The top reported proficiency rate is 74% in Math. The lowest is 51% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on New Palestine Elementary School
New Palestine Elementary School serves pre-kindergarten through fourth grade as a regular public school in the Southern Hancock County Community School Corporation. It is one of three elementary schools in a district that also includes an intermediate school, a junior high, and a high school, all situated in or near the small town of New Palestine, Indiana. The school’s grade band means it sends its students on to another building after fourth grade, so the high school outcomes that many families look for are not measured here.
State testing data from the ILEARN assessments, which cover grades three through eight, are available for the 2024-25 school year. The school’s performance in math and English language arts among third and fourth graders was strong across the board. In science, which is tested only in fourth grade, proficiency was solid as well. An older social studies result from a different test several years ago is also on file, but it is not comparable to current measures. When placed alongside the other five school districts in Hancock County, New Palestine Elementary’s overall proficiency across tested subjects lands in the top quartile. That is a clear academic strength for a school serving only the early elementary grades.
The student body is sizable for an elementary school serving only PK through four. The demographic picture is predominantly white, with small shares of Hispanic, Asian, and multiracial students. About one in five students qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, a figure notably lower than the national average and a signal of the community’s relative affluence. Civil-rights data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available in the records examined, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those supports.
No information was found on program offerings such as gifted education, specials, or extracurricular activities. The school’s website or a call to the office would be the place to fill that gap. Likewise, discipline, attendance, and staffing data were not reported here.
New Palestine itself is a town undergoing rapid growth. The population increased substantially between the last two censuses and continues to climb. The median home value in the ZIP code is above the national benchmark, and the local market shows modest year-over-year appreciation. Housing costs relative to income are moderately high, making this a more expensive area than many in central Indiana. The town is largely residential, with many residents commuting to the Indianapolis metro for work. The school district is a major local employer, and town life revolves around the high school and community events such as the Fall Festival. The historic downtown core is compact and walkable, but the newer residential areas are more car-dependent.
The district itself did not have any recent parent-relevant changes — no referendums, curriculum shifts, or construction bonds — identified in the search. The district’s website emphasizes high performance on state tests, which aligns with the elementary school’s results.
This is a school with strong academic numbers for its grade span, serving a predominantly white and relatively affluent student body in a growing suburban-rural town. Families drawn to a high-performing early elementary school with a homogenous peer environment and a community centered on its schools will find it a natural fit. Those looking for demographic diversity or a wide array of specialized programs in the early grades will want to investigate further, as the data does not speak to those dimensions. The missing indicators on special populations and support services are worth a direct inquiry.
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