The top reported proficiency rate is 47% in English language arts. The lowest is 31% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Geist Montessori Academy
Geist Montessori Academy is a public charter school in McCordsville, Indiana, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is a regular school that operates within the Montessori pedagogical tradition, which emphasizes self-directed, hands-on learning in multi-age classrooms, rather than a district-led curriculum. Because it is a single-school charter district, it operates independently of the local school corporation, though it sits within the town of McCordsville.
The school’s student body is relatively small for its grade band. The racial and ethnic composition is predominantly White, with Black students making up the next largest share, followed by smaller shares of Asian, Hispanic, and two-or-more-races students. A very small share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, which is a notably low share compared to many public schools. Data on special education and English learner classifications were not available in the source materials; a parent may want to ask the school directly about how it supports students in those populations.
On the 2024-25 ILEARN assessments, which are Indiana’s state tests for grades three through eight, about half of students scored proficient or above in English language arts. In math, roughly three out of ten students reached that benchmark. In science, which is tested in a narrower grade range, a larger share met the proficiency cutoff, and in social studies, which is tested only in grade five, the rate was similar. When compared to other school districts in Hancock County, the school’s overall proficiency index across tested subjects placed in the bottom quartile. Across the county’s five districts, the range of proficiency is fairly tight, but the academy’s composite sits at the lower end.
Because the school serves only through eighth grade, there is no graduation rate to report. Similarly, chronic absenteeism data was not available. The school’s participation in state testing was complete for math and English language arts, which lends weight to the results.
The town of McCordsville is a fast-growing, predominantly residential suburb of Indianapolis, located off State Highway 67 and within a short drive of several major interstates. The population has increased substantially in recent years, driven by new subdivisions such as Bay Creek at Geist, Cambridge, and Highland Springs. Much of the land inside the town limits is either new development or still undeveloped, and the area outside the old town center is under significant development pressure. A town center plan, called McCord Square, has been approved, and a building improvement grant program has been established to stimulate investment. Local retail remains limited; residents report that a Meijer store is the primary commercial presence. Most residents commute into Indianapolis, Fishers, or the broader metro area for work, and the housing stock consists largely of owner-occupied single-family homes. A resident review describes the area feel as rural and notes that multiple new neighborhoods have been built recently. The town itself has no public transit or public library referenced in available sources, and the school sits within this growing, car-dependent suburban context.
The school’s charter allows for a distinct educational approach that may appeal to families seeking an alternative to the traditional district model, especially those drawn to Montessori’s emphasis on student-led exploration and mixed-age grouping. The academic results on state tests are mixed, with English language arts stronger than math, and the school’s performance sits toward the lower end of its county peers. Given the small enrollment and the very low share of students in poverty, a parent may want to inquire further at the school about how its academic program supports the range of learners it serves. No recent changes to the school’s governance, curriculum, or finances were found in available sources, so the school appears to be operating on a steady footing. For a family living in or moving to this fast-growing suburb, Geist Montessori Academy offers a small-school, Montessori-based option that is distinct from the larger district-run schools in the area.
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