Below Average
#1466 of 1,823 schools in IN
Thea Bowman Leadership Academy
School · Thea Bowman Leadership Academy · Gary, IN
A charter school in Gary, IN where students score 12 points below what's typical for similar communities.
3401 W 5th Ave, Gary, IN 46406
- Math 11% vs IN 42% (2025)
- Reading 18% vs IN 41% (2025)
- 77.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Thea Bowman Leadership Academy score 14% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 26%).
2025 ILEARN proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IN average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 6 points since 2020, reaching 15% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 27% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 37% (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 44 test records from IN state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
74.1%
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 Thea Bowman Leadership 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 Chicago map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 32Car-Dependent
- Bike 31Somewhat 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
$35,631
Median home value
$86,300
Median rent
$972/mo
College educated
8.6%
Homeownership
46.9%
Poverty rate
34.8%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 46406; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gary Lighthouse Charter SchoolCharter · enrollment unverified | 5.6 | K–12 | 0.5 mi | 1,066 | Compare → |
| 21st Century Charter Sch of GaryCharter · enrollment unverified | 6.0 | K–12 | 2.3 mi | 1,213 | Compare → |
| Steel City AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified | 5.2 | K–12 | 3.1 mi | 317 | Compare → |
| Repairer of the Breach Ministries (d211)Private · tuition | Not rated | PK–9 | 3.7 mi | 27 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
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.
Thea Bowman Leadership Academy
- Schools in district
- 1
- Rank in district
- #1 of 1
- District spending per student
- $13,755NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- The source release did not match this district identifier.
Thea Bowman Leadership Academy is listed in Thea Bowman Leadership Academy; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Thea Bowman Leadership Academy
Thea Bowman Leadership Academy is a public school in Gary, IN, part of Thea Bowman Leadership Academy, serving approximately 849 students in grades Kindergarten-12th with a 17.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.7 out of 10 and ranks #1,466 of 1,823 schools in IN. State assessment records show 27% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 37% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Thea Bowman Leadership Academy
What grades does Thea Bowman Leadership Academy serve?
Thea Bowman Leadership Academy serves students in grades Kindergarten through 12th.
How many students attend Thea Bowman Leadership Academy?
Thea Bowman Leadership Academy has an enrollment of approximately 849 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thea Bowman Leadership Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Thea Bowman Leadership Academy is 17.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Thea Bowman Leadership Academy rank in IN?
Thea Bowman Leadership Academy ranks #1,466 of 1,823 schools in IN.
What is Thea Bowman Leadership Academy's MySchoolScout rating?
Thea Bowman Leadership Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.7 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 Thea Bowman Leadership Academy?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Thea Bowman Leadership Academy has 27% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 37% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Thea Bowman Leadership Academy a charter school?
Yes, Thea Bowman Leadership Academy is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.
Is Thea Bowman Leadership Academy a Title I school?
No, Thea Bowman Leadership Academy is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Thea Bowman Leadership Academy?
74.1% of students at Thea Bowman Leadership 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
- Kindergarten – 12th
- Enrollment
- 849
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 17.7:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 48
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Lake County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 30.3%
- Phone
- (219) 944-3100
- 4-Year Graduation
- 77.0%
- Area population (ZIP 46406)
- 8,513
- Area average commute
- 25.8 min
- Area median age
- 32.4
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 46406; 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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