Very Good
#635 of 1,823 schools in IN
Top 35% in state
Northern Heights Elementary School
Elementary School · Whitley County Con Schools · Columbia City, IN
A Whitley County Con Schools elementary school where students score 5 points below what's typical for similar communities.
5209 N SR 109, Columbia City, IN 46725
- Math 52% vs IN 46% (2025)
- Reading 43% vs IN 41% (2025)
- 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Northern Heights Elementary School score 47% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 52%).
2025 ILEARN proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IN average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 34 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 47% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 66% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 63% (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
31%
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 Northern Heights 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.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 3Car-Dependent
- Bike 26Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated1,001/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Columbia City), 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
$76,214
Median home value
$216,700
Median rent
$907/mo
College educated
24.7%
Homeownership
79.3%
Poverty rate
8.8%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 46725; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cornerstone Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 3.8private | K–12 | 4.6 mi | 59 | Compare → |
| Coesse SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.7 | K–5 | Not available | 301 | Compare → |
| Little Turtle Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.4 | K–5 | Not available | 597 | Compare → |
| Mary Raber Elementary SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 3.3 | PK–5 | Not available | 290 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Whitley County Con Schools
- Schools in district
- 6
- Rank in district
- #1 of 6
- District spending per student
- $10,015NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 9.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
Northern Heights Elementary School is listed in Whitley County Con Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Northern Heights Elementary School
Northern Heights Elementary School is a public elementary school in Columbia City, IN, part of Whitley County Con Schools, serving approximately 519 students in grades Kindergarten-5th with a 15.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 out of 10 and ranks #635 of 1,823 schools in IN. State assessment records show 66% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 63% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Northern Heights Elementary School
What grades does Northern Heights Elementary School serve?
Northern Heights Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.
How many students attend Northern Heights Elementary School?
Northern Heights Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 519 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Northern Heights Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Northern Heights Elementary School is 15.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Northern Heights Elementary School rank in IN?
Northern Heights Elementary School ranks #635 of 1,823 schools in IN.
What is Northern Heights Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Northern Heights Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.1 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 Northern Heights Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Northern Heights Elementary School has 66% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 63% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Northern Heights Elementary School a charter school?
No, Northern Heights Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Northern Heights Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Northern Heights Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Northern Heights Elementary School?
31.0% of students at Northern Heights 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
- Kindergarten – 5th
- Enrollment
- 519
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 33
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Whitley County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 9.4%
- Phone
- (260) 691-2371
- Area population (ZIP 46725)
- 22,941
- Area average commute
- 21.7 min
- Area median age
- 42.4
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 46725; 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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