Below Average
#1522 of 1,823 schools in IN
Pierce Middle School
Middle School · Merrillville Community School Corp · Merrillville, IN
A Merrillville Community School Corp middle school where students score 11 points below what's typical for similar communities.
199 E 70th Pl, Merrillville, IN 46410
- Math 16% vs IN 38% (2025)
- Reading 25% vs IN 41% (2025)
- 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Pierce Middle School score 20% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 32%).
2025 ILEARN proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IN average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 7 points since 2020, to 21% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 39% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 50% (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 33 test records from IN state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
64.8%
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 Pierce Middle School 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 Chicago map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 41Car-Dependent
- Bike 47Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Low45/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$61,735
Median home value
$192,100
Median rent
$1,267/mo
College educated
24.4%
Homeownership
63.6%
Poverty rate
14.4%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 46410; 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bailly Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.0 | 6–8 | 3.2 mi | 374 | Compare → |
| Eagle Park Community SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.4 | K–12 | 3.6 mi | 103 | Compare → |
| Lake Ridge New Tech Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 4.8 | 5–8 | 4.5 mi | 432 | Compare → |
| Hobart Middle SchoolEnrollment path unverified | 5.6 | 6–8 | 4.6 mi | 916 | 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.
Merrillville Community School Corp
- Schools in district
- 8
- Rank in district
- #6 of 8
- District spending per student
- $10,733NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 17.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
Pierce Middle School is listed in Merrillville Community School Corp; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Pierce Middle School
Pierce Middle School is a public middle school in Merrillville, IN, part of Merrillville Community School Corp, serving approximately 899 students in grades 7th-8th with a 14.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.5 out of 10 and ranks #1,522 of 1,823 schools in IN. State assessment records show 39% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Pierce Middle School
What grades does Pierce Middle School serve?
Pierce Middle School serves students in grades 7th through 8th.
How many students attend Pierce Middle School?
Pierce Middle School has an enrollment of approximately 899 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pierce Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Pierce Middle School is 14.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Pierce Middle School rank in IN?
Pierce Middle School ranks #1,522 of 1,823 schools in IN.
What is Pierce Middle School's MySchoolScout rating?
Pierce Middle School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.5 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 Pierce Middle School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Pierce Middle School has 39% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 50% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Pierce Middle School a charter school?
No, Pierce Middle School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Pierce Middle School a Title I school?
No, Pierce Middle School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Pierce Middle School?
64.8% of students at Pierce Middle 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
- 7th – 8th
- Enrollment
- 899
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 14.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 62
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Lake County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 21.1%
- Phone
- (219) 650-5308
- Area population (ZIP 46410)
- 38,803
- Area average commute
- 32 min
- Area median age
- 40.8
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 46410; 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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