The top reported proficiency rate is 14% in English language arts. The lowest is 6% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on East Chicago Lighthouse Charter
East Chicago Lighthouse Charter is a small district in Lake County, Indiana, serving students from preschool through eighth grade. It is a single-school district, operating one building that houses all of its grades. Because it does not serve high school students, there is no graduation rate to report, and that is a function of the grade band, not a missing outcome.
The student body is composed almost entirely of two demographic groups: roughly half of the students are Black, and a slightly smaller share are Hispanic. The remaining enrollment is very small, with only a handful of students from other racial backgrounds. The district’s total enrollment is modest for a PK through eight grade band. Data on how many students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, receive special education services, or are classified as English learners was not available; a parent may wish to ask the school about these support structures directly.
On the most recent state assessments, the ILEARN, academic performance is low across all tested subjects. In math, the proficiency rate sits below one in eight students. In English language arts, it is only a little higher. In science, fewer than one in ten students reached the proficiency standard. In social studies, which is tested only in fifth grade, the rate is even lower. Compared with other districts in Lake County, East Chicago Lighthouse Charter’s overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quarter of the county. This consistency across subjects is a signal that a parent should look into how the school is addressing core instruction and whether its academic approach matches a child’s learning needs.
Chronic absenteeism is a notable concern. More than two out of five students are chronically absent, a rate that is also in the bottom quarter among the county’s districts. Regular attendance is closely linked to academic progress, and this figure suggests that a significant share of students are missing substantial amounts of instructional time. A parent moving into the area may want to hear directly from the school about what steps are being taken to improve attendance.
On the spending side, per-pupil current expenditures are in the upper half of Lake County districts, falling in the middle range overall. That suggests the district is allocating at least an average level of resources per student relative to its neighbors, though without program-specific data, it is unclear whether those funds are concentrated in areas like intervention, enrichment, or staffing.
There is no available data on the school’s locale, so it is not possible to describe the surrounding neighborhood or housing market from this source. The district brief contained no parent-relevant changes from recent years that could be confirmed, so none are included here.
East Chicago Lighthouse Charter is a small, elementary-through-middle-grade district serving a predominantly Black and Hispanic student body. Its academic results and attendance rates are weak compared with the broader field of Lake County districts. A family considering this school would be well served to visit, observe classrooms, and ask about the school’s strategies for raising achievement and improving daily attendance.
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