Jefferson Elementary School vs Chamberlain Elementary School

Jefferson Elementary School holds a clear edge over Chamberlain Elementary School in statewide standing, ranking #13 of 1,823 Indiana schools compared to Chamberlain's #30 — a 17-position gap that puts both schools in the top 2% of the state, with Jefferson sitting measurably higher. The overall rating difference is narrow on paper — Jefferson at 9.3/10 versus Chamberlain's 9.1/10 — but the underlying components that drive those scores tell a more differentiated story for families weighing the two schools.

The academic score gap is the sharpest data point separating these two schools. Jefferson Elementary School scores a perfect 10.0/10 in academics compared to Chamberlain Elementary School's 8.1/10 — a 1.9-point difference that represents the largest delta across all measured dimensions. Growth scores converge tightly at the top: Chamberlain earns a 9.7/10 while Jefferson earns a 10.0/10, meaning students at both schools are advancing at an exceptional pace relative to peers, with Jefferson holding a slim edge.

Chamberlain Elementary School enrolls 310 students against Jefferson Elementary School's 375, and the student-teacher ratio is modestly tighter at Chamberlain — 13.5 students per teacher versus Jefferson's 14.4. The more significant demographic difference is the free and reduced-price lunch rate: 76% of Chamberlain students qualify compared to 53% at Jefferson. This 23-point gap signals that Chamberlain serves a substantially higher proportion of economically disadvantaged families, a context that makes its near-top statewide ranking and exceptional growth score particularly notable.

Both schools serve kindergarten through the early grades, but Jefferson Elementary School caps at grade 3 while Chamberlain Elementary School extends through grade 4, meaning families at Jefferson will need to transition to a new school one year earlier. The two campuses sit 3.7 miles apart within Goshen, so geography alone is unlikely to dictate a clear winner for most families — the choice comes down to academic profile, economic fit, and the grade-span transition timing.