The top reported proficiency rate is 27% in Math. The lowest is 14% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Valley Grove Elementary School
Valley Grove Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade as a regular public school within the Anderson Community School Corp in Madison County. It sits on the southeast side of Anderson, a mid-sized city with a manufacturing heritage that has diversified into health care, retail, and other sectors. The city’s downtown holds a traditional grid of restaurants, shops, and cultural venues like the Paramount Theatre and Anderson Museum of Art, while the broader area remains car-dependent. Anderson has seen slow population growth and modest increases in employment and property values in recent years. The school district itself has not shown major recent changes that would affect a family’s day-to-day experience, based on what is publicly reported.
The student body is large enough to offer a full elementary grade span but is not overwhelmingly big. The makeup is predominantly white, with a substantial share of Black students, a smaller but noticeable Hispanic presence, and a notable portion identifying as two or more races. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a context of moderate to high economic need. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school about those supports directly.
On state assessments, proficiency rates are low across all tested subjects. In math, about a quarter of students reached the proficient or above level. In English language arts, roughly one in five students met that bar. Science and social studies, tested at specific grade levels, show similar patterns: science results were just below a quarter proficient, and social studies was lower still. These are the absolute numbers; they point to an academic challenge that the school is working within. However, when Valley Grove is placed alongside other school districts in Madison County, its overall proficiency index sits above the midpoint. That means that while the school’s results are modest in an absolute sense, they are not at the bottom of the local landscape. A parent comparing options within the county may see this as a mid-range performance picture for elementary grades.
The school has no charter status, and no magnet or Title I designation was reported. No information on discipline, staffing, attendance, or course access was available, which limits a fuller picture of the learning environment. Families would want to inquire directly about class sizes, teacher retention, and how the school addresses the academic needs reflected in the assessment results.
The housing market around Valley Grove is affordable relative to state and national norms. The typical home value in the area is below the Indiana average and well below the national figure, with modest year-over-year appreciation. For a family looking at the southeast side of Anderson, homeownership is within reach for many working-class households. The community overall has a mix of residential neighborhoods, industrial corridors, and a downtown that is actively investing in arts, dining, and retail.
Valley Grove Elementary is a regular neighborhood school serving a diverse and economically varied student population in a city that is stable and slowly growing. Its test scores are low by state and national standards but sit in the middle range when compared with other Madison County districts. A parent considering this school would want to understand what academic interventions and enrichment are in place, how the school supports students who are behind, and what the classroom environment is like day to day. For families who value a local elementary with a broad demographic mix and an affordable housing market, it is a school worth knowing more about through a direct visit and conversation with the principal.
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