The top reported proficiency rate is 11% in Math. The lowest is 4% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Clarence Farrington School 61
Clarence Farrington School 61 is a regular public elementary and middle school in Indianapolis, serving students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. It is part of the Indianapolis Public Schools district. The school sits in the 46222 zip code, an area on the city’s west side where the typical home value and typical rent are both below the state average. Housing costs in this part of Indianapolis are relatively modest, which can matter for families weighing their options.
The student body is diverse. Hispanic students account for the largest share, followed by Black students. White students and students who identify with two or more races make up smaller shares. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high level of economic need in the school community. The school enrolls a mid-sized student population for the grade band it serves. Class sizes appear typical for an urban elementary and middle school.
State testing results for the most recent year show a pattern that parents will want to examine carefully. In English language arts, the share of students scoring proficient or above was low. In math, the proficiency rate was also low. In science, the result was also low. In fifth-grade social studies, the proficiency rate was very low. The school’s overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades falls in the bottom quartile among Marion County districts. A parent considering this school would want to ask about literacy and math instruction, intervention supports, and any recent changes to the academic program.
Because the school serves only through sixth grade, there is no high school graduation rate to report. That is a direct result of the grade band, not a missing indicator. Similarly, data on chronic absenteeism and course access were not available in the source material. The school does not report counts for special education or English learner populations in the data provided, so a parent should ask the school directly about those services and how they are delivered.
Indianapolis Public Schools operates a zone-based enrollment system. Families can apply to any IPS school through the Enroll Indy centralized application, rather than being limited to a single neighborhood school. The district also uses an Innovation Network Schools model, in which some schools are run by external partners while remaining part of the district. This means families at Farrington 61 have the option to consider other schools in the district with different educational models, including Montessori and Dual Language options. The district has also experienced a significant enrollment decline over the past decade, a trend that affects funding and program planning across the system.
The school itself does not have publicly listed programs such as STEM or International Baccalaureate in the data provided. Nor does it have a reported magnet or charter status. It operates as a traditional district elementary and middle school. Given the academic results on state assessments, a family considering Farrington 61 should have a direct conversation with the principal or instructional coach about how the school addresses foundational skills, what interventions are in place for students below grade level, and what the school’s improvement plan looks like. The low proficiency rates are a clear signal that academic performance is a central challenge here, and any family considering this school would want to understand the school’s trajectory and its specific response.
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