Best Schools in South Bend, Indiana
61 schools · 33 Elementary · 7 Middle · 14 High · 7 Other
Choosing a school in South Bend?
Use this page to compare every school in South Bend 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.
Lasalle Academy
Middle · South Bend Community School Corp. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Swanson Traditional School
Elementary · South Bend Community School Corp. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Marquette Montessori Academy
Elementary · South Bend Community School Corp. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in South Bend for 2026 are Lasalle Academy (9.8/10), Swanson Traditional School (9.5/10), and Marquette Montessori Academy (7.9/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 32 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
61
36 public · 25 private
Avg Score
6.6
out of 10
Median Home
$153,856
home value · ACS
Districts
6
serving the city
Schools
61
36 public · 25 private
Avg Score
6.6
out of 10
Median Home
$153,856
home value · ACS
Districts
6
serving the city
Rates 9.8/10 despite 57% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.7 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 South Bend schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +16.6 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among South Bend schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in South Bend
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 32 rated schools; 61 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lasalle Academy | 9.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Swanson Traditional School | 9.5 / 10 |
| 3 | Marquette Montessori Academy | 7.9 / 10 |
| 4 | Career Academy High School | 7.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Kennedy Academy | 7.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Madison S.t.e.a.m. Academy | 7.3 / 10 |
| 7 | Success Academy Primary School | 7.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Marshall Traditional School | 7.0 / 10 |
| 9 | Lincoln Elementary School | 6.8 / 10 |
| 10 | Warren Elementary School | 6.8 / 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
- 6.6/10
- Median household income
- $58,530
- Median home value
- $153,856
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 31%
- Avg commute
- 20 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 62%
46% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How South Bend compares
Indiana rank
#83 of 220
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.2
above Indiana avg (6.4)
Median household income
$59k
81% of Indiana median
Schools in this city
57
Education Snapshot
South Bend, IndianaSouth Bend runs 58 schools across 6 districts, enrolling roughly 20,540 students in a mix weighted toward elementary — 32 of the city's schools are elementary, compared with 14 high schools, 7 middle schools, and 5 other or combined programs. The 53 schools with composite scores average 5.6/10, sitting 0.7 points below Indiana's state average of 6.3/10. That below-average score pairs with a below-average income picture: a median household income of $61,031 sits 18% below the Indiana state median of $74,263, and 31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Five charter schools operate within this landscape, expanding options beyond the default district assignment for families willing to apply. The citywide 5.6 average is a useful orientation point, but the 53 individual ratings in the list below reveal where South Bend's stronger campuses concentrate.
South Bend Community School Corp runs 86% of South Bend's public schools
South Bend touches 6 districts, but South Bend Community School Corp is the one most addresses actually attend.
South Bend Community School Corp accounts for 31 of 36 public schools (86%). The other 5 districts hold the remaining 5.
Among 32 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.1 to 9.8 — the spread is inside South Bend, not a citywide average.
5 of the 36 public schools are charters (14%), so the district split is not the whole market.
- South Bend Community School Corp31 public · 86%
- Career Academy High School1 public · 3%
- Career Academy Middle School1 public · 3%
- Excel Center - South Bend1 public · 3%
- Purdue Polytechnic High School South Bend1 public · 3%
About Schools in South Bend, Indiana
South Bend's public school landscape spans 34 ranked schools with an average score of 6.8 out of 10. That average sits in solid mid-range territory, but the spread matters more than the mean. Fourteen schools — 41% of the total — score 7 or above, meaning parents who research carefully have a real shot at landing a high-performing placement without leaving the city.
The top of the rankings is anchored by LaSalle Academy, a middle school scoring 9.8 out of 10, the highest mark in the city. Career Academy Middle School follows at 9.5, as does Swanson Traditional School at the elementary level, also at 9.5. That cluster of elite middle and elementary options is a practical advantage for families planning ahead: strong feeder pathways exist before high school. At the secondary level, Purdue Polytechnic High School South Bend scores 8.9 and offers a career-technical focus backed by Purdue University's brand, while Clay High School rounds out the top tier at 8.6.
The gap between the top performers and the city average — nearly three full points between LaSalle Academy and the 6.8 mean — signals real variance across South Bend schools. Parents should not rely on district-level generalizations. A school a few miles from another can deliver a dramatically different academic environment. The 59% of schools that score below 7 are concentrated in certain attendance zones, so address-based assignment warrants close attention. Families with flexibility to pursue open enrollment, charter options, or magnet programs like the traditional-model Swanson should do so early, as seats at high-scoring schools fill fast.
Practically speaking, South Bend rewards proactive parents. Check whether your home address feeds into one of the 14 schools above the 7-point threshold. If it does not, identify open enrollment deadlines for LaSalle Academy, Career Academy, or Purdue Polytechnic. Middle school transitions are particularly high-stakes here given how strongly the top two middle schools outperform the city norm. Start that research at least one academic year ahead to preserve your options.
Elementary Schools
33 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 414 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.5 |
| 2 | 403 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.9 |
| 3 | 480 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.6 |
| 4 | 565 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.3 |
| 5 | 572 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.0 |
| 6 | 348 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.0 |
| 7 | 423 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.8 |
| 8 | 171 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.8 |
| 9 | 601 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.4 |
| 10 | 465 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.4 |
Show all 33 elementary schools in South Bend
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 457 students · 6th–8th | 9.8 |
| 2 | 519 students · 6th–8th | 5.8 |
| 3 | 400 students · 6th–8th | 5.4 |
| 4 | 319 students · 6th–8th | 5.2 |
| 5 | 526 students · 6th–8th | 5.2 |
| 6 | 400 students · 6th–8th | 4.5 |
| 7 | 440 students · 6th–8th | 4.2 |
High Schools
14 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 448 students · 9th–12th | 7.6 | ||
| 2 | 1,987 students · 9th–12th | 6.0 | ||
| 3 | 154 students · 9th–12th | 5.6 | ||
| 4 | 998 students · 9th–12th | 5.1 | ||
| 5 | 477 students · 9th–12th | 4.8 | ||
| 6 | 175 students · 9th–12th | 4.7 | ||
| 7 | 812 students · 9th–12th | 4.4 | ||
| 8 | 184 students · 9th–12th | 4.1 | ||
Private Schools6 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Trinity School at GreenlawnPrivate 227 students · 6th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | River Montessori High SchoolPrivate 43 students · 9th–12th | Not Rated | ||
Show all 14 high schools in South Bend
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Other Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 327 students · Pre-K–12th | 6.6 | ||
| 2 | 293 students · Kindergarten–12th | 3.1 | ||
| 3 | 16 students · Kindergarten–12th | — | ||
| 4 | 5 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | — | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | St Thomas More AcademyPrivate 198 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 217 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Ironwood Christian AcademyPrivate 17 students · Kindergarten–11th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in South Bend
South Bend, Indiana · 61 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 9 ZIP codes
Median Income
$58,530
Median Home Value
$153,856
Median Rent
$1,019/mo
Population
142,550
College Educated
31%
Homeownership
62%
Avg Commute
20 min
Poverty Rate
19.5%
Community Profile
South Bend has a median household income of $58,530. It is an area where 31% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $153,856, with a median rent of $1,019/month. The area has a poverty rate of 19.5%. The average commute for residents is 20 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Indiana
- Elementary
- 33
- Middle
- 7
- High
- 14
- Other
- 7
Resources
School Districts (6)
Career Academy High School
1 school · 448 students
Purdue Polytechnic High School South Bend
1 school · 154 students
Success Academy Primary School
1 school · 572 students
Career Academy Middle School
1 school · 400 students
Excel Center - South Bend
1 school · 184 students
South Bend Community School Corp
31 schools · 14,486 students
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 South Bend, Indiana
How many schools are in South Bend, Indiana?
South Bend has 61 schools, including 36 public and 25 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in South Bend, Indiana?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in South Bend is 6.6 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 South Bend, Indiana?
The top-ranked school in South Bend on MySchoolScout is Lasalle Academy with a composite score of 9.8/10.
What is the best elementary school in South Bend, Indiana?
The top-ranked elementary school in South Bend on MySchoolScout is Swanson Traditional School with a composite score of 9.5/10.
What is the best middle school in South Bend, Indiana?
The top-ranked middle school in South Bend on MySchoolScout is Lasalle Academy with a composite score of 9.8/10.
What is the best high school in South Bend, Indiana?
The top-ranked high school in South Bend on MySchoolScout is Career Academy High School with a composite score of 7.6/10.
How many school districts serve South Bend, Indiana?
South Bend is served by 6 school districts: Career Academy High School, Purdue Polytechnic High School South Bend, Success Academy Primary School, Career Academy Middle School, Excel Center - South Bend, South Bend Community School Corp.
What is the education level in South Bend, Indiana?
According to Census data, 31% of adults in South Bend have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in South Bend, Indiana?
The median household income in South Bend is approximately $58,530 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in South Bend, Indiana?
Yes, South Bend has 25 private schools alongside 36 public schools. The top-rated private school is The Stanley Clark School with a score of 8.9/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in South Bend, Indiana?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in South Bend is 10.5:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in South Bend, 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.