Best Schools in Mishawaka, Indiana
25 schools · 17 Elementary · 3 Middle · 3 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Mishawaka?
Use this page to compare every school in Mishawaka 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.
Twin Branch Elementary School
Elementary · School City of Mishawaka. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Elsie Rogers Elementary School
Elementary · Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Walt Disney Elementary School
Elementary · Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Mishawaka for 2026 are Twin Branch Elementary School (8.1/10), Elsie Rogers Elementary School (7.7/10), and Walt Disney Elementary School (7.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 18 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
25
18 public · 7 private
Avg Score
6.7
out of 10
Median Home
$162,900
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
25
18 public · 7 private
Avg Score
6.7
out of 10
Median Home
$162,900
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 8.1/10 despite 59% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.9 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 Mishawaka schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +13.4 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Mishawaka schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Mishawaka
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 18 rated schools; 25 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Twin Branch Elementary School | 8.1 / 10 |
| 2 | Elsie Rogers Elementary School | 7.7 / 10 |
| 3 | Walt Disney Elementary School | 7.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Battell Elementary School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Virgil I Grissom Middle School | 7.2 / 10 |
| 6 | Emmons Elementary School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 7 | Schmucker Middle School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 8 | Fred J Hums Elementary School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 9 | Lasalle Elementary School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 10 | Bittersweet Elementary School | 6.5 / 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
- 6.7/10
- Median household income
- $56,881
- Median home value
- $162,900
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 28%
- Avg commute
- 22 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 58%
48% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Mishawaka compares
Indiana rank
#75 of 220
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.3
above Indiana avg (6.4)
Median household income
$57k
79% of Indiana median
Schools in this city
25
Mishawaka's public schools split across 2 districts
No single ISD owns Mishawaka. The public campuses divide among 2 districts.
The largest shares: School City of Mishawaka (10), Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp (8).
Among 18 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 4.3 to 8.1 — the spread is inside Mishawaka, not a citywide average.
- School City of Mishawaka10 public · 56%
- Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp8 public · 44%
About Schools in Mishawaka, Indiana
Mishawaka's public school system covers 18 ranked schools, giving families a meaningful range of options within a mid-sized Indiana city. The city-wide average sits at 6.2 out of 10 — a solid baseline, though performance varies considerably from school to school. Four schools, or 22% of the ranked set, clear the 7-point threshold, which means parents who do their research can land their child in a significantly above-average placement.
The elementary tier is where Mishawaka performs best. Twin Branch Elementary leads the city with an 8.2 out of 10 — the strongest score in the ranked set and a meaningful gap above the city average. Fred J Hums Elementary follows at 7.6, Elsie Rogers Elementary at 7.3, and Bittersweet Elementary at 7.2. All four top-rated schools are at the elementary level, making early grades the most competitive and highest-performing segment of Mishawaka's public system. Parents with children entering kindergarten or the lower elementary grades have the strongest roster to choose from.
The middle school picture is more modest. Schmucker Middle School rates 6.8 out of 10 — above the city average but below the top elementary cluster. The gap between elementary and middle performance is worth tracking for families planning longer-term. Children who start in one of the top elementary schools will transition into a middle school environment that performs at a lower relative level, a practical consideration for multi-year planning.
For parents actively comparing schools, the concentration of strong performers at the elementary level is the most actionable fact in this dataset. Twin Branch Elementary stands out as the clear top pick at 8.2 — nearly two full points above the city average. With 22% of ranked schools scoring 7 or higher, Mishawaka is not a city where every school performs alike. Use school profiles on MySchoolScout to compare test score details, enrollment size, and growth metrics before making a final decision.
Elementary Schools
17 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 296 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.1 |
| 2 | 393 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.7 |
| 3 | 521 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.5 |
| 4 | 305 students · Kindergarten–6th | 7.2 |
| 5 | 469 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.6 |
| 6 | 331 students · Kindergarten–6th | 6.5 |
| 7 | 494 students · Pre-K–6th | 6.5 |
| 8 | 515 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.5 |
| 9 | 498 students · Pre-K–6th | 5.7 |
| 10 | 515 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.6 |
Show all 17 elementary schools in Mishawaka
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 | 648 students · 6th–8th | 7.2 |
| 2 | 995 students · 6th–8th | 6.6 |
| 3 | 738 students · 7th–8th | 5.3 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3,847 students · 9th–12th | 6.1 | ||
| 2 | 1,437 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 | Marian High SchoolPrivate 735 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 44 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.3 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 41 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Mishawaka
Mishawaka, Indiana · 25 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$56,881
Median Home Value
$162,900
Median Rent
$1,002/mo
Population
57,719
College Educated
28%
Homeownership
58%
Avg Commute
22 min
Poverty Rate
14.8%
Community Profile
Mishawaka has a median household income of $56,881. It is an area where 28% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $162,900, with a median rent of $1,002/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.8%. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Indiana
- Elementary
- 17
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 3
- Other
- 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 Mishawaka, Indiana
How many schools are in Mishawaka, Indiana?
Mishawaka has 25 schools, including 18 public and 7 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Mishawaka, Indiana?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Mishawaka is 6.7 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 Mishawaka, Indiana?
The top-ranked school in Mishawaka on MySchoolScout is Twin Branch Elementary School with a composite score of 8.1/10.
What is the best elementary school in Mishawaka, Indiana?
The top-ranked elementary school in Mishawaka on MySchoolScout is Twin Branch Elementary School with a composite score of 8.1/10.
What is the best middle school in Mishawaka, Indiana?
The top-ranked middle school in Mishawaka on MySchoolScout is Virgil I Grissom Middle School with a composite score of 7.2/10.
What is the best high school in Mishawaka, Indiana?
The top-ranked high school in Mishawaka on MySchoolScout is Penn High School with a composite score of 6.1/10.
How many school districts serve Mishawaka, Indiana?
Mishawaka is served by 2 school districts: School City of Mishawaka, Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp.
What is the education level in Mishawaka, Indiana?
According to Census data, 28% of adults in Mishawaka have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Mishawaka, Indiana?
The median household income in Mishawaka is approximately $56,881 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Mishawaka, Indiana?
Yes, Mishawaka has 7 private schools alongside 18 public schools. The top-rated private school is Queen of Peace School with a score of 8.7/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Mishawaka, Indiana?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Mishawaka is 15.1:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Mishawaka, 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.