The top reported proficiency rate is 6% in English language arts. The lowest is 0% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Dynamic Minds Academy
Dynamic Minds Academy is a single-school charter district in Marion County, Indiana, serving kindergarten through twelfth grade. Publicly reported information describes this district as designed for students with autism, which shapes every aspect of its academic identity. The district is small. Its enrollment is modest for a K‑12 entity, with classes that are small in size across most grades. The student body is majority white, with a notable share of Black students, a smaller but meaningful Hispanic population, and a group of students who identify as two or more races. Data on economic disadvantage, students with disabilities (beyond the autism designation), and English learners were not available from the state.
State assessment results are available for a limited number of students who took the ILEARN exams. In math, a very small fraction of tested students scored at or above the proficient level. In English language arts, the share reached proficiency was also very low. In science, none of the tested students met the proficient benchmark. Social studies results were suppressed due to a very small testing count. These proficiency rates place the district in the bottom quartile among Marion County’s districts for overall academic performance. That position is consistent with what one might expect from a specialized school serving students whose learning needs are not well captured by standardized tests designed for the general population, though the data alone do not explain the causes. A parent considering this school should discuss with the school how academic progress is measured and what alternative benchmarks are used.
The district’s chronic absenteeism rate falls in the top quartile among county districts, meaning that, relative to other Marion County schools, a smaller proportion of students are frequently absent. That is notable for a school serving students with a condition that can make school attendance challenging. Per-pupil current spending is in the upper range among county districts, reflecting the higher costs of running a specialized program with small class sizes and tailored supports.
No graduation rate was available, so how the district’s secondary students complete their education is not reported in the data we reviewed. No recent strategic changes or program additions were found in public sources; the district appears to maintain a stable focus on its mission.
Dynamic Minds Academy is a niche option within Marion County’s school landscape. It serves a very small population of students with autism across all grade levels in a single building. The academic results on state tests are far below county averages, but that is the pattern for a school whose purpose is not general instruction but specialized support. For a family whose child has autism and who is seeking an environment that may be more attuned to that diagnosis, this district is worth investigating directly to understand its approach, its curriculum, and how it defines success for its students.
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