Jay School Corporation, IN

Original Research by School Decision on Jay School Corporation

Jay School Corporation serves the entirety of Jay County in east-central Indiana, covering the small cities of Portland and Dunkirk along with several unincorporated communities. The district operates six schools for a student population that is overwhelmingly white and rural. For families living in the county, this is the only public school system available, so the decision point is less about choosing among districts and more about understanding what this single district offers.

Student assessment results on the state's ILEARN exams show that a minority of students meet proficiency benchmarks. In math for grades 3 through 8, less than half of students reached the proficient or above level. English language arts results were lower still. Science and social studies proficiency rates, tested in specific grades, were also below the midpoint. For a parent reading these results, the pattern is clear: academic attainment in the core subjects is an area where the district trails state averages, and a family may want to ask what academic support and intervention programs are in place.

The district enrolls students from prekindergarten through twelfth grade, and its secondary school, Jay County Jr/Sr High School, is the single building where all older students attend. The district has reported significant capital construction spending in recent fiscal data, reflecting investment in facilities across its six school buildings. This suggests that the physical learning environment has been a focus of recent attention, though specific details about curriculum changes or program expansions were not available from public sources.

Housing in Jay County is markedly more affordable than the national and state benchmarks. Home values across the county's zip codes vary, with some communities seeing recent appreciation while others have held steady or declined slightly. The overall picture is a rural housing market where a family can purchase a home at a cost well below what they would find in Indiana's more populated regions. This affordability is a central draw for families considering a move to the area.

The student body is composed almost entirely of white students, with a small Hispanic population and negligible representation of other racial and ethnic groups. Data on the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price meals, as well as counts of students with disabilities and English learners, were not available. A parent looking for a diverse peer environment will find that the district reflects the broader demographic reality of Jay County itself.

Because Jay School Corporation is the sole district in the county, there is no direct basis for comparison with nearby districts on measures like proficiency, graduation rates, or spending. This means a family cannot easily benchmark the district against a neighbor; the relevant reference point is the state as a whole, where the district's proficiency numbers sit at a level that many families will consider a soft spot worth investigating.

For a family already living in Jay County or considering a move to this part of Indiana, the district offers a straightforward K-12 path in a low-cost housing market, with recent facility investment under way. The academic numbers give a clear signal that achievement is an area of ongoing work, and a parent would be well served to ask the district directly about its approach to raising proficiency and supporting students who are below grade level.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

2,987

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 8%

Black 1%

White 89%

Asian 0%

Two+ 2%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

28%

49%

Gr 4

37%

54%

Gr 5

38%

53%

Gr 6

39%

55%

Gr 7

18%

32%

Gr 8

21%

37%

Math

Gr 3

44%

64%

Gr 4

39%

56%

Gr 5

29%

56%

Gr 6

48%

63%

Gr 7

26%

43%

Gr 8

21%

43%

Science

Gr 4

42%

52%

Gr 6

44%

57%

Social studies

Gr 5

41%

49%

Schools in this District

6 schools are officially reported under this district.

Bloomfield Elementary School

East Elementary School

East Jay Elementary

Jay County Jr/Sr High School

Redkey Elementary School

West Jay Elementary

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

1 grade reported

43%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

37%

Grades 3-8

Science

1 grade reported

48%

Grades 3-8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

44%

Grade 5

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$175,839

Year-over-year change+2.3%

Range across 8 ZIP codes$124K to $256K

vs. state typical0.69x

vs. national typical0.48x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (8 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
47371	Portland	$167K	+1.2%	57.1%
47326	Bryant	$256K	+4.1%	16.6%
47369	Pennville	$166K	+3.5%	8.7%
47373	Redkey	$137K	+4.1%	7.6%
47336	Dunkirk	$124K	-2.5%	6.6%
47380	Ridgeville	$160K	+17.6%	1.8%
47390	Union City	$139K	+12.3%	1.4%
47320	Albany	$195K	+4.6%	0.1%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$887/mo

Home price / national median income2.1x

Comparison

State typical home value$256,584 (+3.0% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.