Best traditional public schools in Indianapolis Public Schools (2025)

District-run public schools. Ranked by the Success Index (US) from official American data; 46 schools in Indianapolis Public Schools, Indiana. Rank positions shown on each profile are within United States and Indiana.

1
89
Joseph J. Bingham School 84 Center for InquiryIndianapolis · Public Elementary77% Math proficiency · 360 students
2
84
Merle Sidener Academy 59 - a High Ability SchoolIndianapolis · Public Elementary78% Math proficiency · 228 students
3
70
Benjamin Harrison School 2 Center for InquiryIndianapolis · Public Elementary50% Math proficiency · 303 students
4
61
George Washington Carver School 87 - a Montessori SchoolIndianapolis · Public Elementary52% Math proficiency · 246 students
5
59
Broad Ripple Middle School - an IB World SchoolIndianapolis · Public Middle57.9% Free/reduced-price lunch · 623 students
6
53
Thomas Carr Howe Middle School - an IB World SchoolIndianapolis · Public Middle70.8% Free/reduced-price lunch · 455 students
7
53
Mary Nicholson School 70 Center for InquiryIndianapolis · Public Elementary44% Math proficiency · 351 students
8
52
William Bell School 60 - a Butler Lab Reggio Emilia SchoolIndianapolis · Public Elementary38% Math proficiency · 381 students
9
49
Charity Dye School 27 Center for InquiryIndianapolis · Public Elementary35% Math proficiency · 348 students
10
46
Rousseau McClellan School 91 - a Montessori SchoolIndianapolis · Public Elementary39% Math proficiency · 506 students
11
45
Washington Irving Neighborhood School 14Indianapolis · Public Elementary77.4% Free/reduced-price lunch · 230 students
12
38
Theodore Potter School 74 - a Dual Language SchoolIndianapolis · Public Elementary27% Math proficiency · 208 students
13
37
Shortridge High SchoolIndianapolis · Public High23% Math proficiency · 1,206 students
14
37
Ernie Pyle School 90 - a Paideia SchoolIndianapolis · Public Elementary37% Math proficiency · 268 students
15
34
Eliza Baker School 55 - a Butler Lab Reggio Emilia SchoolIndianapolis · Public Elementary22% Math proficiency · 301 students
16
32
Meredith Nicholson School 96 - an Exploratory SchoolIndianapolis · Public Elementary23% Math proficiency · 391 students
17
31
George W. Julian School 57 Center for InquiryIndianapolis · Public Elementary22% Math proficiency · 165 students
18
30
William Penn Middle School - a STEM SchoolIndianapolis · Public Middle23% Math proficiency · 367 students
19
30
H. L. Harshman Middle SchoolIndianapolis · Public Middle15% Math proficiency · 509 students
20
29
Cold Spring SchoolIndianapolis · Public Elementary17% Math proficiency · 359 students
21
28
Jonathan Jennings School 109 - an Exploratory SchoolIndianapolis · Public Elementary17% Math proficiency · 275 students
22
28
James A. Garfield School 31 - a STEM SchoolIndianapolis · Public Elementary22% Math proficiency · 173 students
23
28
William McKinley School 39 - an Exploratory SchoolIndianapolis · Public Elementary31% Math proficiency · 386 students
24
28
Clarence Farrington School 61 - an Exploratory SchoolIndianapolis · Public Elementary13% Math proficiency · 451 students
25
27
Carl Wilde School 79 Center For Inquiry - an Inquiry SchoolIndianapolis · Public Elementary21% Math proficiency · 472 students
26
26
Eleanor Skillen School 34 - a Montessori SchoolIndianapolis · Public Elementary7.5% Math proficiency · 328 students
27
26
Lew Wallace School 107 - an Exploratory SchoolIndianapolis · Public Elementary18% Math proficiency · 440 students
28
26
Christian Park School 82 - an Exploratory SchoolIndianapolis · Public Elementary23% Math proficiency · 251 students
29
26
Edison School of the Arts 47Indianapolis · Public Elementary25% Math proficiency · 617 students
30
24
Fredrick Douglas School 19 - an Exploratory SchoolIndianapolis · Public Elementary12% Math proficiency · 259 students
31
24
Anna Brochhausen School 88 - a STEM SchoolIndianapolis · Public Elementary22% Math proficiency · 326 students
32
23
James Russell Lowell School 51 - a Montessori SchoolIndianapolis · Public Elementary12% Math proficiency · 363 students
33
23
Ralph Waldo Emerson School 58 - an Exploratory SchoolIndianapolis · Public Elementary12% Math proficiency · 241 students
34
23
Brookside School 54 - an Exploratory SchoolIndianapolis · Public Elementary11% Math proficiency · 366 students
35
23
James Whitcomb Riley School 43Indianapolis · Public Elementary6% Math proficiency · 240 students
36
22
Charles Warren Fairbanks School 105 - an Exploratory SchoolIndianapolis · Public Elementary2.5% Math proficiency · 398 students
37
22
Daniel Webster School 46 - an Exploratory SchoolIndianapolis · Public Elementary17% Math proficiency · 416 students
38
22
Northwest Middle School - an IB World SchoolIndianapolis · Public Middle4% Math proficiency · 623 students
39
21
H.W. Longfellow Middle School - an IB World SchoolIndianapolis · Public Middle11% Math proficiency · 538 students
40
21
Thomas Gregg Neighborhood School 15Indianapolis · Public Elementary20% Math proficiency · 525 students
41
21
Arlington Middle School - a STEM SchoolIndianapolis · Public Middle2% Math proficiency · 365 students
42
19
Crispus Attucks High SchoolIndianapolis · Public High3% Math proficiency · 1,269 students
43
19
Arsenal Technical High SchoolIndianapolis · Public High2% Math proficiency · 2,360 students
44
19
George Washington High SchoolIndianapolis · Public High2.5% Math proficiency · 729 students
45
17
Robert Lee Frost School 106 - a STEM SchoolIndianapolis · Public Elementary12% Math proficiency · 308 students
46
11
Sankofa School of Success at Arlington Woods School 99Indianapolis · Public Elementary5% Math proficiency · 361 students

#	School	Sector	Success Index (US)	Key result	Students
1	Joseph J. Bingham School 84 Center for Inquiry Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	89.3 Top 5%	77% Math proficiency	360
2	Merle Sidener Academy 59 - a High Ability School Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades 1–5	Public	83.8 Top 10%	78% Math proficiency	228
3	Benjamin Harrison School 2 Center for Inquiry Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	70.0 Top 25%	50% Math proficiency	303
4	George Washington Carver School 87 - a Montessori School Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	60.7 Top 50%	52% Math proficiency	246
5	Broad Ripple Middle School - an IB World School Indianapolis · Middle · Grades 6–8	Public	58.5 Top 50%	57.9% Free/reduced-price lunch	623
6	Thomas Carr Howe Middle School - an IB World School Indianapolis · Middle · Grades 6–8	Public	53.1 Top 50%	70.8% Free/reduced-price lunch	455
7	Mary Nicholson School 70 Center for Inquiry Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	52.8 Top 50%	44% Math proficiency	351
8	William Bell School 60 - a Butler Lab Reggio Emilia School Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	51.5 Top 50%	38% Math proficiency	381
9	Charity Dye School 27 Center for Inquiry Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	48.5 Lower 50%	35% Math proficiency	348
10	Rousseau McClellan School 91 - a Montessori School Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	45.5 Lower 50%	39% Math proficiency	506
11	Washington Irving Neighborhood School 14 Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	44.7 Lower 50%	77.4% Free/reduced-price lunch	230
12	Theodore Potter School 74 - a Dual Language School Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades K–5	Public	37.7 Lower 50%	27% Math proficiency	208
13	Shortridge High School Indianapolis · High · Grades 9–12	Public	37.2 Lower 50%	23% Math proficiency	1,206
14	Ernie Pyle School 90 - a Paideia School Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	36.6 Lower 50%	37% Math proficiency	268
15	Eliza Baker School 55 - a Butler Lab Reggio Emilia School Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	34.0 Lower 50%	22% Math proficiency	301
16	Meredith Nicholson School 96 - an Exploratory School Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	31.8 Lower 50%	23% Math proficiency	391
17	George W. Julian School 57 Center for Inquiry Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	31.4 Lower 50%	22% Math proficiency	165
18	William Penn Middle School - a STEM School Indianapolis · Middle · Grades 6–8	Public	30.4 Lower 50%	23% Math proficiency	367
19	H. L. Harshman Middle School Indianapolis · Middle · Grades 6–8	Public	29.9 Lower 50%	15% Math proficiency	509
20	Cold Spring School Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades K–8	Public	29.4 Lower 50%	17% Math proficiency	359
21	Jonathan Jennings School 109 - an Exploratory School Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	28.1 Lower 50%	17% Math proficiency	275
22	James A. Garfield School 31 - a STEM School Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	27.8 Lower 50%	22% Math proficiency	173
23	William McKinley School 39 - an Exploratory School Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	27.8 Lower 50%	31% Math proficiency	386
24	Clarence Farrington School 61 - an Exploratory School Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	27.5 Lower 50%	13% Math proficiency	451
25	Carl Wilde School 79 Center For Inquiry - an Inquiry School Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	27.1 Lower 50%	21% Math proficiency	472
26	Eleanor Skillen School 34 - a Montessori School Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	26.2 Lower 50%	7.5% Math proficiency	328
27	Lew Wallace School 107 - an Exploratory School Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	26.1 Lower 50%	18% Math proficiency	440
28	Christian Park School 82 - an Exploratory School Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	25.6 Lower 50%	23% Math proficiency	251
29	Edison School of the Arts 47 Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades K–8	Public	25.5 Lower 50%	25% Math proficiency	617
30	Fredrick Douglas School 19 - an Exploratory School Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	23.8 Lower 50%	12% Math proficiency	259
31	Anna Brochhausen School 88 - a STEM School Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	23.6 Lower 50%	22% Math proficiency	326
32	James Russell Lowell School 51 - a Montessori School Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	23.0 Lower 50%	12% Math proficiency	363
33	Ralph Waldo Emerson School 58 - an Exploratory School Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	23.0 Lower 50%	12% Math proficiency	241
34	Brookside School 54 - an Exploratory School Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	22.9 Lower 50%	11% Math proficiency	366
35	James Whitcomb Riley School 43 Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	22.5 Lower 50%	6% Math proficiency	240
36	Charles Warren Fairbanks School 105 - an Exploratory School Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	22.4 Lower 50%	2.5% Math proficiency	398
37	Daniel Webster School 46 - an Exploratory School Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	22.1 Lower 50%	17% Math proficiency	416
38	Northwest Middle School - an IB World School Indianapolis · Middle · Grades 6–8	Public	21.8 Lower 50%	4% Math proficiency	623
39	H.W. Longfellow Middle School - an IB World School Indianapolis · Middle · Grades 6–8	Public	21.0 Lower 50%	11% Math proficiency	538
40	Thomas Gregg Neighborhood School 15 Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	20.7 Lower 50%	20% Math proficiency	525
41	Arlington Middle School - a STEM School Indianapolis · Middle · Grades 6–8	Public	20.6 Lower 50%	2% Math proficiency	365
42	Crispus Attucks High School Indianapolis · High · Grades 9–12	Public	19.1 Lower 50%	3% Math proficiency	1,269
43	Arsenal Technical High School Indianapolis · High · Grades 9–12	Public	18.8 Lower 50%	2% Math proficiency	2,360
44	George Washington High School Indianapolis · High · Grades 9–12	Public	18.5 Lower 50%	2.5% Math proficiency	729
45	Robert Lee Frost School 106 - a STEM School Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades PK–5	Public	16.5 Lower 50%	12% Math proficiency	308
46	Sankofa School of Success at Arlington Woods School 99 Indianapolis · Elementary · Grades PK–6	Public	11.3 Lower 50%	5% Math proficiency	361

Joseph J. Bingham School 84 Center for Inquiry in Indianapolis leads the 2025 list of traditional public schools in Indianapolis Public Schools with a Success Index (US) of 89.3. Of the 46 schools shown, 46 are public.

For the full picture see the wider Indiana traditional public schools rankings, every school on the Indianapolis Public Schools page, or the comparison tool to put a shortlist side by side.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the best public school in Indianapolis Public Schools?

Joseph J. Bingham School 84 Center for Inquiry in Indianapolis, Indiana ranks first among traditional public schools in Indianapolis Public Schools with a Success Index (US) of 89.3 out of 100 (Enrollment: 360).

How are traditional public schools in Indianapolis Public Schools ranked?

Each school's Success Index (US) combines 4 factors: math proficiency (30%), reading proficiency (30%), community advantage (fewer free/reduced-price lunch) (25%), students per teacher (15%). Each factor is a percentile against schools of the same type across United States. Schools with fewer than 60 students are excluded from rankings.

Are these 2025 rankings official?

No. They are computed by Success Tutoring from official American data (Urban Institute Education Data Portal (NCES CCD, EDFacts); NCES Common Core of Data). States set their own assessments and proficiency cut scores, so proficiency rates are most comparable within a state. Use the state rankings for like-for-like comparisons.