The top reported proficiency rate is 18% in Social studies. The lowest is 0% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Oaklawn Campus Program
Oaklawn Campus Program is a special education school serving students in kindergarten through twelfth grade within the School City of Mishawaka district. It operates as a separate, specialized setting, distinct from the district's general-education elementary, middle, and high schools. The school's total enrollment is small, with most students in grades seven through eleven.
State assessment results are available for math and English language arts, and they reflect the school's special-population purpose. On the ILEARN assessments taken by students in the tested grade span, the math proficiency rate was zero percent among those tested. In English language arts, a small share of students met the proficiency bar. Science results for the tested group were too small to report publicly, which is common when very few students take the assessment. A parent looking at these figures should interpret them in the context of the school's mission; the students served here receive special education supports that the general-assessment system is not designed to measure in the same way it measures a typical school population.
The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial share identifying as Black and a smaller share as two or more races. Asian and Hispanic students each make up a thin slice of enrollment. Just over one-fifth of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a lower rate than what many districts with this demographic profile report, but the figure should be read with the understanding that this is a specialized school and family-income data may not capture the full picture of student need in this setting.
The school is located on Lincolnway West in Mishawaka, a city that has historically been a manufacturing center and has since shifted toward retail and small industry. Mishawaka sits along the St. Joseph River adjacent to South Bend. The city has an engaging downtown with a Riverwalk connecting restaurants and breweries, and it maintains numerous parks. Publicly reported information indicates Mishawaka has experienced consistent population growth and record-breaking new construction in recent years, suggesting a community that is expanding.
Oaklawn Campus Program is part of the School City of Mishawaka district, which has made several changes that may matter to families. The district adopted a balanced calendar starting in the 2024-2025 school year, shortening summer break in favor of a longer fall break and a longer winter break, a shift the district says aims to reduce summer learning loss for economically disadvantaged students. Voters passed an operating referendum in 2021 that provides additional annual funding through 2028, intended to support teacher retention, class size reduction, and academic programs. The district has also expanded full-day kindergarten to all elementary schools.
The school's state testing data is the central piece of evidence a parent would want to examine closely. Proficiency rates are very low compared to general-education schools, which is expected for a special education school serving students with significant needs, but a parent should ask the school directly about how academic progress is measured for individual students, what alternative assessments or growth metrics are used, and how the curriculum is adapted to each student's goals. The school's website and the district's special education office would be the appropriate sources for those conversations.
Given the small enrollment and specialized mission, this school is not a broad academic pathway for the general student population. It is a placement for students who require a self-contained special education setting. A parent considering the district should understand that Oaklawn Campus Program serves a specific subset of students and that most children in School City of Mishawaka attend the district's neighborhood schools.
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