The top reported proficiency rate is 10% in Science. The lowest is 3% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Community Youth Services
Community Youth Services is a public special education school serving kindergarten through twelfth grade in Richmond, Indiana. It is part of the Richmond Community Schools district. The school's designation as a special education school means it is designed to serve students with disabilities, and its academic profile and student body reflect that mission in ways that differ from a typical neighborhood school.
The school is small, with an enrollment that matches its focused purpose. The student population is predominantly white, with Black students making up a meaningful share and smaller numbers of Hispanic students and students identifying with two or more races. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a higher-poverty context. The data available does not include counts for students with individualized education programs or English learners, though given the school's status, it is reasonable to infer that the population served has significant special education needs.
State assessment results for the 2023-24 school year show that rates of proficiency in math, English language arts, science, and social studies were all low. In math, only a very small share of students scored at a proficient level, and the share in English language arts, while higher, was still quite low. Science and social studies proficiency rates were similarly low. These figures should be understood in the context of the school's special education mission. Students with disabilities as a group tend to score lower on standardized assessments than the general student population, and a school focused entirely on this population will have a different academic profile than a school serving a broader mix. A family evaluating the school would likely want to speak with staff about how academic progress is measured and tracked for individual students and what the school's own benchmarks for growth look like, beyond state proficiency rates.
No data was available on graduation rate, which may not be a standard measure for this type of school. Similarly, information on discipline, staffing, course access, attendance, and programs was not present in the available records. The school environment section offered no details on class sizes, teacher credentials, or the range of course offerings. A parent considering this placement would need to gather that information directly from the school or the district.
Richmond, the city where the school is located, is the county seat of Wayne County and has a population that places it as a moderate-sized Midwestern city. Its history includes deep Quaker roots and a past as a manufacturing center, particularly for lawnmowers and school buses. The closure of major manufacturers was a significant economic event, and the city has since transitioned to an economy anchored by four colleges and a regional hospital system. The built environment includes a historic downtown core along the old National Road and several districts on the National Register of Historic Places. The downtown area offers a traditional street-grid layout that is more walkable, while much of the city's residential area is suburban and car-dependent. Housing costs in the area are notably below both the state and national averages, making it a relatively affordable market for homebuyers and renters alike.
No recent district-level changes or initiatives were found in public reports that would materially affect a family's understanding of the school. The district brief contained little of lasting impact.
Community Youth Services is a specialized setting for students who require special education services across a full age span, from elementary through high school. The academic outcomes as measured by state tests are low, which is consistent with the population it serves but is important for a family to understand and discuss with the school in terms of what growth and achievement look like for their child. The school offers a small environment and a long track record as part of the Richmond public school system.
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