Below Average
#1498 of 1,823 schools in IN
Southern Wells Elementary School
Elementary School · Southern Wells Com Schools · Poneto, IN
A Southern Wells Com Schools elementary school where students score 4 points below what's typical for similar communities.
9120 S 300 W, Poneto, IN 46781
- Math 37% vs IN 45% (2025)
- Reading 31% vs IN 41% (2025)
- 17.8:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Southern Wells Elementary School score 34% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 38%).
2025 ILEARN proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IN average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 9 points since 2020, to 34% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 59% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 55% (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 40 test records from IN state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
54.9%
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 Southern Wells 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 4Car-Dependent
- Bike 26Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Low57/100K
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
$89,886
Median home value
$184,200
Median rent
$531/mo
College educated
9.9%
Homeownership
91.4%
Poverty rate
5.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 46781; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
0 from verified nearby records
No verified same-level alternatives
The available nearby set has no same-level school with a verified grade span.
Southern Wells Com Schools
- Schools in district
- 2
- Rank in district
- #2 of 2
- District spending per student
- $10,929NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 9.1%Census SAIPE · 2024
Southern Wells Elementary School is listed in Southern Wells Com Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Southern Wells Elementary School
Southern Wells Elementary School is a public elementary school in Poneto, IN, part of Southern Wells Com Schools, serving approximately 499 students in grades Kindergarten-6th with a 17.8:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 out of 10 and ranks #1,498 of 1,823 schools in IN. State assessment records show 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Southern Wells Elementary School
What grades does Southern Wells Elementary School serve?
Southern Wells Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.
How many students attend Southern Wells Elementary School?
Southern Wells Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 499 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southern Wells Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Southern Wells Elementary School is 17.8:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Southern Wells Elementary School rank in IN?
Southern Wells Elementary School ranks #1,498 of 1,823 schools in IN.
What is Southern Wells Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Southern Wells Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.6 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 Southern Wells Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Southern Wells Elementary School has 59% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 55% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Southern Wells Elementary School a charter school?
No, Southern Wells Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Southern Wells Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Southern Wells Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Southern Wells Elementary School?
54.9% of students at Southern Wells 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 – 6th
- Enrollment
- 499
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17.8:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 28
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Rural
- County
- Wells County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 9.8%
- Phone
- (765) 728-2121
- Area population (ZIP 46781)
- 879
- Area average commute
- 29.4 min
- Area median age
- 40.1
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 46781; 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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