covenant Christian School
Private
141 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.2 | ||
Schools in Bloomington
Bloomington, Indiana · 35 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 4 ZIP codes
Median Income
$58,651
Median Home Value
$275,800
Median Rent
$1,158/mo
Population
119,768
College Educated
51%
Homeownership
51%
Avg Commute
20 min
Poverty Rate
22.4%
Community Profile
Bloomington has a median household income of $58,651. It is a well-educated community where 51% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $275,800, with a median rent of $1,158/month. The area has a poverty rate of 22.4%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 20 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Indiana
- Elementary
- 21
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 5
- Other
- 6
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Indiana
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Bloomington, Indiana
How many schools are in Bloomington, Indiana?
Bloomington has 35 schools, including 26 public and 9 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Bloomington, Indiana?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Bloomington is 7.3 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Bloomington, Indiana?
The top-ranked school in Bloomington on MySchoolScout is The Acad of Sci & Entrepreneurship with a composite score of 9.6/10.
What is the best elementary school in Bloomington, Indiana?
The top-ranked elementary school in Bloomington on MySchoolScout is Childs Elementary School with a composite score of 9.3/10.
What is the best middle school in Bloomington, Indiana?
The top-ranked middle school in Bloomington on MySchoolScout is Jackson Creek Middle School with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What is the best high school in Bloomington, Indiana?
The top-ranked high school in Bloomington on MySchoolScout is The Acad of Sci & Entrepreneurship with a composite score of 9.6/10.
How many school districts serve Bloomington, Indiana?
Bloomington is served by 4 school districts: The Bloomington Project School, Excel Center - Bloomington, Monroe County Community Sch Corp, Richland-bean Blossom C S C.
What is the education level in Bloomington, Indiana?
According to Census data, 51% of adults in Bloomington have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Bloomington, Indiana?
The median household income in Bloomington is approximately $58,651 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Bloomington, Indiana?
Yes, Bloomington has 9 private schools alongside 26 public schools. The top-rated private school is Bloomington Montessori School with a score of 9.1/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Bloomington, Indiana?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Bloomington is 12.9:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Bloomington, Indiana?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Indiana Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.