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Excellent

#52 of 1,823 schools in IN

Top 3% in state

Forest Dale Elementary School

Elementary School · Carmel Clay Schools

10721 Lakeshore Dr W, Carmel, IN 46033

Enrollment

653

Student-Teacher

14.2:1

Score

9.1

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Indiana schools

#52 of 1,823

In Carmel

#7 of 17

public schools

In district

#7 of 15

Carmel Clay Schools

Academic growth

9.1 / 10

Excellent

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Forest Dale Elementary School

9.1/10

Elementary School in Carmel · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

St Elizabeth Seton Preschool and Kindergarten

Nearby

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

Woodbrook Elementary School

9.3/10

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

About Forest Dale Elementary School

Forest Dale Elementary School is a public elementary school in Carmel, IN, part of Carmel Clay Schools. Forest Dale Elementary School serves approximately 653 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 14.2:1 student-teacher ratio. Forest Dale Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.1 out of 10 and ranks #52 of 1,823 schools in IN.

Structured state assessment records for Forest Dale Elementary School show 77% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 76% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 9.1 · Excellent
  • District avg 9.2
  • IN avg 6.6

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress9.1Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-2.06 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics9.0Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency68.8% (2025 ILEARN)
Reading/ELA Proficiency62.8% (2025 ILEARN)
Math vs. State Avg+17.2 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+22.6 pts
Overall Proficiency66% (2025 ILEARN, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)59% (model expectation from 2025 ILEARN)
vs. Expected+6.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile84th
Resources & Environment9.1Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.2:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,444
Chronic Absenteeism10.3%

Forest Dale Elementary School — Students at Forest Dale Elementary School score 66% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 59%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

19%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IN ILEARN (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 77.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
46.1% (2025 ILEARN)
ELA Proficiency 76.0% (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
90%
ELA
89%
2010
Math
88%
ELA
91%
2011
Math
88%
ELA
94%
2012
Math
93%
ELA
92%
2013
Math
93%
ELA
94%
2014
Math
74%
ELA
80%
2015
Math
83%
ELA
82%
2016
Math
79%
ELA
87%
2017
Math
82%
ELA
86%
2018
Math
74%
ELA
71%
2019
Math
74%
ELA
71%
2020*
Math
63%
ELA
52%
2021*
Math
63%
ELA
52%
2022
Math
71%
2025
Math
69.1%
ELA
63%

* 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: 9.1/10.

How Forest Dale Elementary School Compares

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

Overall Score
9.1/10
97th percentile in IN
Academic
9.0/10
Excellent
Growth
9.1/10
Excellent
Environment
9.1/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
19%
Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
46 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
10.3%

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

10721 Lakeshore Dr W, Carmel, IN 46033

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Forest Dale Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Woodbrook Elementary School (rated 9.3/10, 1.1 miles away), with a very similar rating. Another option is Mohawk Trails Elementary School (rated 9.0/10, 2.0 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Carmel Elementary School (rated 9.0/10, 2.2 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Carmel, see our Carmel schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 2.6 mi
School Distance Rating
ST ELIZABETH SETON PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN Carmel 0.7 mi
Woodbrook Elementary School Carmel 1.1 mi 9.3
Indiana Agriculture and Technology Carmel 1.3 mi 4.4
KINDERCARE LEARNING CENTER #1488 Indianapolis 1.8 mi
HIGHLANDS LATIN SCHOOL Carmel 1.9 mi 7.3
Mohawk Trails Elementary School Carmel 2.0 mi 9.0
Carmel Elementary School Carmel 2.2 mi 9.0
PETER RABBIT NURSERY SCHOOL Carmel 1.9 mi
Carmel High School Carmel 2.5 mi 9.0
Hilltop School Indianapolis 2.5 mi 5.0
North Central High School Indianapolis 2.5 mi 7.4
Clay Middle School Carmel 2.5 mi 8.2
Nora Elementary School Indianapolis 2.4 mi 6.5
Northview Middle School Indianapolis 2.7 mi 7.7
CORAM DEO ACADEMY Carmel 2.7 mi 7.7
COLONIAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Indianapolis 3.0 mi 7.6
Carmel Middle School Carmel 2.7 mi 8.0
Clearwater Elementary School Indianapolis 3.3 mi 8.8
Riverside Junior High Fishers 2.5 mi 8.1
Riverside Intermediate School Fishers 2.6 mi 8.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 46033 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$150,529

Median Home Value

$458,600

Median Rent

$1,597/mo

Population

40,153

College Educated

72.2%

Homeownership

86.9%

Avg Commute

24.9 min

Poverty Rate

2.3%

Median Age

41.8

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Elwood Elementary School Elwood, IN 9.1
Barr Reeve Elementary School Montgomery, IN 9.0
Carey Ridge Elementary School Westfield, IN 9.0
Carmel Elementary School Carmel, IN 9.0
Cedar Elementary School Avon, IN 9.0
Cherry Tree Elementary School Carmel, IN 9.0

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Forest Dale Elementary School

What grades does Forest Dale Elementary School serve?

Forest Dale Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Forest Dale Elementary School?

Forest Dale Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 653 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Forest Dale Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Forest Dale Elementary School is 14.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Forest Dale Elementary School rank in IN?

Forest Dale Elementary School ranks #52 of 1,823 schools in IN.

What is Forest Dale Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Forest Dale Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.1 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 Forest Dale Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Forest Dale Elementary School has 77% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 76% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Forest Dale Elementary School a charter school?

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

Is Forest Dale Elementary School a Title I school?

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

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

19.0% of students at Forest Dale 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
10 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
54 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
653
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.2:1
Teachers (FTE)
46
Free/Reduced Lunch
19.0%
Type
regular
Setting
Midsize City
County
Hamilton County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
10.3%

District

Carmel Clay Schools
District Enrollment
16,116
Schools in District
15
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,444
District Rank
#7 of 15

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