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Excellent

#178 of 1,823 schools in IN

Top 10% in state

Wakarusa Elementary School

Elementary School · Wa-Nee Community Schools

400 N Washington St Box 408, Wakarusa, IN 46573

Enrollment

557

Student-Teacher

15.5:1

Score

8.3

Grades

Kindergarten – 5th

Updated 2022-23

How this school compares

In Wakarusa

#2 of 3

public schools

Indiana elementary schools

#129 of 1,047

In district

#2 of 5

Wa-Nee Community Schools

Equity

9.7 / 10

Exceptional

About Wakarusa Elementary School

Wakarusa Elementary School is a public elementary school in Wakarusa, IN, part of the Wa-Nee Community Schools. The school serves approximately 557 students in grades Kindergarten – 5th with a student-teacher ratio of 15.5:1. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 8.3/10, placing it in the 90.3th percentile among IN schools — an above average rating overall.

Students demonstrate 73% proficiency in math, 27 points above the state average and 64% in reading/language arts, 23 points above the state average. The school scores particularly well in student growth (8.4/10). Located in a neighborhood with a median household income of $79,375, where 26% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

The school is situated in a distant rural setting.

What Parents Should Know

Located in a rural area, Wakarusa Elementary School may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress8.4Excellent50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data4
Annual Change+0.12 pts/yr
Data Period2019–2025
TrendStable
Academics9.6Exceptional30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency72%
Reading/ELA Proficiency64.2%
Math vs. State Avg+20.5 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+24 pts
Overall Proficiency68%
Expected (poverty-adj.)50%
vs. Expected+18.1 pts
Adjusted Percentile94th
College ReadinessNot Available

Data not available for this school

Resources & Environment6.3Above Average20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio15.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$12,120

Wakarusa Elementary School — Students at Wakarusa Elementary School score 68% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 50%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

33.8%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores IN ILEARN (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 73.3%
School
State
46.1%
ELA Proficiency 63.9%
School
State
40.8%

Based on 15 test records from IN state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2019
Math
72%
ELA
64%
2021*
Math
73%
ELA
62%
2022
Math
78%
2025
Math
72.6%
ELA
64.4%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 8.4/10.

How Wakarusa Elementary School Compares

See how Wakarusa Elementary School performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.3/10
90th percentile in IN
Academic
9.6/10
9.6/10
Growth
8.4/10
Above average
Environment
6.3/10
Above average

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
34%
Teaching Staff
16:1 student-teacher ratio
36 teachers

Location

400 N Washington St Box 408, Wakarusa, IN 46573

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Wakarusa Elementary School may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Woodview Elementary School (rated 7.8/10, 6.0 miles away, in nearby Nappanee), with a comparable rating. Another option is Madison Elementary School (rated 7.4/10, 4.6 miles away), with a comparable rating. Additionally, Jimtown Elementary School (rated 4.9/10, 6.9 miles away, in nearby Elkhart), a more accessible option. For more schools in Wakarusa, see our Wakarusa schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 6.9 mi
School Distance Rating
North Wood Middle School Wakarusa 0.3 mi 8.9
OLD ORDER MENNONITE GARDEN SPOT Wakarusa 1.7 mi 3.6
COUNTRY ECHOS Nappanee 2.8 mi 4.8
WABASH SCHOOL Wakarusa 2.6 mi
PINE VIEW Wakarusa 3.5 mi 3.4
PINEVIEW Wakarusa 3.5 mi 3.4
OAK GROVE SCHOOL AMISH Nappanee 4.2 mi 3.3
OAK GROVE SCHOOL Nappanee 4.2 mi 3.3
EAST LOCKE SCHOOL Nappanee 5.0 mi
North Wood High School Nappanee 5.6 mi 6.6
UNITED CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Nappanee 5.8 mi 7.2
HARRISON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Goshen 4.5 mi 6.0
MORNING STAR SCHOOL Goshen 4.7 mi
Madison Elementary School Wakarusa 4.6 mi 7.4
Woodview Elementary School Nappanee 6.0 mi 7.8
BORKHOLDER SCHOOL C/O STEVEN L. YODER Nappanee 6.0 mi 4.5
WELDY AMISH SCHOOL Nappanee 6.4 mi 4.4
Jimtown High School Elkhart 6.7 mi 8.0
Jimtown Junior High School Elkhart 6.8 mi 7.4
Jimtown Elementary School Elkhart 6.9 mi 4.9

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 46573 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$79,375

Median Home Value

$219,800

Median Rent

$1,054/mo

Population

3,943

College Educated

26.2%

Homeownership

91.9%

Avg Commute

24.8 min

Poverty Rate

6.5%

Median Age

38.7

Community Profile

The community surrounding Wakarusa Elementary School has a median household income of $79,375. It is an area where 26% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $219,800, with a median rent of $1,054/month. The local poverty rate of 6.5% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Carey Ridge Elementary School Westfield, IN 8.3
Fremont Elementary School Fremont, IN 8.3
Grant Line Elementary School New Albany, IN 8.3
Green Valley Elementary School New Albany, IN 8.3
Hendry Park Elementary School Angola, IN 8.3
James B Eads Elementary School Munster, IN 8.3

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Wakarusa Elementary School

What grades does Wakarusa Elementary School serve?

Wakarusa Elementary School serves students in grades Kindergarten through 5th.

How many students attend Wakarusa Elementary School?

Wakarusa Elementary School has an enrollment of approximately 557 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Wakarusa Elementary School?

The student-teacher ratio at Wakarusa Elementary School is 15.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Wakarusa Elementary School rank in IN?

Wakarusa Elementary School is ranked #178 out of 1,823 schools in IN.

What is Wakarusa Elementary School's MySchoolScout rating?

Wakarusa Elementary School has a composite rating of 8.3 out of 10 on MySchoolScout. This score combines academic performance, student growth, and school environment into a single score. Equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Wakarusa Elementary School?

Based on the most recent state assessment data, Wakarusa Elementary School has 73.3% math proficiency and 63.9% reading/ELA proficiency.

Is Wakarusa Elementary School a charter school?

No, Wakarusa Elementary School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Wakarusa Elementary School a Title I school?

No, Wakarusa Elementary School is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Wakarusa Elementary School?

33.8% of students at Wakarusa 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.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
14 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
55 Bikeable
County Safety
Average (455/100K)

Powered by Walk Score

FBI UCR 2024. County-level only. Data >1 year old.

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Kindergarten – 5th
Enrollment
557
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
36
Free/Reduced Lunch
33.8%
Type
regular
Setting
Distant Rural
County
Elkhart County
Data Year
2023–2024

District

Wa-Nee Community Schools
District Enrollment
2,857
Schools in District
5
Per-Pupil Spending
$12,677
District Rank
#2 of 5

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

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