The top reported proficiency rate is 48% in Science. The lowest is 42% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on William Tell Elementary School
William Tell Elementary School is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in Tell City, Indiana, part of the Tell City-Troy Twp School Corporation. The school occupies a single campus in the town and draws its students primarily from the surrounding community. Because it serves only elementary and middle grades, there is no graduation rate to report; state accountability measures are limited to the assessments given in those years.
The school community is economically diverse, with a majority of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is overwhelmingly white, with small numbers of students identifying as Asian, Black, Hispanic, multiracial, and Native American or Alaska Native. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available in the records reviewed, so a family seeking information on those supports would need to follow up directly with the school.
On the Indiana ILEARN assessments administered to students in grades three through eight, proficiency rates across math, English language arts, science, and social studies fell below half of tested students. In math, just over two-fifths of students scored proficient or above. In English language arts, the share was slightly higher but still under half. Science and social studies outcomes were similar, with roughly two-fifths to under half proficient. These are moderate results in absolute terms. However, when the school is placed alongside the other districts in Perry County, its overall proficiency across tested subjects ranks in the top quartile. Within a small county that has only a handful of districts, William Tell Elementary stands near the top of that local set, which is a meaningful strength for families comparing schools within the county.
The school offers the full elementary grade span, from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. Enrollment is robust across kindergarten through sixth grade, with each grade hosting roughly a hundred students, and the pre-kindergarten class is small, as is common for that level. The total enrollment is typical for a combined elementary and middle school in a small town. Participation rates on the state assessments were high, indicating that nearly all enrolled students took the tests.
Housing in the Tell City area is notably more affordable than both the state and national medians, and rents have shown modest increases consistent with broader trends. For families considering a move, the cost of buying or renting a home here is below what many other parts of Indiana require. The local unemployment rate has been steady near the national average, and median household income in the region is somewhat below the national figure, which aligns with the school’s relatively high share of students eligible for meal assistance.
There are several gaps in the available data that a parent may want to explore. The school’s website and district office could provide information on class sizes, the range of academic and enrichment programs, the availability of gifted or intervention services, and the specific staffing levels and qualifications of teachers. No data on chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, or course access was included in the records, so these topics are open questions. The district’s strategic priorities or recent initiatives were also not reported here.
For a parent weighing options in Perry County, William Tell Elementary presents a moderately performing school that leads its local comparison group in academic outcomes despite absolute proficiency rates that are under half. The school serves a predominantly white, economically mixed community in an area where housing is relatively affordable. The absence of certain data points means that families with children who have special needs, are learning English, or require specific enrichment programs should inquire directly to understand what supports are available. The school’s standing in the county is a clear positive, but the absolute test results suggest that academic growth and support for struggling students may be areas worth examining closely.
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