Best Schools in Merrillville, Indiana
14 schools · 10 Elementary · 2 Middle · 2 High
Choosing a school in Merrillville?
Use this page to compare every school in Merrillville 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.
Henry P Fieler Elementary School
Elementary · Merrillville Community School Corp. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Edgar L Miller Elementary School
Elementary · Merrillville Community School Corp. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Jonas E Salk Elementary School
Elementary · Merrillville Community School Corp. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Merrillville for 2026 are Henry P Fieler Elementary School (8.3/10), Edgar L Miller Elementary School (7.6/10), and Jonas E Salk Elementary School (7.6/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 9 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
14
9 public · 5 private
Avg Score
6.4
out of 10
Median Home
$192,100
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
14
9 public · 5 private
Avg Score
6.4
out of 10
Median Home
$192,100
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 7.6/10 despite 60% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.8 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 Merrillville schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +22.4 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Merrillville schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Merrillville
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (9 rated schools; 14 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Henry P Fieler Elementary School | 8.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Edgar L Miller Elementary School | 7.6 / 10 |
| 3 | Jonas E Salk Elementary School | 7.6 / 10 |
| 4 | John Wood Elementary School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 5 | Merrillville Intermediate School | 6.2 / 10 |
| 6 | Higher Institute of Arts & Tech | 5.5 / 10 |
| 7 | Homer Iddings Elementary School | 5.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Pierce Middle School | 4.7 / 10 |
| 9 | Merrillville High School | 4.3 / 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
- 6.4/10
- Median household income
- $61,735
- Median home value
- $192,100
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 24%
- Avg commute
- 32 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 64%
45% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Merrillville compares
Indiana rank
#103 of 220
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.0
above Indiana avg (6.4)
Median household income
$62k
86% of Indiana median
Schools in this city
11
Merrillville Community School Corp runs 89% of Merrillville's public schools
Merrillville touches 2 districts, but Merrillville Community School Corp is the one most addresses actually attend.
Merrillville Community School Corp accounts for 8 of 9 public schools (89%). The other 1 district holds the remaining 1.
Among 9 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.3 to 8.3 — the spread is inside Merrillville, not a citywide average.
- Merrillville Community School Corp8 public · 89%
- Higher Institute of Arts & Tech1 public · 11%
About Schools in Merrillville, Indiana
Merrillville, Indiana is home to 14 schools, including 9 public schools and 5 private schools. The city's schools span 10 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools.
With an average rating of 6.4 out of 10, schools in Merrillville show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale. The composite blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Merrillville is Henry P Fieler Elementary School with a composite score of 8.3/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Merrillville is served by 2 school districts: Higher Institute of Arts & Tech, Merrillville Community School Corp. These districts collectively serve 6,094 students.
Merrillville's community shows 24% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $61,735. The poverty rate in the area is 14.4%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
10 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 444 students · Pre-K–4th | 8.3 | ||
| 2 | 348 students · Pre-K–4th | 7.6 | ||
| 3 | 593 students · Pre-K–4th | 7.6 | ||
| 4 | 292 students · Pre-K–4th | 7.5 | ||
| 5 | 227 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.5 | ||
| 6 | 471 students · Pre-K–4th | 5.1 | ||
Private Schools4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 212 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Happy Days Child Care CenterPrivate 15 students · Kindergarten–TK | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Happy Days Learning CenterPrivate 8 students · Kindergarten–Kindergarten | Not Rated | ||
| 4 | Montessori Academy of NwiPrivate 3 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 769 students · 5th–6th | 6.2 |
| 2 | 899 students · 7th–8th | 4.7 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,051 students · 9th–12th | 4.3 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Andrean High SchoolPrivate 455 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Merrillville
Merrillville, Indiana · 14 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$61,735
Median Home Value
$192,100
Median Rent
$1,267/mo
Population
38,803
College Educated
24%
Homeownership
64%
Avg Commute
32 min
Poverty Rate
14.4%
Community Profile
Merrillville has a median household income of $61,735. It is a community where 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $192,100, with a median rent of $1,267/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.4%. The average commute for residents is 32 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Indiana
- Elementary
- 10
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 2
Resources
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 Merrillville, Indiana
How many schools are in Merrillville, Indiana?
Merrillville has 14 schools, including 9 public and 5 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Merrillville, Indiana?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Merrillville is 6.4 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 Merrillville, Indiana?
The top-ranked school in Merrillville on MySchoolScout is Henry P Fieler Elementary School with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in Merrillville, Indiana?
The top-ranked elementary school in Merrillville on MySchoolScout is Henry P Fieler Elementary School with a composite score of 8.3/10.
What is the best middle school in Merrillville, Indiana?
The top-ranked middle school in Merrillville on MySchoolScout is Merrillville Intermediate School with a composite score of 6.2/10.
What is the best high school in Merrillville, Indiana?
The top-ranked high school in Merrillville on MySchoolScout is Merrillville High School with a composite score of 4.3/10.
How many school districts serve Merrillville, Indiana?
Merrillville is served by 2 school districts: Higher Institute of Arts & Tech, Merrillville Community School Corp.
What is the education level in Merrillville, Indiana?
According to Census data, 24% of adults in Merrillville have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Merrillville, Indiana?
The median household income in Merrillville is approximately $61,735 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Merrillville, Indiana?
Yes, Merrillville has 5 private schools alongside 9 public schools. The top-rated private school is Andrean High School with a score of 7.7/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Merrillville, Indiana?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Merrillville is 13.6:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Merrillville, 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.
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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.