Excellent
#23 of 1,823 schools in IN
Top 1% in state
Merle Sidener Gifted Academy
Middle School · Indianapolis Public Schools · Indianapolis, IN
An Indianapolis Public Schools middle school where students score 24 points above what's typical for similar communities.
2424 Kessler Blvd E Dr, Indianapolis, IN 46220
- Math 69% vs IN 46% (2025)
- Reading 65% vs IN 41% (2025)
- 16:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Merle Sidener Gifted Academy score 67% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 43%).
2025 ILEARN proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IN average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 7 points since 2020, to 67% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 84% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 86% (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
45.4%
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 Merle Sidener Gifted Academy 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 Indianapolis map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 64Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 34Some Transit
- Bike 53Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,237/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Indianapolis), 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
$103,735
Median home value
$329,700
Median rent
$1,330/mo
College educated
66.9%
Homeownership
64.9%
Poverty rate
7.6%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 46220; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastwood Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 7.4 | 6–8 | 1.6 mi | 822 | Compare → |
| In Math & Science Academy - NorthCharter · enrollment unverified | 4.0 | K–12 | 1.9 mi | 600 | Compare → |
| Indiana School for the DeafEnrollment path unverified | 4.8 | PK–12 | 2.1 mi | 274 | Compare → |
| Apogee School for the GiftedPrivate · tuition | Not rated | K–9 | 2.2 mi | 25 | 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.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Indianapolis Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 48
- Rank in district
- #2 of 47
- District spending per student
- $23,197NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 29.4%Census SAIPE · 2024
Merle Sidener Gifted Academy is listed in Indianapolis Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Merle Sidener Gifted Academy
Merle Sidener Gifted Academy is a public middle school in Indianapolis, IN, part of Indianapolis Public Schools, serving approximately 304 students in grades 2nd-8th with a 16:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 9.4 out of 10 and ranks #23 of 1,823 schools in IN. State assessment records show 84% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 86% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Merle Sidener Gifted Academy
What grades does Merle Sidener Gifted Academy serve?
Merle Sidener Gifted Academy serves students in grades 2nd through 8th.
How many students attend Merle Sidener Gifted Academy?
Merle Sidener Gifted Academy has an enrollment of approximately 304 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Merle Sidener Gifted Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Merle Sidener Gifted Academy is 16:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Merle Sidener Gifted Academy rank in IN?
Merle Sidener Gifted Academy ranks #23 of 1,823 schools in IN.
What is Merle Sidener Gifted Academy's MySchoolScout rating?
Merle Sidener Gifted Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 9.4 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 Merle Sidener Gifted Academy?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Merle Sidener Gifted Academy has 84% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 86% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Merle Sidener Gifted Academy a charter school?
No, Merle Sidener Gifted Academy is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Merle Sidener Gifted Academy a Title I school?
No, Merle Sidener Gifted Academy is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Merle Sidener Gifted Academy?
45.4% of students at Merle Sidener Gifted Academy 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
- 2nd – 8th
- Enrollment
- 304
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 16:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 19
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Marion County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 11.5%
- Phone
- (317) 226-4259
- Area population (ZIP 46220)
- 36,159
- Area average commute
- 24.2 min
- Area median age
- 34.9
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 46220; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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