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Below Average

#1565 of 1,823 schools in IN

Ben Davis High School

High School · Msd Wayne Township · Indianapolis, IN

A Msd Wayne Township high school serving grades 10th – 12th.

1200 N Girls Sch Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46214

  • Math 13% proficient (2022)
  • Reading 45% proficient (2021)
  • 78.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress4.9Below Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-3.67 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2022
TrendDeclining
Academics5.1Average25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency13% (2022 EdFacts)
Reading/ELA Proficiency45% (2021 EdFacts)
Overall Proficiency29% (2022 EdFacts, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)30% (model expectation from 2022 EdFacts)
vs. Expected-0.7 pts
Adjusted Percentile33th
College Readiness4.1Below Average30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate78%
AP Participation5.7%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment2.9Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio18.2:1
District spending per student$13,573
Chronic Absenteeism34.5%

Students at Ben Davis High School score 29% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 30%).

How we calculate scores →

2022 EdFacts proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. IN average.

Math Proficiency13%(2022 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2022 EdFacts)
ELA Proficiency45%(2021 EdFacts)
School
State
Not reported(2021 EdFacts)

Trend

↓ Declining

Proficiency has fallen 14 points since 2019, to 13% in 2022, across a 14-year record (2009–2022).

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
50%
ELA
52%
2010
Math
71%
ELA
57%
2011
Math
67%
ELA
61%
2012
Math
66%
ELA
59%
2013
Math
63%
ELA
68%
2014
Math
58%
ELA
56%
2015
Math
14%
ELA
34%
2016
Math
14%
ELA
38%
2017
Math
15%
ELA
30%
2018
Math
15%
ELA
39%
2019
Math
15%
ELA
39%
2020*
Math
16%
ELA
45%
2021*
Math
16%
ELA
45%
2022
Math
13%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 35% (multi-year average, 2009-2022) · reading/ELA 48% (multi-year average, 2009-2021)

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Based on 27 test records from IN state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

68.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where Ben Davis High School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.

Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Indianapolis map →

Getting around & local context

  • Walk 37Car-Dependent
  • Transit 29Some Transit
  • Bike 37Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High4,237/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Indianapolis), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details

Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.

Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)

Median income

$58,863

Median home value

$180,200

Median rent

$1,116/mo

College educated

26.5%

Homeownership

46.6%

Poverty rate

11.7%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 46214; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs2AP courses offered
5.7% participation·State avg: 2.6 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics17sports offered
8 boys'·9 girls'·17 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Covenant Christian High SchoolPrivate · tuition7.2private9–120.6 mi359Compare →
Crosspointe Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition6.1privatePK–121.5 mi225Compare →
Speedway Senior High SchoolEnrollment path unverified9.29–122.3 mi572Compare →
Ben Davis University High SchoolEnrollment path unverified6.410–122.6 mi378Compare →

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.

Msd Wayne Township

Schools in district
18
Rank in district
#10 of 17
District spending per student
$13,573NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
23.4%Census SAIPE · 2024

Ben Davis High School is listed in MSD Wayne Township; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About Ben Davis High School

Ben Davis High School is a public high school in Indianapolis, IN, part of Msd Wayne Township, serving approximately 3,274 students in grades 10th-12th with a 18.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.3 out of 10 and ranks #1,565 of 1,823 schools in IN. State assessment records show 35% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 48% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about Ben Davis High School

What grades does Ben Davis High School serve?

Ben Davis High School serves students in grades 10th through 12th.

How many students attend Ben Davis High School?

Ben Davis High School has an enrollment of approximately 3,274 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Ben Davis High School?

The student-teacher ratio at Ben Davis High School is 18.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Ben Davis High School rank in IN?

Ben Davis High School ranks #1,565 of 1,823 schools in IN.

What is Ben Davis High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Ben Davis High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.3 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Ben Davis High School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Ben Davis High School has 35% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2022) and 48% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2021).

Is Ben Davis High School a charter school?

No, Ben Davis High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Ben Davis High School a Title I school?

No, Ben Davis High School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Ben Davis High School?

68.1% of students at Ben Davis High School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)

Grades
10th – 12th
Enrollment
3,274
Student-Teacher Ratio
18.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
180
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Marion County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
34.5%
4-Year Graduation
78.0%
Area population (ZIP 46214)
24,645
Area average commute
23.9 min
Area median age
35.1
About this school's data

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.

School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
  • Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
MySchoolScout rating and rank
MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
Math proficiency
State department of education · 2022 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2022 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Reading/ELA proficiency
State department of education · 2021 EdFacts · Low confidence
  • Older source: 2021 EdFacts. Use as historical context.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
Student progress (growth)
NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
  • Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
  • Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
  • Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 46214; this does not measure the attendance area.
Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
  • Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
  • Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.

Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2022, multi-year average, 2009-2021; directory SY 2023–24

About our data · How we calculate scores

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