The top reported proficiency rate is 68% in Math. The lowest is 50% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Red Cedars Elementary
Red Cedars Elementary is the sole upper-elementary building in the Hanover Community School Corp, serving grades three through five. Its enrollment is substantial for a three-grade school. The student body is predominantly white, with a Hispanic population making up the next largest share; Black, Asian, and multiracial students together account for a smaller slice. More than a fifth of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a rate that is relatively low compared to many other public schools in the region.
The school sits in Cedar Lake, a growing commuter town on a natural lake in Lake County, Indiana. Cedar Lake has seen steady population growth in recent years and functions primarily as a residential suburb for people who work in the Chicago area. The town lacks a traditional walkable downtown; civic life is centered on a town complex with parks and lakefront access. The Munster/Dyer rail station, which opened in 2026, offers regional transit connections. The housing market in the town's zip code is priced above the statewide benchmark, making it a more expensive place to buy a home than many other Indiana communities of similar size. Monthly rents relative to income are at a level that suggests a tight rental market.
The academic picture from state testing is strong. Red Cedars posted math proficiency that was well above the midpoint for its district and placed confidently in the top quartile among elementary buildings across Lake County. English language arts proficiency was lower than math, but still solid. Science and social studies results, tested in grade five, were also ahead of the county median. The school's composite proficiency index across all subjects and grade levels tested ranked in the top quartile of elementary schools in the county. Full participation rates in the assessments give these results a reliable foundation.
The district brief turned up little information about recent changes such as curriculum updates, building projects, or referendums. No significant district-level developments were found, so a parent interested in the trajectory of the school system may want to follow the district's board meetings or communications directly.
What is not present in the data matters for context. Discipline and chronic absenteeism data were not available, so it is not possible to describe the school's environment in those terms. Staffing figures, such as student-teacher ratio or teacher experience, were also absent. Information about programs such as gifted education, special education services, or English learner support was not reported. The school's Title I status was not provided in the available data, and breakdowns for students with disabilities and English learners were missing, which limits a full understanding of the school's support structure.
Red Cedars is a straightforward public elementary school delivering solid academic results in a growing suburban community. Its math performance is a clear standout, and its overall proficiency picture is above what many of its county peers show. Families moving to the area for the lake-oriented suburban setting and the commute to Chicago should find the school's academic standing reassuring. Those looking for very specific program offerings or detailed data on school climate and staffing will need to seek that information directly from the school or district.
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