The top reported proficiency rate is 32% in English language arts. The lowest is 28% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Southport 6th Grade Academy
Southport 6th Grade Academy is a single-grade public school serving only sixth graders within the Metropolitan School District of Perry Township in Indianapolis. It is one of two sixth grade academies in the district, a structure that reflects a broader reorganization of the elementary feeder system. Families who live east of US-31 attend schools in the Southport feeder, while those west of US-31 attend the Perry Meridian feeder; that boundary determines assignment for any family moving into the area. The academy sits on the south side of Indianapolis, an area where housing prices are below the national median and rents have been rising at a modest pace.
The student body is diverse and large for a single grade. Just over 660 students are enrolled, all in grade six. The composition is roughly a third white, a quarter Asian, a fifth Hispanic, and about one-sixth Black, with small numbers of multiracial and Native American students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on English learner and special education populations was not provided, so a family wanting a fuller picture of support services would need to ask the school directly.
State test results are available for math, English language arts, and science from Indiana’s ILEARN assessment, taken by nearly all enrolled students. The school’s proficiency rates across these subjects are moderate. In math, about a quarter of students scored at or above the proficient level; in ELA, roughly three in ten did; in science, about three in ten as well. When compared with other schools across Marion County, the school’s overall proficiency index lands in the top quartile. That is a strength relative to the county, though a parent should also note the absolute numbers—many students are still performing below the state proficiency bar. A family may want to discuss with the school how it supports students who are not yet proficient and how it pushes those who are.
Because the academy serves only sixth grade, there is no graduation rate or high school outcome data to report. Chronic absenteeism and discipline data were also absent from the available information. The school does not appear in the Title I data provided, and its magnet status is not specified; it operates as a regular public school.
The district context adds important detail. Perry Township Schools, which oversees the academy, has undergone a lasting structural change by creating separate kindergarten academies, early childhood academies, and sixth grade academies, rather than the traditional K–5 or K–8 model. This means that for a child entering the district, the sequence of school buildings shifts after kindergarten and again after fifth grade. The district also received a federal Teacher and School Leader grant, which supports recruiting, retaining, and developing effective teachers and principals across all its schools. That grant may affect the quality of instruction a student experiences at the academy, though specific staffing numbers for this school were not part of the data.
For a parent considering Southport 6th Grade Academy, the central takeaway is that this is a transitional, single-grade environment. The student body is large and diverse, with a high proportion of families in economic need. Academic proficiency rates are moderate, but the school performs relatively well when measured against the broader county. The district’s feeder structure makes the choice of where you live on the east or west side of US-31 decisive for your child’s entire K–12 pathway. The academy itself is not a standalone high school or middle school—it is a year-long stop before moving on to a district middle school. Families who value a focused sixth grade experience may find it fits; those who want a K–8 continuum or a broader program range should consider how the Perry Township feeder system works from the start.
See more original research from School Decision →