The top reported proficiency rate is 63% in Math. The lowest is 48% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Oak Hill Elementary School
OakHill Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade as part of the Tri-Creek School Corporation in Lowell, Indiana. It is a regular public school, not a charter or magnet, and it operates on a campus separate from the town’s downtown core, a pattern that holds for all Lowell schools. The enrollment is large for an elementary building in this grade band, and the student body is predominantly white, with a noticeable Latino share and very small Black and multiracial populations. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, giving the school a moderate level of economic diversity.
State testing results from the ILEARN assessments provide a clear picture of academic performance. In math, a strong majority of students met the proficiency bar, well above the midpoint for elementary schools statewide. In English language arts, roughly half of students scored at or above the proficient level, which is a softer spot relative to the math outcome. Science and social studies results, both tested at specific grade levels, show that about half of students are proficient as well. Across all tested subjects and grades, Oak Hill’s overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile relative to districts across Lake County, a notably strong showing in a county with a wide range of performance. The school’s participation rates on the assessments were very high, exceeding typical thresholds.
Because Oak Hill is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate to report, and no chronic absenteeism data was available in the source material. Data on special education and English learner populations were also missing, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those supports.
Lowell is a small incorporated town in southern Lake County, with a compact historic downtown along Commercial Avenue and a largely residential feel. It functions as a commuter community for Chicago and the broader Northwest Indiana region, served by the South Shore Line through nearby stations rather than a stop in town itself. The housing market in the area is above the state median in value, and rents are moderate relative to national trends. The town hosts Indiana’s oldest Labor Day parade and seasonal events at Buckley Homestead, a county park. Schools operate on separate campuses, with the public library and town hall anchoring civic life downtown. No major recent district-level changes, such as referendums or building projects, were identified in publicly available sources.
For a family considering Oak Hill, the academic picture is one of solid performance, especially in math, with room for discussion around literacy. The school’s placement in the upper tier of Lake County districts on overall proficiency is a clear strength. The student composition is relatively homogenous, with limited racial diversity and a moderate poverty rate. The community setting is small-town, car-dependent, and oriented toward commuters, with housing costs a step above the Indiana average. Parents who value a school with above-average test outcomes in a stable, traditional public elementary setting will find Oak Hill a strong candidate, though they may want to follow up on ELA performance and inquire about services for students with disabilities and English learners, given the missing data on those fronts.
See more original research from School Decision →