The top reported proficiency rate is 12% in Math. The lowest is 3% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on George S Buck School 94
George S Buck School 94 was a regular public school in Indianapolis Public Schools, but it is now closed. The school served a grade band that the data records as “M through M,” which likely indicates a middle school grade configuration, and state testing results are available for students in grades three through eight, covering the 2022-23 school year. Because the school is no longer operating, any parent considering this school today would be looking at a historical record rather than an active enrollment choice.
The academic picture from the final year of testing shows low proficiency rates across all subjects on Indiana’s ILEARN assessments. In mathematics, the share of students meeting the state’s proficient or above threshold was modest. English language arts proficiency was even lower. Science results were similarly low, and the social studies assessment for fifth graders recorded the weakest performance. These figures place the school well below statewide averages, and a parent would want to discuss the school’s academic support strategies with district officials if the school were still open — but since it is closed, that discussion is moot. No trend data is available, so it is not possible to say whether performance was improving or declining over time.
The broader context of Indianapolis Public Schools is important. The district has undergone significant changes in recent years. It introduced a zone-based enrollment system that lets families apply to any IPS school through a centralized process, rather than being limited to a single neighborhood assignment. It also operates an Innovation Network of schools run by external partners, giving families options that include Montessori, dual language, STEM, and International Baccalaureate programs. At the same time, the district has experienced substantial enrollment decline, a trend that has affected school funding and program offerings. George S Buck School 94’s closure likely fits into this larger pattern, though the data does not specify the reason.
No demographic information is available for this school — no enrollment count, no free or reduced-price lunch share, no racial or ethnic breakdown, no special education or English learner figures. This gap means a reader cannot assess the peer environment or the level of student support needs. Similarly, there are no data on discipline, staffing, attendance, or course access, so the picture of daily school life is incomplete.
The school was located at an address in the 46219 zip code of Indianapolis, an area with housing values that were below national and state benchmarks, and rental costs that were also relatively affordable. The national unemployment rate at the time of the data was moderate, and mortgage rates were in a typical range. These economic conditions provide a general sense of the neighborhood’s affordability, but they are not specific to the school’s current status.
For a parent researching this school, the most salient fact is its closure. If you are looking at school options in the same part of Indianapolis, you will need to look at other IPS schools — many of which are now part of the choice-based enrollment system described in the district brief. The academic performance data from Buck 94’s last year is a snapshot of a school that was struggling to meet state standards, but that snapshot cannot be projected onto other schools in the district. Because the data does not explain why the school closed, a parent may want to contact Indianapolis Public Schools directly to understand the circumstances and to learn about current offerings in the area.
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