Skip to main content

Average

#1130 of 1,823 schools in IN

Charter School of the Dunes

Elementary School · Charter School of the Dunes

7300 East Melton Rd, Gary, IN 46403

Charter

Enrollment

674

Student-Teacher

15.7:1

Score

5.8

Grades

Kindergarten – 8th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Gary

#5 of 21

public schools

Indiana elementary schools

#682 of 1,047

Academic growth

7.5 / 10

Very strong

About Charter School of the Dunes

Charter School of the Dunes is a public charter school located in Gary, Indiana, on East Melton Road. Serving students from kindergarten through eighth grade, the school focuses on providing education to 674 students with a student-teacher ratio of 15.7:1 and employs 43 full-time equivalent teachers. The academic performance at Charter School of the Dunes is currently in need of improvement, as evidenced by its MySchoolScout rating of 3.9 out of 10 and state ranking of #1663 out of 1831 schools in Indiana (placing it in the 9th percentile).

The school’s academic score stands at 1.3 out of 10, with only 8% proficiency or above in ELA/Reading, 5% in Math, and no students scoring proficient or above in Science. Despite these challenges, Charter School of the Dunes is situated in a large suburban area that offers a variety of community resources to support student development. The school's setting provides opportunities for students to engage with their surroundings and benefit from local amenities as they work towards academic growth and improvement.

What Parents Should Know

While current test scores at Charter School of the Dunes are below average, the school shows strong growth metrics — meaning students are making above-average progress year over year. This upward trajectory can be a positive indicator for families who value a school's ability to help students improve, even if absolute scores haven't caught up yet.

Charter School of the Dunes is a charter school — a publicly funded school that operates with more autonomy than traditional district schools. Charter schools often have distinct educational models or specialties. Parents should understand the school's specific mission, enrollment process, and how its approach differs from nearby district options.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.5Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data4
Annual Change-0.47 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendStable
Academics3.6Fair30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency6.9%
Reading/ELA Proficiency13.1%
Math vs. State Avg-44.6 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-27.1 pts
Overall Proficiency10%
Expected (poverty-adj.)13%
vs. Expected-3.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile17th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment4.9Below Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.7:1
Per-Pupil Spending$10,589

Charter School of the Dunes — Students at Charter School of the Dunes score 10% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 13%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

95.1%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IN ILEARN (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 6.6%
School
State
42.1%
ELA Proficiency 13.0%
School
State
40.6%

Based on 22 test records from IN state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
12%
ELA
15%
2021*
Math
3%
ELA
10%
2022
Math
4%
2025
Math
6.8%
ELA
13.2%

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

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.5/10.

How Charter School of the Dunes Compares

See how Charter School of the Dunes performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.8/10
38th percentile in IN
Academic
3.6/10
3.6/10
Growth
7.5/10
Above average
Environment
4.9/10
Below average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
95%
Teaching Staff
16:1 student-teacher ratio
43 teachers

Location

7300 East Melton Rd, Gary, IN 46403

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Charter School of the Dunes may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Liberty Elementary School (rated 7.4/10, 4.0 miles away, in nearby Hobart), which scores notably higher. Another option is Veterans Elementary School at Mundell (rated 5.8/10, 4.2 miles away, in nearby Hobart), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Banneker Elementary at Marquette (rated 5.4/10, 1.3 miles away), with a comparable rating. For more schools in Gary, see our Gary schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 4.9 mi
School Distance Rating
Gary Middle School Gary 0.9 mi 5.1
Thomas A Edison Jr-Sr HS Lake Station 1.3 mi 3.5
Banneker Elementary at Marquette Gary 1.3 mi 5.4
Virgil I Bailey Elementary School Lake Station 1.4 mi 4.2
Alexander Hamilton Elementary Sch Lake Station 2.3 mi 3.9
John I Meister Elementary School Hobart 2.7 mi 2.7
River Forest High School Hobart 3.1 mi 6.1
River Forest Middle School Hobart 3.1 mi 5.0
William Fegely Middle School Portage 3.0 mi 4.1
George L Myers Elementary School Portage 3.3 mi 4.1
Liberty Elementary School Hobart 4.0 mi 7.4
Neighbors' New Vistas High School Portage 3.8 mi 7.4
Early Learning Center-George Earle Hobart 3.9 mi 4.4
Mary M Bethune Early Child Dev Ctr Gary 3.3 mi 2.6
Veterans Elementary School at Mundell Hobart 4.2 mi 5.8
Central Elementary School Portage 3.6 mi 3.7
Wallace Aylesworth Elementary Portage 3.5 mi 4.2
Henry S Evans Elementary School Lake Station 4.0 mi 3.8
Willowcreek Middle School Portage 3.6 mi 4.6
Hobart Middle School Hobart 4.9 mi 5.8

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 46403 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$44,114

Median Home Value

$154,800

Median Rent

$939/mo

Population

10,697

College Educated

24.7%

Homeownership

47.4%

Avg Commute

31.1 min

Poverty Rate

26.3%

Median Age

41.7

Community Profile

The community surrounding Charter School of the Dunes has a median household income of $44,114. It is an area where 25% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $154,800, with a median rent of $939/month. The area has a poverty rate of 26.3%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 31 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Center for Inquiry School 27 Indianapolis, IN 5.8
George Washington Elementary Sch East Chicago, IN 5.8
Henryville Elementary School Henryville, IN 5.8
Huntingburg Elementary School Huntingburg, IN 5.8
Lafayette Park Elementary School Kokomo, IN 5.8
Linton-Stockton Elementary Linton, IN 5.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Charter School of the Dunes

What grades does Charter School of the Dunes serve?

Charter School of the Dunes serves students in grades Kindergarten through 8th.

How many students attend Charter School of the Dunes?

Charter School of the Dunes has an enrollment of approximately 674 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Charter School of the Dunes?

The student-teacher ratio at Charter School of the Dunes is 15.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Charter School of the Dunes rank in IN?

Charter School of the Dunes is ranked #1130 out of 1,823 schools in IN.

What is Charter School of the Dunes's MySchoolScout rating?

Charter School of the Dunes has a composite rating of 5.8 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Charter School of the Dunes?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Charter School of the Dunes has 6.6% math proficiency and 13.0% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Charter School of the Dunes a charter school?

Yes, Charter School of the Dunes is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.

Is Charter School of the Dunes a Title I school?

No, Charter School of the Dunes is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Charter School of the Dunes?

95.1% of students at Charter School of the Dunes qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

County Safety
Low (45/100K)

FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 8th
Enrollment
674
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
43
Free/Reduced Lunch
95.1%
Type
regular
Setting
Large Suburb
County
Lake County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Charter School of the Dunes
District Enrollment
674
Schools in District
1
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,814
District Rank
#1 of 1

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

Related reading

Get school insights in your inbox

New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.