The top reported proficiency rate is 50% in Math. The lowest is 21% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Monger Elementary School
Monger Elementary School serves students from prekindergarten through sixth grade in the Elkhart Community Schools district. Located at the eastern edge of Elkhart, the school draws from a residential area of a city best known as the RV Capital of the World and a center for band instrument manufacturing. Elkhart is a mid-sized industrial city with a historic downtown commercial district along Main Street, anchored by the Lerner Theatre and the Midwest Museum of American Art. The economy has long been tied to cyclical manufacturing, and the city’s growth has been shaped by booms and contractions in that sector.
Monger is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and it has a significant concentration of students from low-income households. A substantial share of its roughly four hundred students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is diverse. Hispanic students make up the largest group, followed by Black students, White students, and those who identify as two or more races. The school serves a student population that is predominantly Hispanic and Black, with a smaller White presence. Because it serves only elementary and early middle grades, there is no high school graduation rate to consider; state testing data covers grades three through six, and the school participates in Indiana’s ILEARN assessments.
On state tests, math proficiency was above the midpoint among elementary schools in Elkhart County districts. Reading proficiency was somewhat lower. In science, assessed at a single grade level, proficiency was notably lower, and in social studies, also tested at a single grade, proficiency was lower still. These results suggest that while the school’s math instruction is a relative strength, literacy and the content areas of science and social studies are areas where a parent may want to understand the school’s approach and any supports in place. The school’s overall proficiency index across all tested subjects placed it above the midpoint when compared with other districts in Elkhart County, though the measure covers a range of schools with varying demographics and contexts.
The school offers a standard elementary curriculum for its grade band. No information was available about specific programs, such as gifted offerings, art, music, or before- and after-school care. Data on chronic absenteeism, staffing ratios, and discipline were also missing from the available records. Parents looking for details on these fronts would need to reach out to the school or district directly.
Housing in the area around Monger has seen modest appreciation, with home values rising in the past year. Rents in the broader Elkhart area are moderate relative to national averages, and the local unemployment rate has been steady. The city’s major employers include Forest River, Thor Motor Coach, Conn-Selmer, and NIBCO, along with Norfolk Southern’s large rail yards. The economy provides a base of manufacturing jobs, though it has experienced fluctuations tied to the RV industry cycles.
A key context for any family evaluating Monger is the financial situation of its parent district, Elkhart Community Schools. The district has been contending with a decade of enrollment decline, and its budget projections show a severe shortfall if no changes are made. The district is publicly discussing “rightsizing” — adjusting its facilities and staffing to match the smaller student population — which raises the possibility of school closures or consolidations. The district’s own FAQ directly addresses whether certain schools will remain open, making this a live concern for families. While no specific plans affecting Monger have been announced in the available information, the long-term stability of the school’s building and attendance boundaries is an open question that parents may want to track.
For a family considering Monger Elementary, the school offers a diverse student body, a math program that stands slightly above the county median, and a location in a city with a working-class industrial heritage. The district’s financial challenges and the possibility of future school closures add uncertainty that warrants attention. Parents would be wise to inquire about literacy instruction, enrichment offerings, and the school’s plans for addressing the academic gaps visible in science and social studies.
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