The top reported proficiency rate is 59% in Social studies. The lowest is 32% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Paragon Elementary School
Paragon Elementary School is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fourth grade in the small, rural town of Paragon, Indiana. It is part of the Metropolitan School District of Martinsville, a countywide district centered about eight miles north in Martinsville, the county seat. With an enrollment that is small for its grade band, the school operates as the only elementary school within the town itself; students who live in Paragon attend here through fourth grade and then move on to middle and high school elsewhere in the district.
Academically, Paragon Elementary presents a mixed picture. On the state’s ILEARN assessments, math proficiency stands as a clear strength. The share of students scoring proficient or above in math places the school among the top performers in Morgan County, where it ranks in the top quartile when compared with other districts in the county. English language arts proficiency is lower, with roughly one in three students meeting the bar. Science results, which are tested in fourth grade, also trail math, with about one in three students proficient. The school’s overall proficiency index, which averages across tested subjects and grades, falls in the top quartile among Morgan County districts, a reflection of how math lifts the composite. No graduation rate is reported here because Paragon Elementary does not serve high school grades. No chronic absenteeism data were available, so a parent may wish to ask the school about attendance patterns directly.
The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. That economic indicator points to a community with a notable level of need. The school’s enrollment by grade runs from pre-kindergarten through fourth grade, with kindergarten and second grade drawing the largest groups.
Paragon itself is a very small town experiencing a gradual population decline. It sits along State Road 67 in southwestern Morgan County, surrounded by agricultural fields and forest. The White River runs just east of town, with a public access point at the bridge on Paragon Road. Outdoor recreation options include Burkhart Creek Park, a nature park with trails and picnic shelters just north of town, and Ravinia State Forest, a heavily wooded parcel nearby. Paragon Speedway, a dirt track that hosts regular Saturday night racing, serves as a regional draw. Housing costs in the area are moderate, with home values tracking slightly above the statewide median, making the area relatively affordable compared to national benchmarks. The cost of living is below the U.S. average, and the town’s economic base is limited; most residents likely commute to Martinsville or other nearby communities for work. No major new housing developments or commercial projects were found in available sources, consistent with a stagnant or contracting population.
No recent district-level changes, such as referenda, bond measures, or curriculum shifts, were identified in publicly reported information for MSD Martinsville Schools. That does not mean none occurred, but no parent-relevant developments cleared the bar for lasting impact in the available material.
Paragon Elementary School offers a small, rural setting with a math program that stands out favorably when measured against other schools in the county. Families considering this school should weigh the stronger math results against the lower ELA and science proficiency rates and may want to ask the school directly about supports for reading and writing. The school serves a community with modest economic resources, and the town’s population decline suggests a stable but not growing local context. For parents who value a small school in a quiet rural town and are comfortable with the academic profile, this is a straightforward neighborhood option within MSD Martinsville Schools.
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