The top reported proficiency rate is 35% in Science. The lowest is 15% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Pleasant Lake Elementary School
Pleasant Lake Elementary School is a small regular public school serving kindergarten through fifth grade in the rural, unincorporated community of Pleasant Lake, Indiana. It is part of MSD Steuben County. The school is very small for its grade band, a size that often allows for close relationships between students and staff.
The student body is overwhelmingly white, with very small numbers of Hispanic, Black, American Indian, and multiracial students enrolled. More than half of the students come from households that qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a signal that the school serves a population with a notable level of economic need. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available.
On the most recent state assessments, Pleasant Lake’s proficiency rates were below the midpoint when compared to other Steuben County districts. In math, roughly a share that would rank in the lower range of tested students in Indiana reached the proficient or above level. In English language arts, the share was higher than math but still modest in terms of grade-level standards. Science results, tested only in a specific grade band, were also below typical benchmarks, though this was a single-grade cohort. Social studies results were suppressed due to a very small tested group. A parent looking at these numbers may want to ask the school what academic supports are in place.
The district did not report recent budget referendums, major curriculum changes, or other large-scale shifts. The school itself has no magnet or charter status and did not have Title I status available in the data, so it is not possible to confirm whether it receives federal poverty-based funding, though the free and reduced-price lunch share suggests it likely would.
Pleasant Lake is a quiet lakeside community. It is unincorporated, meaning it has no municipal government and most daily activity happens through the school and the public beach and lake access. Residents likely commute to nearby Angola for employment and shopping. Housing values in the area are modest compared to state and national benchmarks. The area saw a moderate rise in home prices over the recent year, which follows broader trends in affordable small-town Indiana markets. The school sits on the main road through town, integrated into the residential fabric rather than isolated on a campus.
For a family, Pleasant Lake Elementary offers a tightly knit, small-setting elementary experience in an affordable rural town. The academic measures on state tests are soft compared to other districts in the county, and the school has a high share of students from lower-income backgrounds, which can mean additional needs that the school’s resources must stretch to meet. A parent considering this school should ask about the school’s approach to reading and math intervention, how it supports students who come in below grade level, and what enrichment is available given the small staff. The community itself is a draw for those who value lake access, low-key recreation, and a slower pace.
See more original research from School Decision →