The top reported proficiency rate is 5% in English language arts. The lowest is 3% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on James Whitcomb Riley School 43
James Whitcomb Riley School 43 is a regular public school serving prekindergarten through eighth grade within Indianapolis Public Schools. It draws from the surrounding near-northside neighborhoods of Indianapolis, an area that, like much of the central city, has experienced shifts in population and housing over recent decades. The school is situated near the intersection of West 40th Street and North Central Avenue, within a corridor that contains a mix of older residential blocks, small commercial strips, and institutional properties. Housing values in the school's immediate zip code are notably lower than state and national benchmarks; values have edged down slightly over the past year, while rents have increased. The area is more affordable than many parts of the broader metropolitan region.
Riley 43 is a relatively small school by enrollment, with a student body that is predominantly Black, with smaller shares of Hispanic students, students identifying as two or more races, White students, and Asian students. More than half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a measure of household economic need. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not reported, so a reader cannot assess those dimensions of the school’s population or services from this profile alone. The school serves children from pre-K through the end of middle school; there is no high school grade band, so there is no graduation rate to report.
On the Indiana ILEARN assessments for grades 3 through 8, the school’s proficiency rates across all tested subjects are very low. In math, English language arts, science, and social studies, the share of students scoring at the proficient or above level stands in the low single digits. Participation rates in math and ELA were above 99 percent, so the results reflect nearly the entire tested population. The school’s overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile of schools within Marion County. A parent would want to understand what academic supports and interventions are in place and whether the school is pursuing any improvement efforts, as the achievement levels represent a significant challenge.
No information was available about course offerings, staffing ratios, or discipline rates for Riley 43. The school’s programs and its magnet or Title I designation were not provided in the data reviewed.
Riley 43 operates under Indianapolis Public Schools, a district that has made notable changes in how families access schools. The district has implemented a zone-based enrollment system, dividing the city into four zones; families can apply to any IPS school through a centralized process, regardless of their neighborhood assignment. The district also runs Innovation Network Schools, where some schools are managed by independent operators while remaining part of IPS. This structure gives families options among traditional district schools, Innovation Network schools, and magnet programs with distinct educational models. Publicly reported information indicates that IPS has experienced significant enrollment decline over recent years, a trend that has implications for school budgets and program planning across the district.
For a family considering Riley 43, the central facts are a small, diverse school in an affordable, central-urban setting and a student body with substantial economic need. The academic test results are well below typical levels in the county, and no data on special education or English learner services was available to help gauge whether the school is resourced to address the range of student needs. Parents who are looking into the school may want to speak directly with the school or visit to learn about the classroom environment, support structures, and any academic improvement initiatives in place.
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