Needs Improvement
#1740 of 1,823 schools in IN
Valley Mills Elementary School
Elementary School · Msd Decatur Township · Indianapolis, IN
A Msd Decatur Township elementary school serving grades Kindergarten – 6th.
5101 S High School Rd, Indianapolis, IN 46221
- Math 22% vs IN 45% (2025)
- Reading 24% vs IN 41% (2025)
- 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Valley Mills Elementary School score 23% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 21%).
2025 ILEARN proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. IN average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 65 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 23% recently.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 46% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 48% (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
82.8%
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 Valley Mills 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. Open the Indianapolis map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 44Car-Dependent
- Transit 21Minimal Transit
- Bike 37Somewhat Bikeable
- 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
$58,316
Median home value
$174,900
Median rent
$1,111/mo
College educated
16.2%
Homeownership
60.8%
Poverty rate
16%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 46221; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
3 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Damar Charter AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified | 4.4 | K–12 | 1.0 mi | 179 | Compare → |
| Blue AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 5.0 | K–6 | 1.2 mi | 683 | Compare → |
| Gold AcademyEnrollment path unverified | 4.6 | K–6 | 1.2 mi | 534 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Msd Decatur Township
- Schools in district
- 10
- Rank in district
- #8 of 8
- District spending per student
- $12,193NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 19.6%Census SAIPE · 2024
Valley Mills Elementary School is listed in MSD Decatur Township; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Valley Mills Elementary School
Valley Mills Elementary School is a public elementary school in Indianapolis, IN, part of Msd Decatur Township, serving approximately 581 students in grades Kindergarten-6th with a 15.3:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.1 out of 10 and ranks #1,740 of 1,823 schools in IN. State assessment records show 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 48% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Valley Mills Elementary School
What grades does Valley Mills Elementary School serve?
Valley Mills Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 6th.
How many students attend Valley Mills Elementary School?
Valley Mills Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 581 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Valley Mills Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Valley Mills Elementary School is 15.3:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Valley Mills Elementary School rank in IN?
Valley Mills Elementary School ranks #1,740 of 1,823 schools in IN.
What is Valley Mills Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?
Valley Mills Elementary School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.1 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 Valley Mills Elementary School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Valley Mills Elementary School has 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 48% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Valley Mills Elementary School a charter school?
No, Valley Mills Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Valley Mills Elementary School a Title I school?
No, Valley Mills Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Valley Mills Elementary School?
82.8% of students at Valley Mills 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
- 581
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.3:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 38
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large City
- County
- Marion County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 43.4%
- Phone
- (317) 856-6363
- Area population (ZIP 46221)
- 26,255
- Area average commute
- 25.4 min
- Area median age
- 34.2
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 46221; 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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