The top reported proficiency rate is 56% in Math. The lowest is 40% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Fred J Hums Elementary School
Fred J Hums Elementary School serves kindergarten through sixth grade in the School City of Mishawaka, a public district in the St. Joseph County city of Mishawaka. The school is a regular elementary school in a city that blends residential areas with a historic manufacturing past, now shifted toward retail and small industry. Mishawaka sits along the St. Joseph River adjacent to South Bend, and its downtown includes a recognized Riverwalk with restaurants and shops. The city reports consistent population growth and record new construction, growth that may interest families considering a long-term move to the area.
The school’s student body is small for a K-6 building, with a racial and ethnic composition that is predominantly white. A substantial share of students come from lower-income households, as measured by eligibility for free or reduced-price lunch. This economic context matters because the district recently shifted to a balanced calendar that shortens summer break and adds longer fall and winter breaks, citing a goal of reducing summer learning loss for economically disadvantaged students. The district’s operating referendum, passed by voters in 2021, provides ongoing funding through 2028 meant to support teacher retention, small class sizes, and academic programs. Full-day kindergarten is now in place at all district elementary schools, a relevant factor for incoming families.
On Indiana’s state assessments, Hums Elementary shows a mixed academic picture. Math proficiency was above the midpoint, with more than half of tested students meeting the standard. Science and social studies results were at roughly similar levels. English language arts was the softer subject, where fewer than half of students scored proficient. A parent should read that ELA result as an area where performance did not match the school’s math showing. The school’s overall proficiency, averaged across all tested subjects and grades, places it in the top quartile among schools in St. Joseph County, a position that suggests stronger aggregate outcomes than many of its county peers.
No data was reported about special education identification or English learner status, so it is not possible to describe those populations at this school. The school’s civil rights data, chronic absenteeism, and graduation rate are absent, the latter because the school does not serve high school grades.
The housing market in the area carries typical Midwestern prices. Home values are below the national benchmark, and rents are moderate relative to incomes, which may make the area accessible for a range of households. The monthly mortgage estimate falls within a reasonable range for many first-time buyers.
Hums is a regular public elementary school with a clear academic strength in math and a relative softness in reading. Its student body has modest economic diversity, and the district has made intentional calendar and funding changes that directly affect the student experience. Families looking at this school should weigh the math results as a genuine advantage while investigating how the school supports literacy growth. The setting is a growing city with walkable amenities and a local employment base that includes AM General and a small university, not a bedroom suburb of a larger metro. For a family that values a neighborhood school in a community that is investing in itself, Hums Elementary is worth a close look, with the literacy scores being the detail to explore further.
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