The top reported proficiency rate is 40% in Social studies. The lowest is 39% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Ips/butler Lab at Eliza Blaker 55
IPS/Butler Lab at Eliza Blaker 55 is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through eighth grade in Indianapolis. It operates as a partnership between Indianapolis Public Schools and Butler University, a collaboration that is a core part of the school’s identity and distinguishes it from a conventional neighborhood school. The school building is located in the Meridian-Kessler area, a historic neighborhood with tree-lined streets and a mix of early-20th-century homes, near Butler University’s campus. Housing values in the zip code are well above the state average, and rental prices are also elevated, reflecting the area’s desirability. This context matters for families: the school itself draws from across the IPS district through a centralized enrollment system, so your home address does not determine eligibility the way it would in a traditional attendance-zone model.
The student body is about 445 students, a size that gives the school a small to moderate feel for its grade span. Racially and ethnically, the enrollment is notably diverse, with a student population that is predominantly white, with a substantial Black student share, a sizable Hispanic share, and smaller numbers of students who are Asian, multiracial, or American Indian or Alaska Native. There is no single majority group. About 40 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which is a lower rate than many other Indianapolis Public Schools and signals a comparatively more affluent enrolled population, though still with a meaningful share of families experiencing economic need. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not provided in the available records, so a parent with a child in those categories should confirm support directly with the school.
On state assessments, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects places it in the top quartile among elementary and middle schools in Marion County. This is a relative strength in a large county where many schools post low proficiency rates. In math and English language arts for grades 3 through 8, about 39 percent of students met or exceeded state standards, a rate that is competitive within the local context but means a majority of students are not yet reaching that benchmark. In science and social studies, tested at specific grade levels, proficiency rates were similar, around 39 to 40 percent. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand how it supports students who are below standard and what the academic trajectory looks like across the grade levels. Because the school has no high school grades, there is no graduation rate to report.
No data was available on discipline rates, chronic absenteeism, course access, or staffing ratios. The school’s programming information was also not included in the data provided, so it is not possible to describe enrichment, arts, or elective offerings here. The absence of these fields is a gap a prospective parent would need to fill through a school visit or inquiry.
The broader district context is important to understanding this school. IPS has moved to a zone-based enrollment system where families apply to schools through a centralized platform, rather than being assigned to a single neighborhood school. The district also operates Innovation Network schools, which are managed by external partners while remaining part of IPS. IPS/Butler Lab at Eliza Blaker 55 is one of these partnership schools, run in collaboration with Butler University. This model brings university resources and a lab-school orientation, but it also means the school sits within a district that has experienced a significant enrollment decline in recent years, a trend that can affect funding, staffing stability, and program continuity. Families should weigh the benefits of a university partnership against the uncertainty that can come with broader district contraction.
This is a school for a family that values diversity of student background, is comfortable with a university partnership model, and wants a mid-sized school with strong relative academic performance within its county, while recognizing that proficiency rates in absolute terms still leave room for growth. It fits a family that is willing to engage actively with the school to understand its specific program offerings and support services, since those details are not spelled out in the available public data.
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