The top reported proficiency rate is 86% in Math. The lowest is 72% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Jackson Elementary School
Jackson Elementary School is a regular public school serving kindergarten through fourth grade, part of the Duneland School Corporation in Valparaiso, Indiana. The school sits in a community that combines college-town energy with county-seat functions. Valparaiso University sits near downtown, and the city is a regional hub with a historic commercial core along Lincolnway. The area is growing, situated not far from the Indiana Dunes National Park, and housing values in the school’s ZIP code run above the state average, reflecting the broader Porter County market where incomes tend to be relatively high. Rents and home prices suggest a market that asks more of new arrivals than some other parts of the state.
Academically, Jackson Elementary posts strong results on Indiana’s ILEARN assessments. In math, a large majority of students meet state standards. In reading and writing, the share reaching proficiency is also solid, though a bit lower than in math. Science results, available for the tested grade, are similarly strong. When measured across all tested subjects, the school’s overall proficiency index lands in the top quarter among Porter County’s districts, a notable showing. Because the school serves only early elementary grades, there is no graduation rate or high school outcome data to report, and many of the measures typically tracked in older grades simply do not apply here.
The student body is predominantly white, with a Hispanic share under one in eight and very small numbers of Black students and multiracial students. About one in five students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate well below the state average, indicating a relatively low-poverty peer environment. The data does not include counts of students with disabilities or English learners, so a parent seeking information on those supports would want to ask the school directly. No information on Title I status, discipline rates, or chronic absenteeism is available in the data provided.
Jackson Elementary sits within the Duneland School Corporation, which underwent a reorganization in 2024 with the permanent closure of Chesterton Middle School and the redistribution of its students to Liberty and Westchester middle schools. That change affects feeder patterns but does not directly touch elementary assignments at this point. Voters also approved an operating referendum in 2025 that funds teacher salaries, programs, and safety, replacing an earlier referendum that was set to expire. These district-wide moves matter to families planning ahead, especially for the middle school years.
For a parent considering Jackson Elementary, the picture is of a school that delivers consistently strong academic outcomes in a community with above-average housing costs and a low-poverty student body. The early elementary focus means the school is built around foundational grades, and its performance on state tests suggests a solid instructional foundation. The broader Valparaiso area offers a mix of university life, civic amenities, and access to highways and recreation, but the rising housing market is something to weigh. The lack of some common data points means some questions about special education, ELL supports, and school climate are best addressed directly with the school or district.
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