The top reported proficiency rate is 58% in Math. The lowest is 31% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Perry Central Elementary School
Perry Central Elementary School is a regular public school in the small, rural unincorporated community of Leopold, Indiana, serving prekindergarten through sixth grade. It is part of the Perry Central Community School Corporation. The school itself sits in Leopold, a place of just a few hundred residents whose identity is tied to its Belgian Catholic heritage and St. Augustine Church. The community has no downtown, no significant commercial activity beyond a general store and a restaurant, and the post office closed some years ago. It is a quiet, forested corner of Perry County, a short distance north of the Ohio River.
Academically, Perry Central Elementary presents a mixed picture. On the Indiana ILEARN assessments, math proficiency stands as a clear strength, with a substantial majority of students meeting or exceeding state standards. Science results are also solid, with about half of tested students reaching proficiency. English language arts proficiency is softer, with a little over a third of students scoring at the proficient level. Social studies, tested only in fifth grade, shows a lower share of students proficient. The school’s overall proficiency index across all tested subjects and grades is the highest among the three school districts in Perry County, placing it in the top tier of the small local pool. A parent may want to inquire further about the school’s approach to literacy instruction, given the gap between math and English performance.
The student body is predominantly white, with a relatively small share of students from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. About two-fifths of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, reflecting the modest economic profile of the surrounding area. The school serves a sizable enrollment for an elementary building, with a full grade span from pre-K through sixth grade. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available from the state. The school is not a charter or magnet, and its Title I status is not specified in the data.
Housing in the area is notably more affordable than the national median. Home values are well below the national benchmark, and the estimated monthly mortgage payment on a median-priced home is within reach for a household earning the national median income. The local unemployment rate sits near the national average, and median household income nationally has been rising modestly in recent years. All of this suggests that Perry County is a relatively affordable place to raise a family, especially compared to many parts of the country.
The community context is important for families considering the school. Leopold is extremely small and quiet, with no public transit, no downtown, and a civic life that revolves entirely around the church and its annual summer picnic. The school itself is the public elementary option for a wide rural area, drawing students from Leopold and surrounding townships. The district has not recently undertaken any major referendums, curriculum overhauls, or property tax shifts; the research found little in the way of parent-relevant changes in the last several years.
For a family, Perry Central Elementary offers a traditional elementary education in a rural, tight-knit setting. The academic program shows a notable strength in math and decent science results, while literacy and social studies are areas where the school lags behind its own math performance. The student body is not diverse, and the poverty rate is moderate. Housing is affordable relative to the nation, and the community is stable but not growing. This is a school that fits a family looking for a small-town environment with a solid math program and a willingness to engage with the school on literacy improvement. The absence of more granular data on discipline, course access, and staffing means a parent would want to visit and talk to the principal for a fuller picture.
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