The top reported proficiency rate is 19% in Math. The lowest is 6% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Carl Wilde School 79
Carl Wilde School 79 is a regular public school within Indianapolis Public Schools that serves students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. It sits in the western part of the city, in the 46224 ZIP code area, and is one of many elementary-level options families can consider through the district's zone-based enrollment system. The school draws a student body that is heavily Hispanic, with a substantial share of white and Black students as well; the demographic makeup reflects a largely bilingual community. A considerable majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a population with significant economic need. Data on the share of students with disabilities or English learner status was not available in the records we reviewed, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those supports.
Academically, Carl Wilde School 79 participates in Indiana's ILEARN state assessments for grades three through six. Across all tested subjects the proficiency rates are low. In mathematics, roughly one in six students reached the proficient or above level. In English language arts the rate was lower still, about one in seven. Science and social studies, tested in narrower grade bands, showed similar patterns: a small minority of students scored proficient. Compared with other districts across Marion County, the school's overall proficiency index sits below the midpoint of the county distribution. The school does not serve high school grades, so no graduation rate is reported, and data on chronic absenteeism was likewise absent from the information available.
The school operates as part of Indianapolis Public Schools, a district that has seen notable enrollment decline over the past decade and that now offers families a wide range of school choices. Rather than being assigned to a single neighborhood school, families apply through a centralized system called Enroll Indy, selecting from traditional district schools, Innovation Network schools run by external operators, and magnet programs with distinct educational models such as Montessori, Dual Language, STEM, and International Baccalaureate. Carl Wilde School 79 is neither a charter school nor a magnet school, meaning it operates as a regular district school within this choice framework. The district has publicly reported these changes in enrollment and governance, but specific details about building-level program offerings at Wilde 79—such as whether it offers any of these specialized models—were not available in the data we reviewed.
The surrounding housing market in the 46224 ZIP code shows home values moderately below the statewide benchmark, with rents also modest relative to the broader Indianapolis area. The typical home price relative to national median income and the rent-to-income ratio suggest that the area is relatively affordable for renters and buyers alike, a factor that may matter to families considering relocation.
Several important dimensions of school life are not covered by the data we had. There is no information on staffing ratios, teacher qualifications, or class sizes. Discipline data, course access in upper elementary grades, and attendance patterns are all absent from the record. A parent evaluating Carl Wilde School 79 will want to investigate those areas directly with the school or the district, especially since the school's low proficiency rates raise questions about academic support and instructional quality. At the same time, the district's broader choice system means that families who enroll here are not locked in; they can apply to other IPS schools in subsequent years, which gives them flexibility that a purely neighborhood-assigned system would not. The school serves a high-needs population, and its test results reflect that challenge, but the full picture of what it offers beyond test scores remains incomplete in the publicly available data.
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