The top reported proficiency rate is 49% in Math. The lowest is 38% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Joan Martin Elementary School
Joan Martin Elementary School serves students from first through fifth grade and is a regular public school within the School City of Hobart. It sits in Hobart, a Lake County city that blends residential neighborhoods with retail corridors and industrial zones. The city’s downtown runs along Lake George and has a walkable core of historic buildings, but most of Hobart is car-oriented, with shopping and medical offices clustered along the Route 30 corridor. The city’s population has held fairly steady in recent years, with slight decline; growth has historically come through annexation rather than new development. Housing values in the area are moderate, and rents run a bit below the national average for similar properties. The median household income nationally is around a typical level for a Midwestern suburb, and the unemployment rate has been low.
The school’s academic results place it in a strong position within Lake County. On Indiana’s ILEARN assessments, math proficiency was above the midpoint among the county’s elementary schools, and overall across tested subjects the school landed in the top quartile of Lake County districts. Reading and English language arts proficiency was lower than math, with roughly two out of five students meeting the state’s bar. Science and social studies, tested only at certain grade levels, also showed about two out of five students proficient. A parent might want to look into the school’s approach to literacy to understand the gap between math and reading performance. Participation in state testing was high, so the results give a reliable picture of student achievement across all tested grades.
Enrollment at Joan Martin is about average for an elementary school serving this grade band. The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic population and smaller shares of Black, Asian, and multiracial students. More than half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a noticeable proportion of families with lower household incomes. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not reported, so a parent who needs specific information about those services should follow up with the school directly. The school does not appear to offer special programs such as magnet or charter designations, and no program offerings were listed in the available data.
The School City of Hobart encompasses multiple elementary buildings, and Joan Martin is one of them. The district itself did not show any recent large-scale changes such as referendums or curriculum overhauls in the public record, so the school’s environment seems stable from a district-policy standpoint. No information on chronic absenteeism, discipline, or staffing was available, so a parent interested in school climate and support resources would need to request that from the school.
Hobart’s setting combines access to Chicago, roughly a short drive east, with a suburban feel. The city highlights its lakefront, a nature district, and a historic Carnegie Library as anchors. The economy draws on retail, health care, manufacturing, and logistics, with major highways nearby. Housing options range from older homes near downtown to newer subdivisions, and home values are moderate relative to the broader Chicago region. The area is car-dependent outside the small downtown core, and commutes tend to be typical for a suburban city.
For a family, Joan Martin Elementary offers a solid academic foundation relative to other Lake County schools, particularly in math. The school serves a diverse-by-income student body, and its location in a stable, moderately priced community may appeal to families who want a conventional public elementary with a track record of above-average test performance within the county. Those focused on literacy outcomes may want to ask the school about its reading curriculum and support. The school’s size is typical, and the absence of specialized program listings means a family should confirm that the school meets any specific needs, such as services for English learners or enrichment opportunities.
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