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Average

#1409 of 1,823 schools in IN

Coulston Elementary School

Elementary School · Shelbyville Central Schools

121 Knightstown Rd, Shelbyville, IN 46176

Enrollment

434

Student-Teacher

12.8:1

Score

5.0

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Indiana schools

#1,409 of 1,823

In Shelbyville

#6 of 10

public schools

In district

#4 of 7

Shelbyville Central Schools

School environment

8.8 / 10

Excellent

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Coulston Elementary School

5.0/10

Elementary School in Shelbyville · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Golden Bear Preschool

4.0/10

1.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

St Joseph School

8.1/10

1.0 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Coulston Elementary School

Coulston Elementary School is a public elementary school in Shelbyville, IN, part of Shelbyville Central Schools. Coulston Elementary School serves approximately 434 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 12.8:1 student-teacher ratio. Coulston Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.0 out of 10 and ranks #1,409 of 1,823 schools in IN.

Structured state assessment records for Coulston Elementary School show 61% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 5.0 · Average
  • District avg 5.0
  • IN avg 6.6

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress3.2Needs Improvement50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-4.22 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics5.3Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency42.1% (2025 ILEARN)
Reading/ELA Proficiency28.2% (2025 ILEARN)
Math vs. State Avg-9.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-12 pts
Overall Proficiency35% (2025 ILEARN, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)41% (model expectation from 2025 ILEARN)
vs. Expected-5.6 pts
Adjusted Percentile35th
Resources & Environment8.8Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12.8:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,582
Chronic Absenteeism18.2%

Coulston Elementary School — Students at Coulston Elementary School score 35% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 41%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

49.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IN ILEARN (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 61.1% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
46.1% (2025 ILEARN)
ELA Proficiency 54.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
40.8% (2025 ILEARN)

Based on 37 test records from IN state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

↓ Declining

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

2009
Math
81%
ELA
84%
2010
Math
84%
ELA
81%
2011
Math
86%
ELA
90%
2012
Math
85%
ELA
88%
2013
Math
91%
ELA
88%
2014
Math
69%
ELA
70%
2015
Math
70%
ELA
77%
2016
Math
65%
ELA
69%
2017
Math
67%
ELA
53%
2018
Math
55%
ELA
30%
2019
Math
55%
ELA
30%
2020*
Math
39%
ELA
25%
2021*
Math
39%
ELA
25%
2022
Math
44%
2025
Math
42.6%
ELA
28.1%

* 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: 3.2/10.

How Coulston Elementary School Compares

See how Coulston Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.0/10
23th percentile in IN
Academic
5.3/10
Average
Growth
3.2/10
Needs Improvement
Environment
8.8/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
50%
Teaching Staff
13:1 student-teacher ratio
34 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
18.2%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

121 Knightstown Rd, Shelbyville, IN 46176

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Coulston Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Brandywine Elementary School (rated 8.9/10, 13.5 miles away, in nearby Greenfield), which scores notably higher. Another option is ST JOSEPH SCHOOL (rated 8.1/10, 1.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Arlington Elementary School (rated 8.0/10, 12.5 miles away, in nearby Arlington), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Shelbyville, see our Shelbyville schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 12.2 mi
School Distance Rating
Golden Bear Preschool Shelbyville 1.0 mi 4.0
ST JOSEPH SCHOOL Shelbyville 1.0 mi 8.1
Excel Center - Shelbyville Shelbyville 1.1 mi 3.0
William F Loper Elementary School Shelbyville 1.6 mi 5.9
Thomas A Hendricks Elementary Sch Shelbyville 2.3 mi 5.3
Shelbyville Sr High School Shelbyville 2.4 mi 6.9
Especially Kidz Health & Rehab Cnt Shelbyville 2.7 mi 3.4
Shelbyville Middle School Shelbyville 2.6 mi 4.5
Southwestern Elementary School Shelbyville 7.8 mi 7.5
Southwestern High School Shelbyville 7.9 mi 7.0
Waldron Jr-Sr High School Waldron 7.7 mi 6.2
Waldron Elementary School Waldron 7.8 mi 7.6
Triton Central Middle School Fairland 8.0 mi 6.8
Triton Central High School Fairland 8.1 mi 8.3
Triton Central Elementary School Fairland 8.2 mi 7.6
Morristown Elementary School Morristown 10.1 mi 5.5
Morristown Jr-Sr High School Morristown 10.1 mi 7.5
Brandywine Elementary School Greenfield 13.5 mi 8.9
Arlington Elementary School Arlington 12.5 mi 8.0
FLAT ROCK AMISH SCHOOL Milroy 12.2 mi

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 46176 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$66,045

Median Home Value

$172,400

Median Rent

$962/mo

Population

28,581

College Educated

19.1%

Homeownership

66.3%

Avg Commute

22.5 min

Poverty Rate

13.5%

Median Age

38.8

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Battell Elementary School Mishawaka, IN 5.0
Carroll Elementary School Flora, IN 5.0
Fred J Hums Elementary School Mishawaka, IN 5.0
Grandview Elementary School Bloomington, IN 5.0
Indian Village Elementary School Fort Wayne, IN 5.0
James Russell Lowell School 51 Indianapolis, IN 5.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Coulston Elementary School

What grades does Coulston Elementary School serve?

Coulston Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Coulston Elementary School?

Coulston Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 434 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Coulston Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Coulston Elementary School is 12.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Coulston Elementary School rank in IN?

Coulston Elementary School ranks #1,409 of 1,823 schools in IN.

What is Coulston Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Coulston Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.0 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 Coulston Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Coulston Elementary School has 61% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 54% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Coulston Elementary School a charter school?

No, Coulston Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Coulston Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Coulston Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Coulston Elementary School?

49.5% of students at Coulston Elementary 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
6 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
29 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
434
Student-Teacher Ratio
12.8:1
Teachers (FTE)
34
Free/Reduced Lunch
49.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Town
County
Shelby County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
18.2%

District

Shelbyville Central Schools
District Enrollment
3,983
Schools in District
7
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,582
District Rank
#4 of 7

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