The top reported proficiency rate is 60% in Math. The lowest is 43% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Maple Ridge Elementary School
Maple Ridge Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in the South Madison Community School Corporation, located in Pendleton, Indiana. Pendleton is a small town in southern Madison County that blends historic small-town character with rapid growth. The town’s population has increased substantially since the 2020 census, and its land area has expanded through annexation, reflecting suburban development pressure from the Indianapolis metro area about a thirty-minute drive southwest via Interstate 69. The town’s built environment includes a National Register-listed historic district, Falls Park along Fall Creek, and newer residential subdivisions on the edges. Major employers include three Indiana Department of Correction facilities near the town and the local school corporation itself.
Maple Ridge Elementary is a regular public school with an enrollment of several hundred students across kindergarten through sixth grade, plus a pre-kindergarten program. Its student body is predominantly white, with Hispanic students making up a meaningful share and smaller numbers of Asian, Black, and multiracial students. Nearly half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker that many families face economic pressure.
On state assessments administered through Indiana’s ILEARN program, Maple Ridge’s results present a mixed picture. In math, a majority of students scored at or above the proficient level, a performance that places the school in a strong position relative to other districts in Madison County. In English language arts, the share of students reaching proficiency was notably lower, landing below half. Science results fell at roughly the midpoint between those two subjects, with about half of tested students proficient. Social studies, tested only at grade five, showed a similar pattern. A parent or guardian may want to discuss with the school how it supports literacy development and whether any targeted interventions are in place for students who are not yet meeting the ELA bar. The school’s overall proficiency across all tested subjects and grades ranks in the top quartile among districts in Madison County, a comparison set that includes seven districts.
The school did not report data on chronic absenteeism or on four-year graduation, which is expected since it does not serve grades that produce a graduation cohort. Results for students with disabilities and English learners were also not available in the provided data, so it is not possible to assess how those groups are performing. A parent who wants to understand the school’s work with those populations would need to ask the school directly.
Housing in the area is relatively expensive compared to the region. Typical home values run above the state benchmark, and the typical rent is also elevated. For a family considering a move, the cost of entry is notable, and the monthly mortgage estimate on a median-priced home would be a substantial share of the national median household income. The town is predominantly owner-occupied, and the area has seen upward pressure on home prices in recent years.
Pendleton’s schools are split between downtown and separate campuses. Pendleton Heights High School and the newer middle school sit on the east edge of town, while an elementary intermediate building is located nearer downtown. Maple Ridge is a neighborhood elementary school serving the pre-kindergarten through sixth grade span, so families should expect that students will transition to a different school building for middle school.
For a family trying to understand what this school offers, the core picture is a large elementary school in a fast-growing suburban-style town, with solid math performance and a weaker ELA result that warrants attention. The school serves a diverse-by-income student body, and the housing market is expensive for the area. The South Madison district as a whole is one of the stronger performers in Madison County by the proficiency measure available, and Maple Ridge contributes to that standing, particularly in math. A family that values a strong math foundation and is willing to investigate literacy support would find this school worth a closer look.
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