The top reported proficiency rate is 8% in Science. The lowest is 3% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Arlington Community Middle School
Arlington Community Middle School is a regular public school in the Indianapolis Public Schools district, serving only seventh and eighth graders. It is not a charter or magnet, and no Title I status was listed. The school is small for a middle school, with an enrollment that reflects the grade band. Its student body is predominantly Black, with a substantial Hispanic population and a smaller share of white students and students who identify as two or more races. More than half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker that many families in the building are managing on modest incomes.
The state assessment results from the ILEARN tests paint a direct picture of academic performance. In math, the share of students scoring proficient or above was very low, far below the midpoint for the county. In English language arts, the proficiency rate was similarly low. Science results were also modest. A social studies result from several years ago shows a similar pattern, though that test was from a different assessment and year. Overall, the school’s combined proficiency across tested subjects places it in the bottom quartile relative to districts in Marion County. A parent considering this school should know that the numbers on state tests are significantly below what most other schools in the area report. There is no graduation rate to report because the school does not serve high school grades, and data on chronic absenteeism was not available.
The school operates under Indianapolis Public Schools, a large district that has made notable changes in recent years. Families within IPS are not tied to a single neighborhood school. Instead, the district uses a zone-based enrollment system, with four zones, and parents can apply to any IPS school through a centralized application process called Enroll Indy. That means a family living in the Arlington attendance area can also seek a spot at other schools across the district, including magnet programs and Innovation Network schools run by outside partners. The district also offers a range of educational models such as Montessori, Dual Language, STEM, and International Baccalaureate at various schools. This flexibility is a key feature of the system, though it also means that a school like Arlington competes for enrollment within a district that has seen a significant decline in total students over the past decade. That enrollment drop has implications for funding and programming, and it is something a parent may want to understand when considering any IPS school.
The school is located in downtown Indianapolis, at an address near the center of the city. Housing values in the surrounding zip code are somewhat above the national median, and rents are typical for an urban area. The local housing market has seen modest appreciation. Marion County as a whole has a diverse economy, and the school’s location puts it within a city that offers a range of amenities and challenges common to large urban environments.
For a parent, Arlington Community Middle School is a small, grade-specific building within a large district that offers many choices. The test proficiency rates are very low, which is the central fact a family would need to investigate further. A parent should ask the school directly about instructional supports, intervention programs, and any steps being taken to raise achievement. The zone-based enrollment system means that if Arlington does not fit a student’s needs, there are other options within IPS, but those options may also have varying performance levels. The school’s size and its student composition are characteristics, not judgments, but they do shape the peer environment. A family looking for a middle school where state test results are solid would likely find stronger numbers elsewhere in the county. For a family who values proximity and the downtown setting, and who wants to engage directly with the school about its academic plans, this school is worth a visit and a conversation with staff. The data alone does not tell the full story, but it does set a low baseline that a parent will want to explore.
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