The top reported proficiency rate is 55% in Social studies. The lowest is 41% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Virgil I Grissom Middle School
Virgil I Grissom Middle School serves students in grades six through eight in Mishawaka, part of the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation. The school is a regular public school and sits within a community that has experienced consistent population growth and a shift from its manufacturing roots toward retail, small industry, and services. Mishawaka offers an engaging downtown area and a riverwalk along the St. Joseph River, and the district itself appears stable; recent specific changes such as referendums or curriculum shifts were not found in publicly available information.
Grissom is a mid-sized middle school for its grade band. The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Hispanic, Black, and multiracial students. About half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a level that indicates the school serves a substantial share of families with moderate to lower incomes. The enrollment is roughly even across sixth, seventh, and eighth grades, giving each grade a balanced cohort.
Academically, the school's performance on the state's ILEARN assessments shows a mixed picture. In English language arts, roughly half of students scored at the proficient level or above, which is a solid result. In mathematics, the share reaching proficiency was lower, sitting around two-fifths. Science proficiency was similar to math. When compared with other districts in St. Joseph County, Grissom's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile, meaning it performs well relative to many of its county peers. A parent may want to note that the school's math and science scores, while above the county median, still leave room for improvement and may be worth asking the school about targeted support in those areas.
Data on certain other metrics was not available. Chronic absenteeism rates and graduation rates are not applicable here because this is a middle school that does not serve high school grades. Information on the share of students with an Individualized Education Program or those who are English learners was not reported, so a parent with a child who receives specialized instruction or language services would want to confirm program availability directly with the school. Staffing ratios, course access offerings, and discipline data were also absent from the available record.
The housing market in the area is moderately priced relative to state and national benchmarks. Home values sit below the Indiana average and well below the national average, while rents have risen noticeably over the past year. For a family comparing this school with others in the region, the cost of housing around Grissom is not a barrier in the way it might be in pricier parts of the state.
The district itself, Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation, showed no easily found recent changes that would affect a family's day-to-day experience, such as boundary adjustments or major program overhauls. That likely means the school environment has been consistent in recent years.
For a parent considering Grissom, the core takeaway is a school that performs above the middle of the pack in its county, with a majority-white student population and a sizable share of families qualifying for meal assistance. The biggest gap in the available picture is the absence of data on special education and English learner populations, as well as a lack of detail on course offerings. A family whose child needs those services or who wants to understand the full range of electives and enrichment options should ask the school directly. The community itself is growing and has a recognizable downtown, and the district appears stable.
See more original research from School Decision →