The top reported proficiency rate is 25% in Math. The lowest is 14% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Allen Elementary School
Allen Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through fourth grade in Marion, Indiana, as a regular public school within Marion Community Schools. Located on East Bradford Street, it is a neighborhood school for the youngest learners in the district. The school is a substantial size for an elementary building, with an enrollment that fills a full range of classrooms from pre-K through fourth grade.
The student body is diverse in its racial and ethnic composition. White students make up the largest group, followed by a substantial share of students who identify as two or more races, a significant presence of Black students, and a notable Hispanic population. A large majority of students at Allen Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker that the school serves a community with significant economic need.
On the 2024-25 ILEARN state assessments, which Indiana administers to students in grades three through eight, Allen Elementary's results were low. In both math and English language arts, the share of students scoring proficient or above was well below the median for Grant County districts, placing the school in the bottom quartile among its county peers. Science results, tested only at fourth grade, were similarly low. Participation rates on the assessments were full, so the scores reflect the performance of nearly all students. These are the most recent available results, and a parent considering the school should look closely at how the school is working to address these academic outcomes.
Because Allen Elementary serves only through fourth grade, there is no graduation rate to report, nor are there data on chronic absenteeism or discipline. The local housing market offers relatively affordable options. Homes in the area carry a value that is below the Indiana state benchmark and well below the national figure, consistent with Marion's broader reputation as a low-cost place to live. The estimated monthly mortgage payment on a typical home runs well under the national median rent, and the local price-to-income ratio tilts toward affordability relative to national averages.
Marion itself sits midway between Indianapolis and Fort Wayne along the Interstate 69 corridor. The city has a mixed character, with a downtown centered on the Grant County Courthouse and a riverfront that includes a multi-mile Riverwalk connecting to a city park. It is home to Indiana Wesleyan University, a large private university that is one of the region's major employers, alongside Marion General Hospital and the VA Northern Indiana Health Care System. The city has experienced population decline since a mid-20th century peak, and the economic base has shifted from its original agricultural and oil-boom roots toward a mix of manufacturing, healthcare, and higher education.
No recent district-level changes were identified through publicly available sources. The district brief turned up little of lasting impact, so this account relies on what the school's own data show.
For a family weighing Allen Elementary, the central facts are clear. It is a neighborhood school serving a high-poverty population where a very large share of students qualify for meal assistance. The academic proficiency rates on state tests were low across all subjects. The school sits in an affordable city with a mix of industrial and institutional employers, but one that is not currently growing. A parent will want to understand how the school is approaching instruction and intervention, particularly in the early elementary years when the foundation for later learning is set.
See more original research from School Decision →