The top reported proficiency rate is 43% in Science. The lowest is 33% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on West Central Middle School
West Central Middle School is a regular public school serving just two grade levels, seventh and eighth grade, in the small rural town of Francesville on the west side of Pulaski County. It sits north of the compact downtown, on a campus that also houses the district’s high school and a nursery school, about a mile or so from the historic commercial district that anchors local life. The school draws students not only from Francesville itself but from the western half of Pulaski County and an adjacent township in Jasper County, making it the central middle school for a broad, low-density area.
The community around the school is close-knit and rooted in agriculture. Francesville’s population has been slowly shrinking, but the town has seen meaningful recent investments: a grocery-gas station-pharmacy opened in 2023, a new licensed childcare center started in 2024, and a hydroponics greenhouse facility opened north of town in 2021. The downtown historic district was listed on the National Register in 2025, and a volunteer-run store and cafe fill a former pharmacy building. These signs of reinvention matter for families looking at a small district. There are no large-scale new housing developments reported, and the housing stock is modestly priced relative to the state, with home values below the Indiana median.
The school itself is small, with fewer than a hundred students. The student body is predominantly white, with a small share of Hispanic students and a handful of other backgrounds. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a moderate-to-high poverty context for a middle school. No data was available on special education or English learner enrollment, and no information was reported on discipline, staffing, or chronic absenteeism; a parent may want to ask the school directly about those areas.
On state assessments, the picture is mixed. In math, about a third of students met or exceeded the ILEARN proficiency standard, and in English language arts, the share was somewhat higher but still below half. These results are for a single year and a small tested group of students. Compared with the only other district in Pulaski County, the school’s overall proficiency across subjects sits above the midpoint, meaning it performs better than one of the two county districts. The science and social studies results are from older years and different test formats, so they are not directly comparable to current performance. Because the school only covers grades seven and eight, there is no graduation rate to consider, and no high school course access data is available.
For families, West Central Middle School offers a very small, rural setting where students likely know each other and their teachers well. The academic results suggest room for growth in core subjects, and a parent may want to explore what academic supports and enrichment opportunities the school provides, especially given that the district’s high school is on the same campus and may offer a clear pathway from middle school onward. The broader community is stable but evolving, with volunteers and local organizations working to keep amenities alive in a town that has lost some services over time. Families who value a tight-knit environment, a low student-to-staff feel, and a connection to agricultural life may find this a comfortable fit. Those looking for a wider array of programs or higher average test scores may want to investigate further.
See more original research from School Decision →