The top reported proficiency rate is 20% in Science. The lowest is 5% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Pettit Park School
Pettit Park School serves prekindergarten through grade 5 as a regular public school in Kokomo, Indiana, part of the Kokomo School Corporation. Located on West Havens Street, the school sits within a city that blends heavy manufacturing, particularly automotive plants, with established residential neighborhoods. Kokomo has a stable population, a working-class to middle-class economic mix, and a downtown civic core with the county courthouse and museums. The school’s enrollment is relatively small for its grade band, with a student body spanning early childhood through upper elementary.
The student population is predominantly White, with a substantial share of Black students, a smaller Hispanic presence, and a modest number of students identifying as two or more races. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a signal that the school serves a community with significant economic need. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the records reviewed.
State testing results from the ILEARN assessments offer a clear picture of academic performance. In math, a low share of students met the proficiency standard. In English language arts, the proficiency rate was similarly low. Science results showed a slightly higher but still modest proficiency rate among tested students. Social studies, tested only at grade 5, had a very low proficiency rate. Compared with other school districts in Howard County, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades fell in the bottom quartile. These are soft points in the school’s academic profile, and a parent may want to discuss with the school what supports are in place to address them.
Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate, chronic absenteeism data was not available, and the school does not offer high school-level courses such as Advanced Placement or dual credit. No information on discipline, staffing, or course access was provided. The district brief showed no recent major changes such as referendums, bond issues, or curriculum overhauls that would alter a parent’s understanding of the school’s direction.
For a family considering Pettit Park, the school’s size is a characteristic that may feel more personal or more limited depending on preference. The housing market in the surrounding area is more affordable than the national and state averages, with home values and rents well below those benchmarks, which fits with the city’s broader economic profile. The community is auto-oriented, with a moderate commute time and incomplete sidewalk coverage outside newer developments, though a recreational trail and downtown pedestrian spaces exist.
This is a school where state-tested performance is an area of concern, where economic disadvantage is widespread, and where the academic pathway through high school would require a transition to another school in the district. Families looking at Pettit Park will want to understand how the school’s early-grade instruction and intervention programs aim to build foundational skills, and what the feeder middle and high schools offer once students leave.
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