The top reported proficiency rate is 37% in Science. The lowest is 10% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Blanche E Fuqua Elementary School
Blanche E Fuqua Elementary School is a regular public school in Terre Haute, Indiana, serving students from prekindergarten through fifth grade. It is one of the elementary schools within the Vigo County School Corporation. The school’s enrollment is on the moderate side for an elementary school serving this grade band, and a very high share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of students who are Black, Hispanic, of two or more races, and Asian. Data on students with disabilities and English learners were not available from state reporting, so a parent who wants a fuller picture of the school’s special education and language support services would need to ask the school directly.
On the state’s ILEARN assessments, Fuqua Elementary’s proficiency rates are low across the tested subjects. In math, the share of students scoring proficient or above is well below the midpoint of Indiana elementary schools. English language arts proficiency is even lower, and while science proficiency is somewhat higher than math or ELA, it still sits at a modest level. Social studies is tested only in fifth grade, and the results there are very low. A parent considering this school will want to look into the school’s academic support strategies, intervention programs, and how the school works to move students toward grade-level proficiency, especially given the high concentration of economic need. Participation rates on the assessments were high, so the results reflect nearly all enrolled students.
The school’s website and program offerings were not provided in the data, so it is not possible to speak to specific extracurriculars, specials, or after-school options. The school environment and access section of the data did not include information on discipline, staffing ratios, or chronic absenteeism, so those are gaps a family would need to fill by visiting or contacting the school.
Fuqua Elementary is located in Terre Haute, a mid-sized city that blends college-town energy with industrial and institutional anchors. Indiana State University sits downtown, and Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and Ivy Tech Community College also have campuses nearby. The local economy includes manufacturing in the Vigo County Industrial Park, pharmaceuticals, a federal correctional complex, and a new casino that opened in 2024. Downtown has an Arts Corridor, a children’s museum, and a convention center completed in 2021. The city’s housing is relatively affordable compared to national benchmarks, with home values and rents that are accessible for many families. The area has seen recent development, including the casino and downtown investments tied to the university’s expansion.
No recent district-level changes, such as a referendum or major capital project, were publicly reported in the search results for the Vigo County School Corporation, so that context is absent from this account.
Overall, Fuqua Elementary serves a high-poverty population in a city with a diverse economic base but with academic proficiency results that are a clear area of concern. Families moving to the area who prioritize strong test scores may want to investigate the school’s instructional supports and compare them with other elementary options in the district. For a family that values a neighborhood school in a stable, mid-sized city with a college-town atmosphere and affordable housing, Fuqua Elementary fits that setting, but the academic profile warrants a closer look.
See more original research from School Decision →