Needs Improvement
#1742 of 1,823 schools in IN
Joseph Hess Elementary School
Elementary School · School City of Hammond · Hammond, IN
A School City of Hammond elementary school where students score 22 points below what's typical for similar communities.
3640 Orchard Dr, Hammond, IN 46323
- Math 15% vs IN 45% (2025)
- Reading 12% vs IN 41% (2025)
- 19.1:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Joseph Hess Elementary School score 13% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 35%).
2025 ILEARN proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IN average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 52 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 13% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 38% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 40% (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 40 test records from IN state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
59.3%
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 Joseph Hess 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. Open the Chicago map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 28Car-Dependent
- Bike 35Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High3,823/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Hammond), 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
$56,906
Median home value
$149,200
Median rent
$1,189/mo
College educated
15.5%
Homeownership
66.6%
Poverty rate
15.2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 46323; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Judith Morton Johnston ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.2 | PK–5 | 1.1 mi | 376 | Compare → |
| Morning Star AcademyPrivate · tuition | 8.2private | PK–8 | 1.1 mi | 61 | Compare → |
| Bible Baptist SchoolPrivate · tuition | Not rated | K–12 | 1.4 mi | 29 | Compare → |
| Morton Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 2.5 | PK–6 | 1.4 mi | 525 | 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.
School City of Hammond
- Schools in district
- 17
- Rank in district
- #10 of 16
- District spending per student
- $14,879NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 23.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
Joseph Hess Elementary School is listed in School City of Hammond; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Joseph Hess Elementary School
Joseph Hess Elementary School is a public elementary school in Hammond, IN, part of School City of Hammond, serving approximately 686 students in grades Pre-K-6th with a 19.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.1 out of 10 and ranks #1,742 of 1,823 schools in IN. State assessment records show 38% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 40% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Joseph Hess Elementary School
What grades does Joseph Hess Elementary School serve?
Joseph Hess Elementary School serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.
How many students attend Joseph Hess Elementary School?
Joseph Hess Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 686 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Joseph Hess Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Joseph Hess Elementary School is 19.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Joseph Hess Elementary School rank in IN?
Joseph Hess Elementary School ranks #1,742 of 1,823 schools in IN.
What is Joseph Hess Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Joseph Hess Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.1 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 Joseph Hess Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Joseph Hess Elementary School has 38% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 40% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Joseph Hess Elementary School a charter school?
No, Joseph Hess Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Joseph Hess Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Joseph Hess Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Joseph Hess Elementary School?
59.3% of students at Joseph Hess 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
- Pre-K – 6th
- Enrollment
- 686
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 19.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 36
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Lake County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 38.8%
- Phone
- (219) 989-7355
- Area population (ZIP 46323)
- 23,184
- Area average commute
- 23.6 min
- Area median age
- 36.9
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 46323; 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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