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Average

#1258 of 1,823 schools in IN

Little Turtle Elementary School

Elementary School · Whitley County Con Schools

1710 S State Rd 9, Columbia City, IN 46725

Enrollment

597

Student-Teacher

15.3:1

Score

5.4

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

Indiana schools

#1,258 of 1,823

In Columbia City

#3 of 6

public schools

In district

#3 of 6

Whitley County Con Schools

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Little Turtle Elementary School

5.4/10

Elementary School in Columbia City · grades Kindergarten – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Indian Springs Middle School

4.2/10

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

Columbia City High School

5.2/10

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

About Little Turtle Elementary School

Little Turtle Elementary School is a public elementary school in Columbia City, IN, part of Whitley County Con Schools. Little Turtle Elementary School serves approximately 597 students, and covers grades Kindergarten-5th, and has a 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio. Little Turtle Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 out of 10 and ranks #1,258 of 1,823 schools in IN.

Structured state assessment records for Little Turtle Elementary School show 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 5.4 · Average
  • District avg 5.4
  • IN avg 6.6

What Parents Should Know

Little Turtle Elementary School sits in a rural area, which can mean longer drives for some families. Rural schools are often community anchors with smaller classes, but check transportation, after-school options, and access to specialized services before you commit.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress4.9Below Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-3.69 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics6.0Average30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency44.7% (2025 ILEARN)
Reading/ELA Proficiency39% (2025 ILEARN)
Math vs. State Avg-6.8 pts
Reading vs. State Avg-1.2 pts
Overall Proficiency42% (2025 ILEARN, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)48% (model expectation from 2025 ILEARN)
vs. Expected-6.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile43th
Resources & Environment5.9Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.3:1
Per-Pupil Spending$10,015
Chronic Absenteeism11.4%

Little Turtle Elementary School — Students at Little Turtle Elementary School score 42% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 48%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

37.4%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IN ILEARN (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 59.5% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
46.1% (2025 ILEARN)
ELA Proficiency 58.8% (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
78%
ELA
77%
2010
Math
82%
ELA
89%
2011
Math
81%
ELA
86%
2012
Math
88%
ELA
84%
2013
Math
88%
ELA
86%
2014
Math
71%
ELA
76%
2015
Math
63%
ELA
73%
2016
Math
62%
ELA
67%
2017
Math
59%
ELA
62%
2018
Math
52%
ELA
41%
2019
Math
52%
ELA
41%
2020*
Math
39%
ELA
31%
2021*
Math
39%
ELA
31%
2022
Math
39%
2025
Math
44.6%
ELA
39%

* 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: 4.9/10.

How Little Turtle Elementary School Compares

See how Little Turtle Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
5.4/10
31th percentile in IN
Academic
6.0/10
Average
Growth
4.9/10
Below Average
Environment
5.9/10
Average
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
37%
Teaching Staff
15:1 student-teacher ratio
39 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
11.4%

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

1710 S State Rd 9, Columbia City, IN 46725

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Little Turtle Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Arcola School (rated 9.0/10, 10.4 miles away, in nearby Arcola), which scores notably higher. Another option is Central Noble Primary School (rated 7.8/10, 13.9 miles away, in nearby Wolf Lake), which scores notably higher. Additionally, South Whitley Elementary School (rated 7.5/10, 8.6 miles away, in nearby South Whitley), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Columbia City, see our Columbia City schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 12.0 mi
School Distance Rating
Indian Springs Middle School Columbia City 0.3 mi 4.2
Columbia City High School Columbia City 0.3 mi 5.2
Mary Raber Elementary School Columbia City 1.7 mi 3.3
T.R.O.Y. CENTER Columbia City 1.6 mi 6.6
FAITH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Columbia City 2.2 mi
Coesse School Columbia City 4.5 mi 5.7
Northern Heights Elementary School Columbia City 7.2 mi 7.1
CLEVELAND AMISH SCHOOL South Whitley 6.3 mi
South Whitley Elementary School South Whitley 8.6 mi 7.5
Whitko Jr/Sr High School South Whitley 8.7 mi 5.9
CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Albion 11.0 mi 3.8
Woodside Middle School Fort Wayne 10.2 mi 5.8
Covington Elementary School Fort Wayne 10.3 mi 5.4
Churubusco Jr-Sr High School Churubusco 10.7 mi 4.9
Churubusco Elementary School Churubusco 10.7 mi 5.9
Arcola School Arcola 10.4 mi 9.0
Central Noble Primary School Wolf Lake 13.9 mi 7.8
Roanoke Elementary School Roanoke 13.2 mi 7.3
COUNTRY MEADOW South Whitley 11.7 mi 3.3
Homestead High School Fort Wayne 12.0 mi 8.1

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 46725 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$76,214

Median Home Value

$216,700

Median Rent

$907/mo

Population

22,941

College Educated

24.7%

Homeownership

79.3%

Avg Commute

21.7 min

Poverty Rate

8.8%

Median Age

42.4

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Cleveland Elementary School Elkhart, IN 5.4
Covington Elementary School Fort Wayne, IN 5.4
Greenbriar Elementary School Indianapolis, IN 5.4
Hebron Elementary School Evansville, IN 5.4
Lewis Cass Elementary School Walton, IN 5.4
Lodge Community School Evansville, IN 5.4

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Little Turtle Elementary School

What grades does Little Turtle Elementary School serve?

Little Turtle Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Little Turtle Elementary School?

Little Turtle Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 597 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Little Turtle Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Little Turtle Elementary School is 15.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Little Turtle Elementary School rank in IN?

Little Turtle Elementary School ranks #1,258 of 1,823 schools in IN.

What is Little Turtle Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Little Turtle Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.4 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 Little Turtle Elementary School?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Little Turtle Elementary School has 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 59% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Little Turtle Elementary School a charter school?

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

Is Little Turtle Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Little Turtle Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Little Turtle Elementary School?

37.4% of students at Little Turtle 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
5 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
24 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
597
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.3:1
Teachers (FTE)
39
Free/Reduced Lunch
37.4%
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Rural
County
Whitley County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
11.4%

District

Whitley County Con Schools
District Enrollment
3,690
Schools in District
6
Per-Pupil Spending
$10,015
District Rank
#3 of 6

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