The top reported proficiency rate is 60% in Math. The lowest is 52% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on East Washington Elementary School
East Washington Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through fourth grade in the rural community of Pekin, Indiana. It is a regular public school within the East Washington School Corporation, and it sits on a campus outside the town center, separated from the high school. The school has a moderate enrollment for its grade band, and the student body is overwhelmingly white, with a small Hispanic population and an even smaller Black population. More than two-fifths of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a share that indicates a substantial concentration of lower-income families. Data on special education and English learner populations was not available in the records used here.
On the most recent state assessments administered through Indiana’s ILEARN program, East Washington’s students performed above the midpoint among the three districts in Washington County. In math, more than half of students scored at the proficient level or above; in English language arts, the rate was close to that same mark. The science results, which come from a smaller group of test-takers, were also in that range. These figures place the school in a solid position relative to its immediate neighbors. Full participation in testing for math and ELA suggests the results reflect the whole tested population. The school’s overall proficiency index, which averages across subjects, puts it above the median of the county’s districts, with only one district scoring higher. This is a useful measure for a family comparing elementary options within the county.
Pekin, formally known as New Pekin, is a small, quiet rural town with a blue-collar workforce. Manufacturing and laborer jobs are common, and many residents commute a long distance to work, as there is no public transit. The town’s population has been stable but slowly declining, and its housing vacancy rate is notable. In recent years, the area was struck by a major tornado, and a long-standing manufacturer closed. The town’s civic life centers on the Pekin Community Park and its annual Fourth of July celebration. The school buildings, including the elementary school, were built in separate phases outside the town’s core, so there is no traditional downtown where school and community life converge.
Housing in the area is moderately priced compared to the state and national benchmarks. The median home value in the zip code is below the Indiana average, and the national figure is higher still. This makes the town a more affordable entry point for homebuyers, though the local economy and job market are limited. The area’s mortgage rates and rental costs are in line with current national trends.
We looked for information about recent district referendums or strategic initiatives but found little publicly reported on the timeline, so that element is not included here. The school’s website and other program details were not provided in the data.
For a family considering East Washington Elementary, the picture is straightforward. The school delivers a solid academic baseline for its grade levels, above the average of other districts in the county. The student body is economically diverse and predominantly white, with a small presence of other racial groups. The surrounding community is rural and quiet, with limited commercial activity and a long commute for many workers. Housing is affordable relative to the broader region. The school does not serve high school grades, so questions about graduation rates or secondary pathways do not apply here. Families who want a small-town elementary setting with a track record of above-average proficiency in the county will find this school a reasonable fit. Those seeking more detailed information about special education services, English learner programs, or extracurricular offerings would need to contact the school directly, as those data points were not available in the sources reviewed.
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