The top reported proficiency rate is 69% in Social studies. The lowest is 45% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on North Decatur Jr-sr High School
North Decatur Jr-Sr High School serves nearly all secondary grades under one roof, drawing from the rural countryside around Greensburg in southeastern Indiana. As a combined junior-senior high, it offers a single academic and social environment for students from seventh grade through twelfth, a structure some families find cohesive and others find a very long run for a teenager.
The student body is small enough that most teachers likely know most students by name, and it is overwhelmingly homogeneous in composition. The vast majority of students are white. A substantial share of students come from households that qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a meaningful presence of lower-income families in the attendance zone. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about how those populations are supported.
In terms of academics, the state assessment results that were provided cover the middle school grades only, since state testing in Indiana is administered in grades three through eight. On those measures, roughly half of the tested students met proficiency standards in English language arts, and a somewhat smaller share did so in mathematics. A social studies assessment from several years ago showed a higher proficiency rate, but that test used an older format and is too dated to carry much weight. The school’s overall proficiency index, calculated from the available subjects and grades, placed it above the midpoint when compared with other schools in the two-district Decatur County landscape. That is a strong relative position for the area, but it does not speak to performance in high school courses, college readiness exams, or advanced coursework.
No graduation rate was reported in the data, and no information about Advanced Placement, dual credit, or career and technical education programs was available. For a school that houses the high school grades, those are significant gaps. A parent considering North Decatur for high school would need to seek details directly from the school about graduation rates, postsecondary preparation, and any specialized pathways like vocational programs or early college opportunities.
The community context is that of a rural county seat with a manufacturing anchor. Greensburg sits roughly halfway between Indianapolis and Cincinnati along Interstate 74, and the local economy is shaped by the presence of a major Honda assembly plant and a Delta Faucet facility. Housing values in the zip code are close to the state average and lower than the national median, which aligns with the area’s more affordable cost of living. The town itself has a historic courthouse square and a small downtown, but the school is located on a state highway outside the immediate city center, consistent with a rural campus setting. Growth has been modest, driven primarily by industrial expansion rather than residential development, so the school’s enrollment is likely stable rather than surging.
The district that runs the school, Decatur County Community Schools, did not have any recent notable changes reported that would affect a family’s decision in the near term.
Overall, North Decatur Jr-Sr High School presents as a small, rural combined secondary school with middle-grades test results that are respectable for its county but incomplete for evaluating its high school program. The peer environment is largely homogeneous, and the economic context reflects a working-class agricultural and manufacturing base. A family considering this school should prioritize gathering information about high school academic outcomes, graduation rates, and the range of course offerings, as those are not captured in the available data.
See more original research from School Decision →