The top reported proficiency rate is 65% in Social studies. The lowest is 54% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Southmont Jr High School
Southmont Jr High School serves grades six through eight in the South Montgomery Community School Corporation, located just south of Crawfordsville. The school sits in a county seat with a mix of industrial manufacturing, higher education, and residential life. Crawfordsville is home to Wabash College, Ivy Tech Community College, and major employers such as Nucor Steel and Lakeside Book Company. The city has a compact downtown with a historic courthouse, an Amtrak stop, and a public transportation system. The area has seen ongoing industrial investment and modest population growth in recent years.
The school itself is a regular public middle school with an enrollment that is small for its grade band. The student body is predominantly white, with a small share of students identifying as two or more races and a very small share identifying as Hispanic. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the source material.
On the most recent state assessments, Southmont Jr High School posted proficiency rates that place it above the midpoint among districts in Montgomery County. In math, just over half of students scored at the proficient or above level. In English language arts, a similar share of students met that bar. In science, the proficiency rate was also just over half. These results are based on the ILEARN assessment, which the state uses for grades three through eight. The school’s overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades ranks in the top quartile relative to other districts in Montgomery County, a cohort of three districts. That is a strong showing for a middle school in this part of Indiana.
The school serves grades six through eight, with enrollment distributed fairly evenly across those three grades. The student body is overwhelmingly white, with small numbers of Hispanic students and students of two or more races. The school is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet. Data on discipline, course access, staffing, and attendance was not available in the source material, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those areas.
The district, South Montgomery Community School Corporation, did not have any parent-relevant changes publicly reported in the recent period that met the bar for inclusion here. That means no major boundary shifts, program launches, or leadership transitions were found in the sources searched. A parent looking for the latest news might check the district website directly.
Housing in the area around the school is moderately priced relative to national benchmarks. Home values in the zip code are below the state average, and rents are also below the state average. The estimated monthly mortgage payment on a median-priced home is roughly in line with the national rent-to-income ratio, suggesting that homeownership is within reach for many local households. The area has a mix of older homes in the historic districts and newer development on the outskirts.
For a family considering this school, the academic picture is clear. Southmont Jr High School performs above the median among the three districts in Montgomery County on overall proficiency. That is a meaningful distinction in a small county where the range between the lowest and highest performing district is not wide. The school’s proficiency rates in math, English, and science all cluster in the mid-fifties, which is a consistent profile. A parent looking for a middle school where a majority of students meet state standards across subjects will find that here.
The school is located south of Crawfordsville on a state highway, serving a rural and small-town population. The community has a stable industrial and educational employment base, with Wabash College and Ivy Tech providing an academic presence and Nucor Steel and Lakeside Book Company anchoring the manufacturing sector. Housing is affordable relative to the state and nation, and the area has public transportation and an Amtrak stop.
Because this is a middle school serving only grades six through eight, there is no graduation rate to report. That is not a gap in the data; it simply does not apply. The school’s academic performance is the main measure available, and on that front it performs solidly. A parent considering this school will find a middle school where a majority of students are meeting state standards, set in a community with a stable economic base and affordable housing. The school’s size is manageable, and the peer environment is largely homogeneous in terms of race and ethnicity. For families who value a school that performs above the local average in a small, rural county, this is a reasonable option.
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