Needs Improvement
#1708 of 1,823 schools in IN
Darden Elementary School
Elementary School · South Bend Community School Corp · South Bend, IN
A South Bend Community School Corp elementary school where students score 10 points below what's typical for similar communities.
18645 Janet St, South Bend, IN 46637
- Math 19% vs IN 46% (2025)
- Reading 22% vs IN 41% (2025)
- 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Darden Elementary School score 20% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 30%).
2025 ILEARN proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IN average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 6 points since 2020, reaching 20% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 36% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 45% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 37 test records from IN state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
67.1%
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Darden Elementary School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 15Car-Dependent
- Bike 40Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,032/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (South Bend), 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
$72,401
Median home value
$192,000
Median rent
$1,167/mo
College educated
37.6%
Homeownership
69.1%
Poverty rate
9.7%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 46637; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clay International AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 4.1 | PK–8 | 0.9 mi | 506 | Compare → |
| Swanson Traditional SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 9.7 | PK–5 | 0.9 mi | 414 | Compare → |
| Christ the King SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.6private | PK–8 | 1.2 mi | 469 | Compare → |
| Kennedy AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 6.5 | K–5 | Not available | 480 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
South Bend Community School Corp
- Schools in district
- 31
- Rank in district
- #19 of 29
- District spending per student
- $17,751NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 24.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
Darden Elementary School is listed in South Bend Community School Corp; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Darden Elementary School
Darden Elementary School is a public elementary school in South Bend, IN, part of South Bend Community School Corp, serving approximately 465 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 11.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.4 out of 10 and ranks #1,708 of 1,823 schools in IN. State assessment records show 36% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Darden Elementary School
What grades does Darden Elementary School serve?
Darden Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Darden Elementary School?
Darden Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 465 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Darden Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Darden Elementary School is 11.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Darden Elementary School rank in IN?
Darden Elementary School ranks #1,708 of 1,823 schools in IN.
What is Darden Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Darden Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.4 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 Darden Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Darden Elementary School has 36% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 45% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Darden Elementary School a charter school?
No, Darden Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Darden Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Darden Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Darden Elementary School?
67.1% of students at Darden 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 465
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 39
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- St. Joseph County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 64.1%
- Phone
- (574) 243-7335
- Area population (ZIP 46637)
- 16,079
- Area average commute
- 20 min
- Area median age
- 39
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 · 2025 ILEARN · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 ILEARN. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 ILEARN · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 ILEARN. A newer release may be available.
- 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 46637; 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, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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