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A big garage would be nice, as would a pool, but for many house hunters, top marks go to homes that are in a good school district. Almost a third of homebuyers listed school quality as their deciding factor, according to a survey last year by the National Association of Realtors.

However, buying a home near good schools comes at a cost. Not only are homes typically more expensive in districts with quality schools, but local taxes are often higher, too.

NerdWallet’s analysis

To determine which places are worth the extra cost, NerdWallet examined 281 school districts in Indiana for quality. Our analysis considered test scores, graduation rates and class size and compared that data with housing costs. The lower the costs, which include mortgage payments and property taxes, the higher the district ranked on our list.

Best school districts for your buck in Indiana

1. Orleans Community Schools

The 98.6% graduation rate and 90.7% pass rate on the end-of-course assessment in algebra in Orleans Community Schools mean it has one of the highest ranks in Indiana. Orleans also had a median home value of $88,300 in 2013, which made the area one of the most affordable on the list.

2. Crawfordsville Community Schools

Crawfordsville stands out in several of our metrics. Among the 281 school districts we analyzed, Crawfordsville’s average SAT score of 1553 was the 18th highest and its graduation rate of 98.7% was the seventh highest in the state. The median home value of $93,000 was the second lowest in our top 10 and $20,000 below the state median.

3. Carroll Consolidated School Corporation

Carroll Consolidated, which has a robotics team for high school students, touts its growing STEM program (science, technology, engineering and math). Other notable achievements include an algebra end-of-course assessment pass rate of 91.8%, which tied for second highest in the top 10.

4. South Adams Schools

South Adams made our list with consistent performance in all metrics, including a graduation rate of 96.1% and an average SAT score of 1476. South Adams is also notable for its technology push, which has equipped every elementary school student with an iPad and high school students with laptops. The high school was honored as one of Indiana’s National Blue Ribbon Schools in 2015.

5. Northwestern School Corporation

Northwestern School Corporation’s graduation rate of 99.2% was the highest in our top 10, and the fourth highest in the state. The average SAT score of 1589 was the eighth highest on the list. However, the quality comes at a price: The median home value here of $132,400 was one of the highest in the top 10.



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6. Delaware Community School Corporation

The Delaware Community School Corporation, which received an “A” from the Indiana Department of Education, boasts an end-of-course assessment pass rate of 91.8% and an SAT average of 1508. In addition to academics, the district’s Delta High School is known for athletic excellence in a variety of sports.

7. West Lafayette Community School Corporation

Students in this school district have the highest SAT average among the 281 districts NerdWallet analyzed. The area also ranked in the top 20 for the graduation rate of 98.5% and its end-of-course assessment pass rate of 92.7%. With a median home value of $173,600, West Lafayette was the most expensive school district in the top 10.

8. North Spencer County School Corporation

North Spencer has shown consistent quality, with an “A” grade from the Indiana Department of Education for the past four years. The district’s graduation rate of 98.6% is 12th highest on the list, and its end-of-course assessment pass rate of 91.2% was 29th. While the median home value of $123,300 topped the state median, it did so by only about $10,000.

9. Speedway School Town

While the town of Speedway is best known for its auto races, it makes our list for finishing ahead of other school districts. Speedway boasts a graduation rate of 98.2% and an SAT average of 1520, the 34th highest of the 281 districts analyzed in this report.

10. DeKalb County Eastern Community School District

While DeKalb’s SAT average of 1628 was the fourth highest in the state, its overall score in our study was hurt by a below-median graduation rate of 86.8%, which was ranked 245th in Indiana. But students’ performance has improved over the past two years and the district is now rated with a “B” by the Indiana Department of Education.

Best school districts for your buck in Indiana

Rank School district Graduation rate for class of 2014 End-of-Course Assessment pass rate for algebra I Average SAT score Student-to-educator ratio 2013 median home value Score 1 Orleans Community Schools 98.60% 90.70% 1485 13.66 $88,300 80.02 2 Crawfordsville Community Schools 98.70% 70.50% 1553 11.89 $93,000 78.38 3 Carroll Consolidated School Corporation 94.00% 91.80% 1548 14.42 $98,400 77.08 4 South Adams Schools 96.10% 89.40% 1476 13.39 $108,300 75.64 5 Northwestern School Corporation 99.20% 82.90% 1589 14.36 $132,400 75.53 6 Delaware Community School Corporation 96.40% 91.80% 1508 15.42 $105,500 73.49 7 West Lafayette Community School Corporation 98.50% 92.70% 1784 14.31 $173,600 73.24 8 North Spencer County School Corporation 98.60% 91.20% 1481 14.92 $123,300 73.18 9 Speedway School Town 98.20% 80.60% 1520 12.71 $117,500 73.09 10 DeKalb County Eastern Community School District 86.80% 76.80% 1628 7.26 $94,800 72.75 11 Southeast Dubois County School Corporation 98.40% 95.10% 1514 16.49 $135,300 72.63 12 Mississinewa Community School Corporation 96.70% 79.70% 1453 15.47 $79,600 72.54 13 Bloomfield School District 100.00% 86.50% 1390 15.38 $89,100 72.13 14 John Glenn School Corporation 96.50% 92.10% 1510 14.69 $127,400 72.04 15 Liberty-Perry Community School Corporation 95.10% 89.70% 1457 14.14 $94,200 71.77 16 Barr-Reeve Community School Corporation 95.20% 92.90% 1467 13.14 $139,200 71.47 17 Vincennes Community School Corporation 95.90% 73.20% 1476 13.77 $82,300 71.47 18 Loogootee Community School Corporation 98.60% 75.80% 1498 17.51 $92,500 71.01 19 Warren County Metropolitan School District 95.70% 92.50% 1406 12.86 $95,800 70.55 20 New Castle Community School Corporation 93.80% 67.90% 1509 12.94 $81,200 70.5 21 Clinton Central School Corporation 98.80% 80.70% 1464 13.23 $98,800 70.48 22 Wabash City Schools 92.80% 81.30% 1423 14.25 $73,800 70.24 23 Randolph Southern School Corporation 95.60% 73.70% 1457 13.38 $83,300 70.16 24 Rush County Schools 98.00% 75.60% 1467 14.15 $101,500 69.99 25 Monroe Central School Corporation 98.60% 81.80% 1334 14.16 $77,600 68.93 26 South Vermillion Community School Corporation 96.00% 69.60% 1444 13.66 $75,500 68.88 27 Eastern Howard School Corporation 99.10% 85.50% 1460 15.12 $123,300 68.6 28 Madison-Grant United School Corporation 96.40% 83.80% 1410 15.14 $90,700 68.48 29 South Henry School Corporation 98.60% 82.60% 1409 13.48 $104,000 68.18 30 Logansport Community School Corporation 92.20% 76.30% 1411 12.06 $72,400 68.01 31 White River Valley School District 93.20% 75.90% 1440 14.63 $78,200 67.87 32 Peru Community Schools 96.20% 76.10% 1360 15.56 $65,600 67.6 33 Shenandoah School Corporation 95.20% 89.90% 1439 17.21 $99,900 67.57 34 Marion Community Schools 94.50% 73.90% 1384 13.25 $71,600 67.49 35 Clay Community Schools 92.20% 85.90% 1438 14.31 $91,300 67.31 36 Southwest Allen County Metropolitan School District 95.00% 94.10% 1593 14.84 $169,200 67.24 37 West Washington School Corporation 97.50% 81.70% 1366 14.32 $95,100 67.18 38 Northwest Allen County Schools 96.90% 93.30% 1575 16.5 $169,200 67.14 39 Tri-Township Consolidated School Corporation 95.70% 80.00% 1455 10.69 $125,800 66.95 40 Perry Central Community School Corporation 98.60% 84.50% 1409 16.32 $112,500 66.94 41 C. A. Beard Memorial School Corporation 96.10% 89.00% 1424 15.51 $102,100 66.91 42 North Harrison Community School Corporation 97.00% 78.20% 1496 16.07 $124,900 66.77 43 Monroe County Community School Corporation 92.60% 81.70% 1598 12.93 $160,700 66.73 44 Washington Community School Corporation 95.20% 75.20% 1440 14.83 $94,100 66.55 45 Fayette County School Corporation 91.40% 86.70% 1417 14.83 $81,700 66.51 46 Richmond Community School Corporation 95.40% 70.10% 1419 13.03 $86,000 66.3 47 Rochester Community School Corporation 98.30% 82.20% 1362 14.57 $98,100 66.28 48 Pike County School Corporation 90.40% 86.80% 1420 14.16 $85,800 66.2 49 North Lawrence Community Schools 89.40% 87.00% 1479 13.56 $102,400 66.1 50 West Central School Corporation 88.90% 84.10% 1484 12.13 $106,000 66.05 51 South Central Community School Corporation 98.50% 95.50% 1431 14.61 $147,700 65.74 52 Benton Community School Corporation 93.20% 75.30% 1465 13.6 $92,300 65.32 53 Medora Community School Corporation 100.00% 51.70% 1377 10.57 $83,900 65.28 54 Manchester Community Schools 90.40% 81.10% 1506 16.79 $99,500 65.26 55 Alexandria Community School Corporation 96.00% 77.20% 1398 16.36 $88,000 65.24 56 Southeast Fountain School Corporation 93.50% 72.40% 1432 13.9 $81,300 65.18 57 Clark-Pleasant Community School Corporation 95.70% 89.00% 1454 16.23 $121,000 65.14 58 North Posey County Schools Metropolitan School District 97.80% 65.90% 1485 13.31 $126,500 65.04 59 Lafayette School Corporation 89.20% 77.40% 1465 11.87 $99,300 65 60 South Gibson School Corporation 93.80% 92.80% 1493 17.96 $126,700 64.96 61 Western Boone County Community School Corporation 98.10% 86.40% 1499 15.72 $147,800 64.94 62 Lebanon Community School Corporation 96.20% 81.80% 1463 14.34 $125,700 64.93 63 Fairfield Community Schools 92.90% 91.00% 1537 15.51 $158,800 64.92 64 Clarksville Community School Corporation 97.70% 65.30% 1427 14.32 $102,900 64.68 65 Plainfield Community School Corporation 94.10% 94.20% 1536 17.08 $151,800 64.68 66 Brownsburg Community School Corporation 98.30% 92.30% 1486 14.95 $159,400 64.68 67 Daleville Community Schools 87.10% 91.90% 1476 13.75 $95,800 64.58 68 South Montgomery Community School Corporation 98.30% 74.30% 1419 13.64 $117,900 64.57 69 Greensburg Community Schools 94.50% 79.70% 1419 14.88 $109,400 64.55 70 Randolph Eastern School Corporation 98.00% 56.00% 1369 12.9 $64,600 64.48 71 Elwood Community School Corporation 91.40% 65.60% 1459 13.71 $77,100 64.27 72 Warsaw Community Schools 93.80% 81.70% 1481 13.76 $132,500 64.19 73 Jay School Corporation 95.60% 66.60% 1373 13.22 $79,300 64.18 74 Batesville Community School Corporation 96.20% 85.50% 1581 14.8 $178,900 64.08 75 Nineveh-Hensley-Jackson United School Corporation 97.00% 85.40% 1514 14.92 $158,100 63.86 76 Northeast Dubois County School Corporation 90.10% 92.90% 1454 14.74 $125,700 63.83 77 Centerville-Abington Community Schools 93.20% 74.00% 1533 16.01 $112,500 63.79 78 Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation 97.70% 88.00% 1556 19.09 $164,000 63.74 79 Franklin Township Community School Corporation 97.00% 91.60% 1466 16.55 $139,100 63.68 80 Brown County County School Corporation 92.30% 96.00% 1466 12.48 $157,400 63.63 81 Mount Vernon Metropolitan School District 88.60% 79.80% 1563 13.41 $129,800 63.61 82 Muncie Community Schools 92.50% 63.70% 1408 13.25 $71,300 63.52 83 Bluffton-Harrison Metropolitan School District 96.80% 53.20% 1450 12.92 $95,900 63.52 84 Mitchell Community Schools 87.30% 84.90% 1468 15.84 $89,400 63.5 85 Argos Community Schools 90.60% 70.80% 1477 13.51 $96,600 63.26 86 Vigo County School Corporation 93.40% 67.50% 1468 15.59 $91,600 63.14 87 North Adams Community Schools 93.30% 66.70% 1440 11.71 $107,800 63.08 88 Tri-County School Corporation 90.00% 61.20% 1530 12.29 $99,000 63.06 89 Salem Community Schools 94.10% 65.00% 1465 15.52 $95,000 62.97 90 Huntington County Community School Corporation 89.60% 74.50% 1483 14.14 $97,100 62.86 91 Union County-College Corner Joint School District 87.70% 70.90% 1555 13.11 $107,000 62.64 92 Eastern Pulaski Community School Corporation 89.70% 79.60% 1424 14.35 $95,100 62.6 93 South Harrison Community Schools 95.10% 66.30% 1469 14.34 $114,000 62.59 94 Wes-Del Community Schools 96.90% 75.80% 1371 11.96 $117,600 62.43 95 South Spencer County School Corporation 92.90% 76.00% 1419 15.36 $95,700 62.42 96 Triton School Corporation 91.00% 88.20% 1419 14.34 $106,400 62.29 97 Whitko Community School Corporation 91.20% 82.30% 1476 16.18 $110,100 62.28 98 Greater Jasper Consolidated Schools 96.90% 82.40% 1494 19.03 $138,600 62.1 99 North Daviess Community Schools 95.70% 72.90% 1416 15.3 $117,200 62.09 100 Southwestern Jefferson County Consolidated Schools 90.20% 78.20% 1442 14.16 $100,500 61.95 101 Noblesville Schools 94.30% 85.60% 1568 13.93 $174,500 61.94 102 Edinburgh Community School Corporation 98.10% 75.00% 1329 14.01 $86,800 61.93 103 Springs Valley Community School Corporation 93.20% 76.90% 1395 16.1 $91,700 61.9 104 Lanesville Community School Corporation 100.00% 81.50% 1451 15.76 $167,000 61.72 105 North Putnam Community Schools 94.20% 89.70% 1427 15.48 $121,000 61.65 106 Carmel Clay Schools 97.20% 97.10% 1684 15.82 $288,100 61.63 107 Northern Wells Community Schools 94.60% 73.10% 1460 15.65 $123,000 61.61 108 Frankton-Lapel Community Schools 96.60% 76.10% 1436 17.56 $110,000 61.52 109 Tell City-Troy Township School Corporation 93.70% 65.00% 1434 14.49 $92,800 61.48 110 Prairie Heights Community School Corporation 89.40% 88.40% 1409 12.81 $121,000 61.46 111 Zionsville Community Schools 96.20% 97.20% 1677 15.03 $330,600 61.43 112 Shakamak Schools Metropolitan School District 96.60% 58.40% 1372 14.71 $73,400 61.31 113 North Vermillion Community School Corporation 98.10% 43.50% 1394 11.54 $74,400 61.27 114 Clinton Prairie School Corporation 93.90% 81.60% 1442 15.2 $112,900 61.11 115 Linton-Stockton School Corporation 89.20% 74.20% 1447 16.9 $75,900 61.08 116 Wawasee Community School Corporation 88.60% 87.30% 1483 13.83 $142,300 61.01 117 Greenwood Community School Corporation 92.30% 90.10% 1445 16.6 $125,000 60.96 118 Mill Creek Community School Corporation 96.80% 86.20% 1434 14.29 $160,900 60.91 119 Eastern Greene County School District 93.80% 84.30% 1426 16.29 $119,100 60.89 120 Oak Hill United School Corporation 93.90% 67.20% 1417 14.52 $96,700 60.69 121 Avon Community School Corporation 97.10% 90.00% 1520 17.65 $163,900 60.68 122 East Noble School Corporation 92.50% 76.70% 1440 15.35 $112,600 60.68 123 North Knox School Corporation 94.20% 44.10% 1528 16.69 $74,600 60.5 124 South Madison Community School Corporation 93.80% 83.90% 1491 17.96 $134,300 60.46 125 North Gibson School Corporation 91.30% 63.50% 1436 13.01 $96,100 60.43 126 Smith-Green Community Schools 94.20% 83.90% 1416 14.37 $142,100 60.37 127 Southern Wells Community Schools 96.80% 41.90% 1537 14.64 $113,600 60.37 128 Frankfort Community Schools 90.80% 79.80% 1339 12.64 $87,600 60.23 129 Plymouth Community School Corporation 91.50% 77.90% 1476 14.94 $125,800 60.13 130 Sheridan Community Schools 96.40% 79.50% 1441 13.23 $136,500 59.99 131 Crawford County Community School Corporation 88.70% 78.90% 1396 15.61 $82,700 59.93 132 Goshen Community Schools 85.80% 83.00% 1428 11.61 $113,200 59.8 133 Spencer-Owen Community Schools 92.50% 78.00% 1475 20.67 $105,100 59.67 134 Shelbyville Central Schools 98.00% 68.90% 1401 15.88 $108,500 59.64 135 East Washington School Corporation 95.00% 70.50% 1460 16.32 $114,000 59.56 136 Westfield-Washington Schools 97.80% 92.80% 1585 15.16 $217,500 59.44 137 Hamilton Southeastern Schools 94.60% 95.10% 1603 17.62 $199,100 59.43 138 Jac-Cen-Del Community School Corporation 86.70% 78.60% 1507 13.87 $120,600 59.39 139 Cloverdale Community Schools 87.20% 93.10% 1406 15.93 $99,700 59.35 140 Bartholomew County School Corporation 89.80% 75.50% 1542 15.12 $137,200 59.24 141 Western School Corporation 94.80% 67.00% 1526 14.1 $145,300 59.11 142 Lawrenceburg Community School Corporation 96.60% 77.10% 1393 15.01 $135,200 59.03 143 Munster School Town 97.20% 93.80% 1577 18.81 $196,400 59.01 144 Whitley County Consolidated Schools 94.70% 79.50% 1431 16.32 $134,000 58.98 145 Warrick County School Corporation 91.90% 86.00% 1492 16.1 $146,300 58.98 146 Mishawaka School City 91.50% 64.10% 1403 13.67 $88,900 58.92 147 New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated Schools 96.70% 72.60% 1480 15.22 $150,400 58.88 148 DeKalb County Central United School District 89.90% 76.40% 1490 17.56 $115,600 58.71 149 Blackford County Schools 92.90% 54.40% 1439 16.72 $70,400 58.61 150 Eastern Hancock County Community School Corporation 93.50% 98.20% 1423 15.89 $160,700 58.54 151 West Noble School Corporation 87.30% 90.50% 1379 13.93 $103,500 58.53 152 Wa-Nee Community Schools 90.50% 92.90% 1469 15.82 $156,600 58.45 153 South Putnam Community Schools 94.20% 82.30% 1431 14.78 $143,600 58.29 154 South Knox School Corporation 89.20% 79.80% 1431 16.97 $106,600 58.28 155 East Gibson School Corporation 87.30% 70.40% 1407 12.13 $86,100 58.25 156 La Porte Community School Corporation 88.10% 74.10% 1485 13.72 $118,200 58.24 157 Milan Community Schools 94.10% 57.30% 1518 15.79 $118,300 58.18 158 Nettle Creek School Corporation 93.10% 67.90% 1462 15.89 $113,100 58.17 159 Tipton Community School Corporation 96.90% 55.60% 1444 14.57 $108,000 58.08 160 North Miami Community Schools 89.70% 73.30% 1406 15.19 $92,100 58.03 161 Eastbrook Community School Corporation 88.60% 75.40% 1431 14.95 $104,700 57.97 162 Delphi Community School Corporation 95.90% 64.10% 1393 15.72 $99,500 57.96 163 Lake Station Community Schools 92.50% 83.20% 1321 15.52 $85,700 57.94 164 North Montgomery Community School Corporation 96.10% 64.80% 1404 14.01 $120,200 57.83 165 Shelby Eastern Schools 93.80% 77.10% 1447 15.84 $133,300 57.79 166 Brownstown Central Community School Corporation 93.80% 69.10% 1488 16.3 $136,300 57.73 167 Twin Lakes School Corporation 86.40% 90.80% 1392 13.82 $116,200 57.52 168 Decatur County Community Schools 93.30% 65.70% 1411 13.25 $114,800 57.36 169 Rossville Consolidated School District 90.80% 83.60% 1454 15.46 $129,300 57.07 170 Danville Community School Corporation 94.00% 91.70% 1451 16.56 $156,600 56.92 171 Duneland School Corporation 96.80% 82.80% 1532 17.84 $177,500 56.84 172 Knox Community School Corporation 88.90% 77.60% 1373 15.18 $96,000 56.68 173 Greater Clark County Schools 94.40% 69.20% 1416 14.12 $124,800 56.61 174 Hamilton Community Schools 91.30% 59.50% 1493 9.77 $146,300 56.4 175 Fremont Community Schools 92.50% 75.70% 1446 15.88 $138,300 56.4 176 Hamilton Heights School Corporation 92.50% 72.40% 1541 16.64 $154,800 56.37 177 Southwest School Corporation 91.60% 76.00% 1300 14.38 $80,600 56.36 178 Martinsville Schools Metropolitan School District 89.00% 79.20% 1493 15.06 $136,300 56.32 179 Garrett-Keyser-Butler Community Schools 86.00% 69.00% 1429 13.75 $90,000 56.3 180 Randolph Central School Corporation 85.90% 61.10% 1414 13.26 $76,600 56.18 181 Tippecanoe School Corporation 92.10% 74.90% 1531 16.94 $150,200 56.1 182 Frontier School Corporation 85.70% 77.40% 1452 12.95 $116,000 55.89 183 Middlebury Community Schools 89.90% 84.00% 1487 15.94 $158,000 55.88 184 Richland-Bean Blossom Community School Corporation 90.40% 73.80% 1458 13.53 $142,100 55.87 185 Mount Vernon Community School Corporation 93.80% 89.50% 1475 17.13 $165,400 55.86 186 Attica Consolidated School Corporation 87.30% 79.60% 1377 14.13 $89,500 55.82 187 Baugo Community Schools 94.80% 77.10% 1401 17.27 $129,200 55.72 188 North West Hendricks Schools 94.40% 89.20% 1453 17.14 $164,400 55.69 189 Franklin Community School Corporation 91.40% 77.50% 1485 16.87 $131,300 55.63 190 Oregon-Davis School Corporation 92.70% 68.50% 1244 11.33 $96,700 55.62 191 Northwestern Consolidated School Corporation 98.30% 88.20% 1392 16.86 $156,200 55.54 192 Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Corporation 88.00% 81.00% 1456 17.35 $115,100 55.44 193 North Judson-San Pierre School Corporation 95.80% 53.70% 1391 13.99 $97,800 55.41 194 Seymour Community Schools 96.50% 75.20% 1381 20.83 $118,400 55.24 195 Lakeland School Corporation 91.20% 73.30% 1412 14.62 $122,600 55.15 196 Covington Community School Corporation 94.90% 54.70% 1401 14.63 $103,000 55.02 197 South Newton School Corporation 80.70% 92.50% 1290 11.34 $84,600 54.91 198 Boone Township Metropolitan School District 98.70% 61.30% 1489 16.99 $155,800 54.38 199 Crown Point Community School Corporation 97.00% 84.70% 1483 18.04 $183,100 54.26 200 Jennings County Schools 91.30% 56.60% 1408 14.92 $89,700 54.16 201 Center Grove Community School Corporation 92.60% 86.10% 1563 17.09 $187,200 54.04 202 Southern Hancock County Community School Corporation 95.90% 84.20% 1506 20.06 $170,400 53.95 203 South Ripley Community School Corporation 87.00% 66.30% 1428 13.03 $112,100 53.74 204 Westview School Corporation 90.40% 95.10% 1455 15.51 $218,500 53.23 205 Taylor Community School Corporation 91.80% 51.50% 1451 15.39 $106,000 53.22 206 Maconaquah School Corporation 94.70% 52.00% 1425 16.18 $99,700 53.15 207 Warren Township Metropolitan School District 90.70% 67.30% 1393 14.86 $108,000 52.99 208 Valparaiso Community Schools 91.70% 86.60% 1545 18.94 $182,700 52.96 209 North Newton School Corporation 87.90% 75.60% 1435 15.4 $127,900 52.75 210 Monroe-Gregg School District 91.20% 71.30% 1461 15.46 $143,000 52.71 211 Highland School Town 94.90% 78.60% 1444 18.43 $153,900 52.65 212 Perry Township Metropolitan School District 92.70% 67.30% 1409 15.14 $124,100 52.65 213 Beech Grove City Schools 88.80% 52.20% 1444 14.42 $93,400 52.34 214 Wabash County Schools Metropolitan School District 90.60% 58.10% 1405 14.34 $111,800 52.31 215 Rising Sun-Ohio County Community Schools 90.60% 64.70% 1472 14.91 $137,900 52.15 216 Union Township School Corporation 94.00% 76.20% 1550 16.77 $210,800 52.13 217 Sunman-Dearborn Community School Corporation 96.20% 87.10% 1436 17.74 $183,600 52.13 218 Pike Township Metropolitan School District 93.90% 66.80% 1415 15.01 $134,700 52.02 219 Southwest Dubois County School Corporation 84.00% 75.90% 1472 16.11 $123,900 51.82 220 East Porter County School Corporation 93.40% 83.90% 1451 15.82 $184,500 51.8 221 Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation 79.70% 82.00% 1427 14.34 $105,800 51.69 222 Pioneer Regional School Corporation 88.60% 54.70% 1396 13.62 $91,300 51.69 223 Kankakee Valley School Corporation 88.80% 84.40% 1429 16.3 $155,500 51.49 224 Steuben County Metropolitan School District 84.80% 70.30% 1500 16.99 $119,400 51.44 225 Western Wayne Schools 85.60% 75.70% 1380 19.11 $84,000 51.23 226 Decatur Township Metropolitan School District 89.70% 75.40% 1350 16.45 $109,000 51.22 227 Anderson Community School Corporation 90.00% 50.40% 1380 12.91 $83,000 51.18 228 Washington Township Metropolitan School District 86.10% 80.20% 1540 14.46 $173,200 51.18 229 Portage Township Schools 92.50% 82.20% 1381 17.79 $135,400 51.17 230 Greenfield-Central Community Schools 88.60% 78.80% 1452 18.14 $130,300 51.11 231 South Dearborn Community School Corporation 92.10% 69.10% 1435 16.87 $138,100 50.67 232 West Clark Community Schools 95.20% 67.40% 1393 15.44 $147,900 50.57 233 North White School Corporation 91.30% 47.20% 1407 15.41 $99,700 50.41 234 Franklin County Community School Corporation 93.70% 60.20% 1435 16.85 $130,300 50.32 235 New Prairie United School Corporation 95.60% 71.50% 1375 17.66 $150,100 50.19 236 Whiting School City 93.60% 86.40% 1305 17.55 $115,500 50.14 237 Michigan City Area Schools 85.80% 75.40% 1368 14.15 $115,000 50.08 238 Northeast School Corporation 81.80% 78.90% 1381 19.59 $73,300 49.91 239 Fort Wayne Community Schools 88.60% 52.90% 1376 14.12 $92,900 49.83 240 Switzerland County School Corporation 92.60% 62.80% 1333 14.4 $110,800 49.77 241 Northeastern Wayne Schools 87.50% 58.70% 1429 14.88 $106,600 49.7 242 Caston School Corporation 83.90% 55.00% 1444 14.69 $92,500 49.57 243 Lake Central School Corporation 95.00% 86.10% 1488 17.97 $210,700 49.48 244 Crothersville Community Schools 86.00% 50.00% 1392 13.12 $88,800 49.02 245 Hobart School City 93.40% 69.70% 1383 18.29 $128,200 48.74 246 Tri-Creek School Corporation 96.80% 77.60% 1405 20.09 $167,100 48.55 247 Madison Consolidated Schools 88.60% 57.80% 1420 16.08 $113,800 48.42 248 Scott County School District 2 82.50% 83.60% 1381 16.71 $109,100 48.41 249 Evansville-Vanderburgh School Corporation 81.70% 66.30% 1446 13.81 $112,900 48.2 250 Concord Community Schools 87.50% 69.00% 1392 15.31 $125,900 47.95 251 Blue River Valley Schools 80.90% 72.70% 1428 13.2 $114,200 47.45 252 East Allen County Schools 84.80% 64.80% 1428 15.76 $113,800 47.32 253 Lawrence Township Metropolitan School District 87.90% 78.60% 1427 16.4 $152,000 46.97 254 Bremen Public Schools 89.50% 59.50% 1412 14.16 $137,600 46.83 255 Shoals Community School Corporation 83.30% 51.20% 1386 12.65 $82,700 46.55 256 Union School Corporation 88.60% 40.10% 1421 13.07 $95,500 46.53 257 New Durham Township Metropolitan School District 98.60% 51.30% 1411 17.35 $150,300 46.5 258 Eminence Community School Corporation 84.80% 75.00% 1384 12 $148,100 46.32 259 Mooresville Consolidated School Corporation 90.90% 63.10% 1438 17.88 $143,000 46.07 260 Southwest Parke Community School Corporation 74.50% 67.50% 1284 11.94 $74,300 45.87 261 Lake Ridge Schools 95.20% 40.10% 1234 15.12 $79,100 45.85 262 Kokomo-Center Township Consolidated School Corporation 84.60% 41.00% 1397 13.19 $79,200 45.77 263 Union-North United School Corporation 87.80% 53.70% 1399 15.19 $117,500 45.7 264 Greencastle Community School Corporation 85.90% 65.20% 1420 14.44 $128,500 45.11 265 Wayne Township Metropolitan School District 93.90% 41.70% 1325 14.12 $98,600 45 266 Elkhart Community Schools 86.90% 40.10% 1411 13.1 $103,800 44.8 267 Hanover Community School Corporation 95.80% 72.50% 1464 18.27 $203,100 44.64 268 Culver Community Schools Corporation 86.20% 51.40% 1370 13.17 $112,600 44.53 269 Southwestern Shelby County Consolidated Schools 94.40% 60.80% 1363 14 $153,200 44.3 270 Central Noble Community School Corporation 86.70% 46.10% 1441 17.05 $111,600 43.07 271 Porter Township School Corporation 87.20% 81.30% 1435 17.26 $189,500 42.23 272 Southeastern School Corporation 82.20% 63.60% 1361 17.25 $100,400 41.83 273 Paoli Community School Corporation 80.70% 44.00% 1406 16.09 $85,800 39.81 274 Hammond School City 83.30% 55.50% 1255 13.99 $92,200 38.5 275 Merrillville Community School 92.90% 57.00% 1289 16.74 $140,600 37.99 276 City of East Chicago School District 84.30% 53.50% 1203 15.2 $82,900 37.91 277 Gary Community School Corporation 85.50% 42.60% 1147 17.06 $65,600 36.43 278 Griffith Public Schools 84.10% 68.80% 1392 19.76 $140,300 36.43 279 Indianapolis Public Schools 71.50% 43.90% 1265 11.57 $81,800 34.71 280 South Bend Community School Corporation 76.40% 49.70% 1374 17.44 $102,500 34.32 281 River Forest Community School Corporation 76.20% 53.80% 1295 17.8 $79,400 33.18

Methodology

We examined 281 public school districts in Indiana. Some districts were omitted because of missing data. Our analysis took into account four factors:

Graduation rate. We looked at the graduation rate for the class of 2013-2014. The data from the Indiana Department of Education are 20% of the score.

Test scores. This score includes the 2013-2014 End-of-Course Assessment pass rate for algebra for grades 7-12 and the most-recent SAT score data, for the class of 2011-12. The figures from the Indiana Department of Education are 40% of the score.

Class size. We looked at a district’s 2014-2015 average ratio of students to educators, which includes teachers as well as administrators. The data from the Indiana Department of Education are 10% of the score.

Housing cost. We averaged the median home value score and selected monthly owner costs, which includes utilities, real estate taxes, mortgage payments and condo fees. The more expensive the district, the lower the score. Data are from the 2013 American Community Survey, a division of the U.S. Census Bureau. This is 30% of our score.

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