New Castle Middle School, New Castle IN

Original Research by School Decision on New Castle Middle School

New Castle Middle School is a regular public school serving grades six through eight within the New Castle Community School Corp in Henry County. The school sits in the city of New Castle, a small county-seat city that was once a major manufacturing hub – known historically for automobiles, pianos, and steel products – and is now a more residential and agricultural center. The area around the school is a largely traditional small-town grid with a historic courthouse square, and the middle school is integrated into the city fabric rather than isolated on a separate campus. Housing in the New Castle area is notably more affordable than both the state and national averages, and rents are also below typical benchmarks, making this a relatively budget-friendly place for a family to live. The city’s population has been slowly declining over recent decades, and no major new housing developments or large-scale growth initiatives were identified.

The student body at New Castle Middle School is predominantly white, with a modest share of Hispanic and multiracial students, and small Asian and Black populations. More than half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a community with substantial economic need. Enrollment is moderate for a middle school, and attendance across the grades is fairly balanced. No data on special education services or English learner counts were available in the information provided; a parent may want to follow up with the school directly about these support structures.

On state assessments through Indiana’s ILEARN program, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it above the midpoint when compared with other districts in Henry County. In absolute terms, proficiency rates in math and English language arts are moderate, with a notably higher share of students reaching proficiency in science. Social studies data is older and from a different testing format, so current comparisons are not possible. The school participates in testing at a high rate, which provides a reliable picture of student performance. Because this is a middle school, no graduation rate applies.

The district brief turned up little of lasting parent-relevant change in recent years – no major referendums, curriculum overhauls, or facility shifts were found. The district includes a high school known for its famous fieldhouse, the largest in the country, located within the city near the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame and a public library, parks department, and a municipal airport. Summit Lake State Park is a short drive northeast.

Overall, New Castle Middle School serves a community where housing is affordable and the city has deep historic roots but modest current economic growth. Academic proficiency is near the middle of county districts, and the school’s student body reflects the broader community’s demographics and economic circumstances. Families considering this school may want to ask about enrichment programs, course access, and services for students performing below proficiency, as those details were not present in the available data.

See more original research from School Decision →

Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grades 3-826%

School 26% · District 33% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▼ 14 pts below state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

English language arts

Grades 3-828%

School 28% · District 31% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 9 pts below state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Science

Grades 3-846%

School 46% · District 39% · ▲ 7 pts above district

▲ 6 pts above state median · ▲ 7 pts above county median

Social studies

Grades 3-866%

School 66% · district not reported

▲ 5 pts above state median

This schoolNew Castle Community School Corp, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 6Lower-income30%Higher-income42%12 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income14%Higher-income33%20 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income19%Higher-income34%14 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 6Lower-income33%Higher-income49%16 pp gap

Grade 7Lower-income15%Higher-income32%17 pp gap

Grade 8Lower-income11%Higher-income25%15 pp gap