South Bend Community School Corp, IN

Original Research by School Decision on South Bend Community School Corp

South Bend Community School Corp is the large public school district serving the city of South Bend and surrounding communities in St. Joseph County. It is a PK-12 system with a sizable enrollment that makes it one of the larger districts in the county. Families considering this district will find a racially and ethnically diverse student body, with Black and Hispanic students each making up roughly a quarter of the enrollment or more, alongside White students and a smaller share of multiracial students. Asian and Native American populations are present but very small. Data on the share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price meals was not available, nor were figures on special education or English learner enrollment, so a parent may want to ask the district directly about those supports.

Academically, the district’s state testing results across grades three through eight show proficiency rates in math, English language arts, science, and social studies that are all below the county median. The district’s overall proficiency index, which averages those results, places South Bend Community School Corp below the midpoint among St. Joseph County’s districts. Attainment in reading and math is low, and science and social studies proficiency rates are similarly modest. A separate data point on chronic absenteeism shows a rate that is above the county median, meaning a substantial portion of students are missing enough school to potentially affect learning. That is a soft spot that a parent may want to explore further with the school or district office. Per-pupil spending in South Bend is in the upper range compared to other districts in the county, so the district is putting comparatively high resources into its schools, though that does not directly translate into the test results one might expect. No graduation rate data was reported for the district, so it is not possible to characterize high school completion from the available information.

The district operates a wide array of schools that offer different educational approaches. Among the list of schools are a Montessori academy, a fine arts academy, a STEAM academy, a traditional school, and an international academy. There is also a virtual school, South Bend Virtual School, which was opened as a full-time option for students in grades four through twelve, giving families a permanent remote-learning pathway within the district. That was the only programmatic change publicly reported in recent district news. Beyond that, limited web search results were found, so other potential changes such as bond referendums or curriculum overhauls could not be confirmed from available sources. A parent looking for specific program offerings—such as Advanced Placement courses, career and technical education pathways, or dual-credit opportunities—will need to check directly with the high schools, since that data was not provided here.

The housing market across the district’s attendance area is mixed, reflecting the varied communities it serves. Home values range from more modest to higher-end, with the weighted average for the district falling below the national median but close to the Indiana state median. Rent prices follow a similar pattern, with a range of options from more affordable units to ones on the pricier side. Most zip codes contributing to the district are within South Bend itself, but some extend into neighboring towns such as Granger, Mishawaka, Lakeville, and New Carlisle. Home values in those outlying areas tend to be higher than inside the city. Affordability relative to income looks manageable on the whole, with estimated rent consuming about a fifth of median household income, slightly below the national benchmark.

For a family trying to understand what this district offers, the picture is one of a large, diverse urban system with below-average test results relative to its county peers and a high chronic absenteeism rate that warrants attention. The district spends comparatively more per student than its neighbors, which may reflect the additional needs of its student population or the cost of running a large system, but that spending has not yet moved proficiency levels above the county midpoint. The presence of specialized schools and a new virtual option provides some choice within the district, but the core academic numbers are a clear area of concern. A parent considering South Bend Community School Corp should look into individual school performance, ask about support for students who are behind grade level, and investigate what programs the high schools offer for college and career preparation beyond the baseline curriculum. Missing data on graduation rates, discipline, and staffing makes it harder to get a full read, so direct conversations with the district office and with current families would be valuable.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

14,486

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 26%

Black 36%

White 26%

Asian 1%

Two+ 11%

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

16%

30%

Gr 4

18%

31%

Gr 5

18%

31%

Gr 6

14%

31%

Gr 7

18%

30%

Gr 8

19%

38%

Math

Gr 3

20%

35%

Gr 4

19%

33%

Gr 5

12%

28%

Gr 6

12%

28%

Gr 7

22%

Gr 8

25%

Science

Gr 4

19%

32%

Gr 6

17%

32%

Social studies

Gr 5

10%

29%

Schools in this District

31 schools are officially reported under this district.

Wilson Elementary School

Juvenile Justice Center

Coquillard Elementary School

Jackson Middle School

Harrison Elementary School

Clay High School

Clay International Academy

Darden Elementary School

Madison S.T.E.A.M. Academy

Monroe Elementary School

Riley High School

Dickinson Fine Arts Academy

Adams High School

Kennedy Academy

Nuner Fine Arts Academy

Lafayette Early Childhood Center

Lincoln Elementary School

Marquette Montessori Academy

McKinley Elementary School

Muessel Elementary School

Navarre Middle School

Swanson Traditional School

Edison Middle School

Jefferson Traditional School

Warren Elementary School

Washington High School

LaSalle Academy

Marshall Traditional School

Rise Up Academy at Eggleston

Studebaker Center

South Bend Virtual School

Academic Performance

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

Mathematics

1 grade reported

19%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

22%

Grades 3-8

Science

1 grade reported

23%

Grades 3-8

Social Studies

1 grade reported

16%

Grade 5

Housing & Real Estate

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

Home Values

Typical home value$217,202

Year-over-year change+5.6%

Range across 15 ZIP codes$111K to $415K

vs. state typical0.85x

vs. national typical0.59x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (15 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
46614	South Bend	$241K	+5.5%	28.2%
46628	South Bend	$176K	+4.8%	21.8%
46619	South Bend	$137K	+7.0%	14.2%
46554	North Liberty	$267K	+7.2%	11.2%
46637	South Bend	$253K	+5.6%	6.4%
46530	Granger	$415K	+3.9%	2.9%
46552	New Carlisle	$276K	+4.7%	2.7%
46615	South Bend	$180K	+4.8%	2.1%
46613	South Bend	$111K	+6.6%	2.1%
46635	South Bend	$265K	+5.7%	2.0%
46617	South Bend	$320K	+4.6%	1.7%
46601	South Bend	$149K	+2.4%	1.3%
46545	Mishawaka	$214K	+3.5%	1.1%
46616	South Bend	$147K	+5.2%	0.9%
46536	Lakeville	$288K	+6.8%	0.5%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,327/mo

Year-over-year change+5.5%

Range across 11 ZIP codes$1,142 to $1,954/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (11 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
46614	South Bend	$1,227	—	28.2%
46628	South Bend	$1,208	+4.8%	21.8%
46619	South Bend	$1,289	—	14.2%
46637	South Bend	$1,954	—	6.4%
46530	Granger	$1,906	+13.3%	2.9%
46615	South Bend	$1,369	+10.2%	2.1%
46613	South Bend	$1,244	+2.6%	2.1%
46617	South Bend	$1,522	+2.8%	1.7%
46601	South Bend	$1,350	—	1.3%
46545	Mishawaka	$1,522	+3.8%	1.1%
46616	South Bend	$1,142	+2.1%	0.9%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,096/mo

Home price / national median income2.6x

Annual rent / national median income19.0%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$231/mo

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.