Washington Twp Elementary School, Valparaiso IN

Original Research by School Decision on Washington Twp Elementary School

Washington Twp Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade and is part of the East Porter County School Corp. The school sits on State Road 2 on the outskirts of Valparaiso, a city that functions as the Porter County seat and a regional hub. Valparaiso is home to Valparaiso University, which gives the city a college-town character, and its economy includes local manufacturing and retail. The school’s address places it outside the denser parts of town, in a more rural-oriented stretch of the county.

State testing data for the most recent year shows that in math, just under half of students met the proficiency standard on the ILEARN assessment. In English language arts, the share was lower, with roughly two out of every five students scoring proficient. Science results, which are tested at a single grade level, landed in a similar range. Social studies, also tested at one grade level, showed a lower proficiency rate, with about a third of students meeting the bar. Across all tested subjects, the school’s overall proficiency index falls in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Porter County. A parent considering this school may want to ask the principal or classroom teachers how the school is working to lift these figures.

The student body is enrolled in balanced class sizes across the elementary grades, from kindergarten through fifth grade. The composition is predominantly white, and a substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which signals a modest level of economic diversity. The school is a regular public school with no charter or magnet designation. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, so a parent needing those specifics should follow up with the district.

Housing in the area carries a value that is above the state benchmark and above the national median. Rents are moderate relative to incomes. The local unemployment rate is low, and median household income nationally has been stable. Valparaiso itself is described as a growing community with a historic downtown along Lincolnway, a freight railroad running through it, and proximity to the Indiana Dunes National Park. The city’s hills are a result of the Valparaiso Moraine, a glacial feature, and the built environment is nearly entirely urban.

No recent district-level changes—such as a referendum, curriculum shift, or property tax adjustment—were reported for the East Porter County School Corp in publicly available sources. A parent exploring the district may want to check the school board meeting minutes or the district website for any active developments.

For a family weighing this school, the academic proficiency numbers represent a soft spot that warrants a conversation with the school. The setting is a combined college-town and rural fringe, with a student body that is not especially diverse. Housing costs are elevated for the state but manageable relative to the broader national market. The school’s positioning in Porter County’s lower tier of test outcomes is the primary indicator a parent should investigate further with the school and district.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grades 3-845%

School 45% · District 51% · ▼ 6 pts below district

▲ 5 pts above state median · ▼ 11 pts below county median

English language arts

Grades 3-839%

School 39% · District 53% · ▼ 14 pts below district

▲ 2 pts above state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Science

Grades 3-848%

School 48% · District 57% · ▼ 10 pts below district

▲ 7 pts above state median · ▼ 11 pts below county median

Social studies

Grade 532%

School 32% · District 50% · ▼ 18 pts below district

even with state median · ▼ 19 pts below county median

This schoolEast Porter County 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 3Lower-income35%Higher-income35%0 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income19%Higher-income50%31 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income25%Higher-income36%11 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income35%Higher-income46%11 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income31%Higher-income56%25 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income17%Higher-income46%29 pp gap