The top reported proficiency rate is 50% in Social studies. The lowest is 45% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Needmore Elementary School
Needmore Elementary School serves kindergarten through sixth grade in Bedford, Indiana, as part of the North Lawrence Community Schools district. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. For a parent looking at elementary options in this part of southern Indiana, the school offers a middle-of-the-road academic picture measured against state standards, with some relative strengths when compared to other schools in Lawrence County.
On the most recent state assessments, the share of students scoring proficient or above in math and English language arts was the same, roughly two out of every five students. Science proficiency was slightly higher, and among fifth graders tested in social studies, half met the proficiency bar. These results place Needmore above the typical range for schools in Lawrence County; across the four districts in the county, the overall proficiency index at this school sits in the top quartile. That said, the absolute proficiency rates leave a substantial portion of students not yet meeting grade-level benchmarks, a point a parent may want to discuss with the school to understand how the school identifies and supports students who are below that line.
The student body is about two hundred and a few dozen children, making it a modestly sized elementary school. Demographically, the large majority of students are white, with small numbers of Hispanic, Asian, Black, and multiracial students enrolled. A substantial share of students—roughly three out of every five—qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which signals that a majority of families in the attendance area have lower household incomes. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported in the available records, so a parent with a child needing those services would want to ask the district or school directly about supports.
The school itself is located in Bedford, the county seat of Lawrence County. Bedford is a community of modest size, known historically for its limestone quarries—it calls itself the “Limestone Capital of the World.” The local economy is anchored in manufacturing (including a General Motors Powertrain plant), healthcare, and retail, with a historic courthouse square at the center of town. Housing in the area is relatively affordable compared to national averages, and the market has seen steady appreciation in recent years. The community has received state recognition as a Stellar Community, bringing funding for civic improvements, and the population has grown slowly over the past decade. The school appears to be on its own campus rather than adjacent to downtown, typical for the area’s pattern of multiple elementary buildings spread across Bedford.
Because Needmore serves only through sixth grade, there is no graduation rate to review. The school does not offer high school–level courses or college-credit pathways, and no data on course access, discipline, attendance, or staffing was available in the records examined. A parent considering this school may want to look into after-school programs, enrichment offerings, and how the middle school transition works within North Lawrence Community Schools.
For families who value a school that performs competitively within its county and whose student body reflects a working-class community in a small Midwestern town, Needmore Elementary fits that description. It is a straightforward, neighborhood elementary school with proficiency rates that are above average for Lawrence County but still indicate room for growth, and its setting in Bedford offers a low-cost housing market and a steady economic base anchored by manufacturing and healthcare.
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