Very Good
#652 of 1,823 schools in IN
Top 36% in state
James Whitcomb Riley Elem School
Elementary School · New Castle Community School Corp · New Castle, IN
A New Castle Community School Corp elementary school where students score 7 points above what's typical for similar communities.
1201 Riley Rd, New Castle, IN 47362
- Math 57% vs IN 46% (2025)
- Reading 42% vs IN 41% (2025)
- 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at James Whitcomb Riley Elem School score 50% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 43%).
2025 ILEARN proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IN average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 40 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 49% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 73% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 68% (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
46.2%
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 James Whitcomb Riley Elem 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 29Car-Dependent
- Bike 30Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated815/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (New Castle), 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
$56,564
Median home value
$131,800
Median rent
$792/mo
College educated
14.8%
Homeownership
73.4%
Poverty rate
14.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 47362; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agape Learning CenterPrivate · tuition | Not rated | PK–K | 0.8 mi | 10 | Compare → |
| Parker Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 3.4 | PK–5 | 0.9 mi | 285 | Compare → |
| Eastwood Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.9 | PK–6 | 1.7 mi | 280 | Compare → |
| Westwood Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.5 | K–6 | 2.5 mi | 272 | Compare → |
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.
New Castle Community School Corp
- Schools in district
- 8
- Rank in district
- #2 of 7
- District spending per student
- $14,783NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 20.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
James Whitcomb Riley Elem School is listed in New Castle Community School Corp; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About James Whitcomb Riley Elem School
James Whitcomb Riley Elem School is a public elementary school in New Castle, IN, part of New Castle Community School Corp, serving approximately 253 students in grades Pre-K-6th with a 14.9:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 out of 10 and ranks #652 of 1,823 schools in IN. State assessment records show 73% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 68% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about James Whitcomb Riley Elem School
What grades does James Whitcomb Riley Elem School serve?
James Whitcomb Riley Elem School serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.
How many students attend James Whitcomb Riley Elem School?
James Whitcomb Riley Elem School has an enrollment of approximately 253 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at James Whitcomb Riley Elem School?
The student-teacher ratio at James Whitcomb Riley Elem School is 14.9:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does James Whitcomb Riley Elem School rank in IN?
James Whitcomb Riley Elem School ranks #652 of 1,823 schools in IN.
What is James Whitcomb Riley Elem School's MySchoolScout rating?
James Whitcomb Riley Elem School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 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 James Whitcomb Riley Elem School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, James Whitcomb Riley Elem School has 73% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 68% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is James Whitcomb Riley Elem School a charter school?
No, James Whitcomb Riley Elem School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is James Whitcomb Riley Elem School a Title I school?
No, James Whitcomb Riley Elem School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for James Whitcomb Riley Elem School?
46.2% of students at James Whitcomb Riley Elem 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
- Pre-K – 6th
- Enrollment
- 253
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.9:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 17
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Town
- County
- Henry County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 11.5%
- Phone
- (765) 521-7211
- Area population (ZIP 47362)
- 29,442
- Area average commute
- 22.5 min
- Area median age
- 42.8
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 47362; 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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