The top reported proficiency rate is 22% in Science. The lowest is 4% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Options Charter Schools
Options Charter Schools is a mid-sized charter district based in Hamilton County, Indiana. It serves students from kindergarten through twelfth grade, though most of its enrollment by grade band is concentrated in the upper grades, with a particularly large number of students in the twelfth grade. The district operates three separate campuses: Options Westfield, Options Noblesville, and Options Indiana, each providing a small-campus alternative within the county. Options Westfield opened in summer 2021, offering grades six through twelve a traditional school day schedule and a small student-to-teacher ratio, according to the school's website. This expansion gave families in the area an additional brick-and-mortar option. Because this is a charter district that bills itself as an alternative, some of the typical metrics used to evaluate conventional public schools may not fully capture what it offers, and parents should consider the fit carefully.
State assessment results for grades three through eight, from the ILEARN exam, show that the share of students scoring proficient or above in math was well short of the state average. In English language arts the share was higher than in math but still low compared to district peers, and in science the share reached roughly one in five students. Across all tested subjects and grade levels, the district's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile among Hamilton County's districts, where the county median index is above half of students proficient. These results may partly reflect the nature of the charter's mission: alternative schools often serve students who have not thrived in conventional settings, which can depress test-based performance. A parent should discuss with the district how it supports academic growth given these numbers.
The chronic absenteeism rate, which measures the share of students missing a substantial portion of the school year, is high. The district's rate sits in the bottom quartile among county districts, meaning absenteeism is notably more prevalent here than in most other Hamilton County systems. This is a soft spot that likely relates to the alternative mission, but a parent may want to ask the school directly what it does to keep students engaged and attending.
Enrollment is predominantly white, with a small share of students who are Hispanic, two or more races, Black, or Asian. Data on students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, students with disabilities, and English learners is not available, so it is not possible to describe the district's share of students from low-income households or the level of specialized support for those groups. The district's per-pupil current spending is in the middle range among county districts, but on the upper half of that band, suggesting it puts resources into its schools relative to its neighbors.
A graduation rate was not reported in the available data, which is a gap. For a district that serves a high number of twelfth-graders, a parent would reasonably want to know what share of students finish high school on time. This is worth raising with the district directly. Because this is an alternative charter, missing data like this may reflect the district's specific population or reporting practices rather than a failure, but a family should ask.
The district does not have a single geographic home. The three campuses are all located within Hamilton County, an area that includes a mix of suburban towns and developing areas. With the 2021 addition of the Westfield campus, the district expanded its geographic reach and physical presence in the county. For families looking for a small-school alternative with a stated focus on individual attention and a traditional day schedule, Options Charter Schools offers that structure. For families focused primarily on state test outcomes and typical graduation rates, the available numbers give reason to investigate further. The district is best understood as an alternative pathway within a county of high-performing conventional districts, and the fit depends on what a particular student needs.
See more original research from School Decision →