The top reported proficiency rate is 82% in Math. The lowest is 45% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Csa Lincoln Campus
CSA Lincoln Campus serves kindergarten through sixth grade in the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation and is classified as a regular public school. It is one of the elementary schools within this district, situated in the city of Columbus. The school’s enrollment is large enough to support grade-level sections across all seven grades, with enrollment distributed fairly evenly from kindergarten through sixth grade. The student body is predominantly white, with smaller but visible shares of Hispanic and Asian students, and very small numbers of Black, multiracial, and Native American students. About a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a share that is relatively modest for an elementary school in this region, indicating a student population that is economically mixed but not predominantly low-income.
On state assessments, CSA Lincoln Campus performs well overall, and comparison data that places it among schools in Bartholomew County puts its proficiency index in the top quartile. In math and English language arts, a strong majority of students scored at or above the proficient level on the ILEARN assessment. Results in science were a step lower, with a solid majority of students still meeting the proficient benchmark. The weakest area was social studies, where the share of students reaching proficiency was notably lower; a parent may want to ask the school how it approaches that subject’s curriculum and instruction, since the gap between social studies and other tested subjects is wide. Participation rates in the assessments were high, with full participation reported in math and English language arts. Because the school serves only early and middle grades, there are no graduation data to consider, and chronic absenteeism data were not available.
Columbus itself has a distinctive character that shapes the context in which this school operates. It is a mid-sized city with a strong manufacturing and industrial economy, anchored by Cummins, which is headquartered here, and Toyota Material Handling, which has its North American headquarters just south of town. The city is also known nationally for its modern architecture, with scores of buildings designed by prominent architects, and the Cummins Foundation’s long-running program began with public school buildings, so school facilities in the district often carry architectural significance. The downtown core is walkable and includes civic anchors like The Commons and the Cleo Rogers Memorial Library, while residential neighborhoods and outlying areas are more auto-oriented. The city is growing at a modest rate, and its economy supports a median household income that is above the national median.
The school’s district, Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation, has had two recent developments that matter to families. In May 2023, voters approved a bond referendum that funds construction of a new elementary school, renovation and expansion of Columbus East High School with a new wellness center, and security upgrades at all schools across the district. This means that over the coming years, facility quality and capacity are likely to improve at a number of schools. In 2024, the district expanded full-day preschool to four elementary schools, including Clifty Creek and Parkside, which expands public early education options for families with young children who live in those attendance zones.
For a family considering this school, the picture is one of a regular public elementary school with strong academic performance in core subjects, a student body that is largely white with moderate economic diversity, and a location in a city with a distinctive industrial and architectural identity. The school’s test results are solid, particularly in math and reading, and its district is investing in facilities and expanding early childhood programming. The one area that stands out as weaker, social studies proficiency, is something a parent may want to discuss with the school to understand how the curriculum is structured and whether the school has plans to address that subject’s outcomes. No data on staffing, discipline, or course access was available to provide a fuller picture of the school environment.
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