The top reported proficiency rate is 30% in Math. The lowest is 18% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Homer Iddings Elementary School
Homer Iddings Elementary School serves students from prekindergarten through fourth grade in Merrillville, Indiana. It is a regular public school that is part of the Merrillville Community School Corporation. The enrollment is large for an elementary school in this grade band.
The student body is diverse. The largest share of students is Black, followed by Hispanic students and then white students, with smaller shares of students who are Asian, two or more races, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. More than half of the students at the school qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, meaning a substantial share of families have lower household incomes.
On state academic assessments, the school’s proficiency rates were mixed. The rate in math was above the midpoint among elementary schools across Lake County. The rate in English language arts was lower, and the rate in science was also lower. A parent may want to ask the school about the supports and instruction they provide in reading and science.
Because the school serves only through fourth grade, there is no on-time graduation rate to report here. No data was provided on chronic absenteeism, discipline, course access, or staffing. Information on English learner and special education populations was also not available in the data provided.
Merrillville is a car-oriented suburban town in Lake County, located near the intersection of Interstate 65 and US Route 30. It is often described as the retail and commercial hub for Northwest Indiana, with a dense corridor of big-box stores, restaurants, hotels, and auto dealerships along US 30. Unlike the steel-producing towns in northern Lake County, Merrillville does not have heavy industry. Its weekday population swells as people come from surrounding communities to work and shop. The town lacks a traditional walkable downtown; its civic institutions and schools are spread along major roads. A small number of major employers are headquartered in Merrillville, including an energy company. Bus service is available along Broadway and the US 30 corridor, and the nearest commuter rail station is in Gary, a short bus ride away. The town has grown modestly in recent years.
Merrillville Community School Corporation is the public school district serving the town. No recent district-level changes of lasting interest to parents were found in the information reviewed.
For a family considering Homer Iddings Elementary, the school offers a large, diverse elementary setting where the math performance is a relative strength compared to peer schools across the county. The lower English language arts and science results are something a parent would want to discuss directly with school staff. The town itself provides a suburban, car-dependent environment with extensive shopping and services, and the school is part of a district that covers Merrillville’s residential neighborhoods.
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