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Average

#1123 of 1,823 schools in IN

L F Smith Elementary

Elementary School · Bartholomew Con School Corp

4505 Waycross Dr, Columbus, IN 47203

Enrollment

431

Student-Teacher

15.4:1

Score

5.8

Grades

Pre-K – 6th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Indiana schools

#1,123 of 1,823

In Columbus

#10 of 15

public schools

In district

#10 of 16

Bartholomew Con School Corp

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L F Smith Elementary

5.8/10

Elementary School in Columbus · grades Pre-K – 6th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Clifty Creek Elementary School

7.1/10

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

W D Richards Elementary School

5.4/10

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

About L F Smith Elementary

L F Smith Elementary is a public elementary school in Columbus, IN, part of Bartholomew Con School Corp. L F Smith Elementary serves approximately 431 students, and covers grades Pre-K-6th, and has a 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio. L F Smith Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.8 out of 10 and ranks #1,123 of 1,823 schools in IN.

Structured state assessment records for L F Smith Elementary show 53% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.6 pts below district
  • This school 5.8 · Average
  • District avg 6.4
  • IN avg 6.6

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.7Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-3.46 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics5.6Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency31.6% (2025 ILEARN)
Reading/ELA Proficiency34.6% (2025 ILEARN)
Math vs. State Avg-19.9 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-5.6 pts
Overall Proficiency33% (2025 ILEARN, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)33% (model expectation from 2025 ILEARN)
vs. Expected0.0 pts
Adjusted Percentile39th
Resources & Environment6.3Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$13,277
Chronic Absenteeism23.7%

L F Smith Elementary — Students at L F Smith Elementary score 33% proficient, which is in line with what's typical for similar communities (expected: 33%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

62.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IN ILEARN (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 53.3% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
44.9% (2025 ILEARN)
ELA Proficiency 56.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
40.7% (2025 ILEARN)

Based on 40 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
74%
ELA
74%
2010
Math
74%
ELA
75%
2011
Math
85%
ELA
78%
2012
Math
84%
ELA
81%
2013
Math
87%
ELA
84%
2014
Math
64%
ELA
73%
2015
Math
63%
ELA
73%
2016
Math
64%
ELA
68%
2017
Math
59%
ELA
58%
2018
Math
50%
ELA
54%
2019
Math
50%
ELA
54%
2020*
Math
34%
ELA
36%
2021*
Math
34%
ELA
36%
2022
Math
32%
2025
Math
31.8%
ELA
34.7%

* 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: 5.7/10.

How L F Smith Elementary Compares

See how L F Smith Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.8/10
39th percentile in IN
Academic
5.6/10
Average
Growth
5.7/10
Average
Environment
6.3/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
62%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
28 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
23.7%

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

4505 Waycross Dr, Columbus, IN 47203

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering L F Smith Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. CSA Lincoln Campus (rated 8.5/10, 2.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Southside Elementary School (rated 8.0/10, 4.9 miles away), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Rockcreek Elementary School (rated 7.9/10, 5.7 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Columbus, see our Columbus schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 6.8 mi
School Distance Rating
Clifty Creek Elementary School Columbus 0.9 mi 7.1
W D Richards Elementary School Columbus 1.0 mi 5.4
NORTH STAR MONTESSORI SCHOOL Columbus 1.2 mi
COLUMBUS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Columbus 1.7 mi 8.1
Columbus East High School Columbus 1.9 mi 6.3
CSA Fodrea Campus Columbus 2.1 mi 4.6
KINDER CARE LEARNING CENTER #300570 Columbus 2.2 mi
Columbus North High School Columbus 2.1 mi 7.9
Northside Middle School Columbus 2.2 mi 7.0
ST BARTHOLOMEW SCHOOL Columbus 2.3 mi 7.6
Lillian Schmitt Elementary School Columbus 2.4 mi 5.2
Parkside Elementary School Columbus 2.6 mi 7.8
Richard L Johnson Early Educ Cntr Columbus 2.5 mi 4.1
Central Middle School Columbus 2.6 mi 6.1
CSA Lincoln Campus Columbus 2.7 mi 8.5
ST PAUL LUTHERAN EARLY CHILDHOOD MINISTRY Columbus 3.3 mi
ST PETER'S LUTHERAN SCHOOL Columbus 2.7 mi 6.4
Southside Elementary School Columbus 4.9 mi 8.0
Rockcreek Elementary School Columbus 5.7 mi 7.9
Taylorsville Elementary School Taylorsville 6.8 mi 5.1

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 47203 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$73,595

Median Home Value

$234,300

Median Rent

$963/mo

Population

25,106

College Educated

38.7%

Homeownership

78.2%

Avg Commute

19.6 min

Poverty Rate

10.5%

Median Age

40.3

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Allen Elementary School Marion, IN 5.8
College Corner Union Elem School College Corner, IN 5.8
Concord West Side Elem School Elkhart, IN 5.8
Hebron Elementary School Hebron, IN 5.8
Homecroft Elementary School Indianapolis, IN 5.8
Huntertown Elementary School Huntertown, IN 5.8

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about L F Smith Elementary

What grades does L F Smith Elementary serve?

L F Smith Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 6th.

How many students attend L F Smith Elementary?

L F Smith Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 431 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at L F Smith Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at L F Smith Elementary is 15.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does L F Smith Elementary rank in IN?

L F Smith Elementary ranks #1,123 of 1,823 schools in IN.

What is L F Smith Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

L F Smith Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.8 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 L F Smith Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, L F Smith Elementary has 53% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is L F Smith Elementary a charter school?

No, L F Smith Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is L F Smith Elementary a Title I school?

No, L F Smith Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for L F Smith Elementary?

62.4% of students at L F Smith Elementary 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
46 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
40 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 6th
Enrollment
431
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
28
Free/Reduced Lunch
62.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Bartholomew County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
23.7%

District

Bartholomew Con School Corp
District Enrollment
11,654
Schools in District
17
Per-Pupil Spending
$13,277
District Rank
#10 of 16

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