The top reported proficiency rate is 19% in Math. The lowest is 6% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on 21st Century Charter Sch of Gary
21st Century Charter Sch of Gary operates as a single-school district serving kindergarten through twelfth grade. Because it is a charter school authorized by Ball State University, its governance and accountability differ from those of traditional public school districts in Lake County. The school draws a large student body, the vast majority of whom are Black, with a small Hispanic presence and very few white or multiracial students. Income data was not reported, so the share of students from low-income households is unknown.
On the 2024-25 Indiana ILEARN assessments, the district’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it below the midpoint when compared with other districts in Lake County. In elementary and middle school math, roughly one out of every five students scored at a proficient or advanced level. In English language arts, the share was similar, just under one in five. Science proficiency was lower, and social studies proficiency, tested only in grade five, was markedly lower still. A parent considering this school will want to understand these results in context: a large proportion of students are performing below state benchmarks, and the school’s charter authorizer issued a notice of probation in 2020 specifically citing reading comprehension and math scores that fell below state averages in elementary and middle grades. Probation does not close a school immediately, but it signals that the authorizer has serious concerns about academic performance, and it can affect renewal decisions.
The district’s chronic absenteeism rate, at about a third of students, is also above the midpoint among Lake County districts. That means a substantial number of students are missing enough school to affect their learning, a pattern families may want to explore further.
On the resource side, per-pupil current spending is in the upper range among county districts, meaning the school invests more per student than many of its neighbors. Yet that higher spending does not translate into higher test outcomes, a gap that warrants direct inquiry from parents: what is being funded, and how is it being used to raise achievement?
A graduation rate was not available for this district, so it is not possible to assess how many students who enter ninth grade complete high school in four years. Because the school serves all grades in one building, the peer environment is consistent from kindergarten through senior year. Families considering this school will want to verify current academic progress after the 2020 probation and ask the school leadership about steps taken to improve learning outcomes. The school’s location serves the city of Gary, but no specific community context data was provided for the city itself.
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