The top reported proficiency rate is 59% in Math. The lowest is 30% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on New Paris Elementary School
New Paris Elementary School serves kindergarten through sixth grade as a regular public school within the Fairfield Community Schools district. It sits in the small rural census-designated place of New Paris in Elkhart County, near the town’s center, not far from US-33 between Goshen and the Michigan line. The school’s grade band means it does not have a graduation rate — that measure applies only to high schools — and no chronic absenteeism data were reported, so a family looking for that information would need to ask the district directly.
On state assessments, New Paris Elementary’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits above the midpoint among the districts in Elkhart County, a comparison set that includes nine districts. Within the school, math proficiency is notably stronger than reading, with a substantial share of students meeting the state’s ILEARN benchmark in math. English language arts proficiency is lower, something a parent may want to explore further with the school to understand what interventions or supports are in place. Science performance, assessed in grade four, is moderate, while social studies, tested only in grade five, shows a more challenging result. The pattern suggests a school where math instruction is a clear strength and literacy is an area of focus.
The student body is predominantly white, with a smaller but present Hispanic population and very small shares of Asian, Black, and multiracial students. Roughly three in ten students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a measure that gives a sense of the economic makeup of the families served. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not reported in the available source, so a family with a child in either category would want to contact the school directly about services.
New Paris itself is a low-density community where a car is necessary for most errands. The town has a modest downtown that hosts summer First Fridays events with food vendors, live music, and a tractor pull, and it is known regionally for the New Paris Speedway, a quarter-mile paved stock car track that runs weekly from April through October. Sunnyside Park, with a fishing pond, playground, and veterans’ memorials, and the nearby River Preserve County Park along the Elkhart River provide outdoor recreation. The population has grown slowly in recent years. Typical home values in the area are above the Indiana state median, reflecting the rural Elkhart County market. The school draws from the immediate community and surrounding rural areas, and Fairfield Junior-Senior High School, which serves students after sixth grade, is located on a separate campus in the broader district.
Because New Paris Elementary does not serve high school grades, it offers no advanced placement, dual-credit, or career and technical education programs that would be relevant at that level. The district brief turned up no recent major changes or initiatives, so for updates on programming, budget, or strategic priorities, a parent would need to consult the district directly.
For a family considering this school, the picture is of a solid, mid-sized elementary with a clear strength in math, a more mixed literacy performance, and a demographic profile that largely reflects the surrounding rural community. Housing costs are relatively high for the state, and the area remains car-dependent with a quiet, event-driven social calendar rather than continuous street life. The county comparison shows the school’s overall academic results as above the midpoint of its peers, which is a positive signal, but the ELA results are worth a closer conversation with the school staff.
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