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Very Good

#557 of 1,823 schools in IN

Top 31% in state

Lake Prairie Elementary School

Elementary School · Tri-Creek School Corporation

11601 W 181st Ave, Lowell, IN 46356

Enrollment

426

Student-Teacher

19.4:1

Score

7.2

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Lowell

#2 of 5

public schools

Indiana elementary schools

#370 of 1,047

In district

#2 of 5

Tri-Creek School Corporation

Equity

9.4 / 10

Exceptional

About Lake Prairie Elementary School

Lake Prairie Elementary School serves 426 students in kindergarten through fifth grade in Lowell, Indiana, offering a strong academic foundation in Lake County's 46356 zip code area. With 22 full-time teachers maintaining a 19.4:1 student-teacher ratio, the school has earned impressive recognition, ranking #259 out of 1,831 elementary schools statewide and placing in the 86th percentile. The school's academic performance stands out particularly in mathematics, where 77% of students demonstrate proficiency or above across all grade levels.

This strong showing contributes to Lake Prairie's overall MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 out of 10 and an exceptional academic score of 9.7 out of 10, reflecting the school's commitment to educational excellence. Students come from a stable community where the median household income reaches $82,788 and the poverty rate remains low at 5.4%. The neighborhood's median home value of $246,000 reflects a middle-class area that values education, though college graduation rates at 18% suggest diverse educational backgrounds among families.

Lake Prairie Elementary's rural setting near town provides students with a more intimate learning environment while maintaining access to broader community resources, creating an ideal balance for elementary education in northwest Indiana.

What Parents Should Know

Located in a rural area, Lake Prairie Elementary School may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.9Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data4
Annual Change-0.26 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.2Exceptional30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency79.2%
Reading/ELA Proficiency53.5%
Math vs. State Avg+27.7 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+13.3 pts
Overall Proficiency66%
Expected (poverty-adj.)57%
vs. Expected+9.5 pts
Adjusted Percentile88th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment2.6Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio19.4:1
Per-Pupil Spending$10,847

Lake Prairie Elementary School — Students at Lake Prairie Elementary School score 66% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 57%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

22.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IN ILEARN (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 76.6%
School
State
47.6%
ELA Proficiency 55.2%
School
State
40.7%

Based on 13 test records from IN state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
77%
ELA
62%
2021*
Math
67%
ELA
52%
2022
Math
77%
2025
Math
79.5%
ELA
53.9%

* 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: 7.9/10.

How Lake Prairie Elementary School Compares

See how Lake Prairie Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
7.2/10
70th percentile in IN
Academic
9.2/10
9.2/10
Growth
7.9/10
Above average
Environment
2.6/10
Below average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
23%
Teaching Staff
19:1 student-teacher ratio
22 teachers

Location

11601 W 181st Ave, Lowell, IN 46356

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Lake Prairie Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Jane Ball Elementary School (rated 7.8/10, 6.1 miles away, in nearby Cedar Lake), which scores slightly higher. Another option is Douglas MacArthur Elem School (rated 7.4/10, 7.1 miles away, in nearby Cedar Lake), with a very similar rating. Additionally, Three Creeks Elem School (rated 7.3/10, 3.8 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Lowell, see our Lowell schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 9.5 mi
School Distance Rating
Oak Hill Elementary School Lowell 2.3 mi 5.1
Lowell Middle School Lowell 2.5 mi 3.7
Red Cedars Elementary Cedar Lake 4.5 mi 6.1
Hanover Central Middle School Cedar Lake 4.7 mi 4.9
Three Creeks Elem School Lowell 3.8 mi 7.3
Lowell Senior High School Lowell 4.1 mi 7.2
Jane Ball Elementary School Cedar Lake 6.1 mi 7.8
Hanover Central High School Cedar Lake 6.2 mi 7.1
Douglas MacArthur Elem School Cedar Lake 7.1 mi 7.4
Lincoln Elementary School Cedar Lake 9.1 mi 4.9
ILLIANA CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL Dyer 9.2 mi 6.8
ILLIANA CHRISTIAN HIGH SCHOOL Dyer 9.2 mi 6.6
PROTESTANT REFORMED/HERITAGE CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS Dyer 9.4 mi 6.3
CROWN POINT CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Saint John 9.6 mi 6.3
Dwight D Eisenhower Elem School Crown Point 9.1 mi 5.9
Crown Point High School Crown Point 9.1 mi 7.6
Beecher Junior High School Beecher 8.4 mi 6.0
Lake Village Elementary School Lake Village 10.6 mi 5.1
Lake Street Elementary School Crown Point 9.7 mi 6.8
Robert Taft Middle School Crown Point 9.5 mi 6.5

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 46356 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$87,535

Median Home Value

$256,300

Median Rent

$1,190/mo

Population

19,396

College Educated

20.1%

Homeownership

89.2%

Avg Commute

33 min

Poverty Rate

6.6%

Median Age

40

Community Profile

The community surrounding Lake Prairie Elementary School has a median household income of $87,535. It is a community where 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $256,300, with a median rent of $1,190/month. The local poverty rate of 6.6% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 33 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Bittersweet Elementary School Mishawaka, IN 7.2
College Corner Union Elem School College Corner, IN 7.2
Hailmann Elementary School Laporte, IN 7.2
Horace Mann Elementary Huntington, IN 7.2
Knightstown Elementary School Knightstown, IN 7.2
Lakeland Intermediate School Lagrange, IN 7.2

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Lake Prairie Elementary School

What grades does Lake Prairie Elementary School serve?

Lake Prairie Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Lake Prairie Elementary School?

Lake Prairie Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 426 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Lake Prairie Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Lake Prairie Elementary School is 19.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Lake Prairie Elementary School rank in IN?

Lake Prairie Elementary School is ranked #557 out of 1,823 schools in IN.

What is Lake Prairie Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Lake Prairie Elementary School has a composite rating of 7.2 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Lake Prairie Elementary School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Lake Prairie Elementary School has 76.6% math proficiency and 55.2% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Lake Prairie Elementary School a charter school?

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

Is Lake Prairie Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Lake Prairie Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Lake Prairie Elementary School?

22.5% of students at Lake Prairie 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
9 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
26 Somewhat Bikeable
City Safety
Low (228/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. City-level (Lowell). Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
426
Student-Teacher Ratio
19.4:1
Teachers (FTE)
22
Free/Reduced Lunch
22.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Lake County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Tri-Creek School Corporation
District Enrollment
3,209
Schools in District
5
Per-Pupil Spending
$11,406
District Rank
#2 of 5

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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