The top reported proficiency rate is 27% in Social studies. The lowest is 20% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Ouabache Elementary School
Ouabache Elementary School serves a high-poverty community in Terre Haute, and its state test scores are significantly below the state average, a pattern that families evaluating the school should understand clearly.
Located in Terre Haute, a mid-sized city with a college-town and industrial character, the school sits within the Vigo County School Corporation. Terre Haute is home to Indiana State University, whose downtown campus blends with the city core, and is also home to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology just east of the city. The local economy is diverse, anchored by these institutions, manufacturing in the Vigo County Industrial Park, Hulman & Company, and the Federal Correctional Complex. A new casino opened on the east side in 2024, and a downtown convention center was completed a few years earlier. The downtown arts corridor on 7th Street and the integrated campus-city feel give the area a distinct civic energy, but the city also has residential neighborhoods and industrial zones. Housing in the zip code area is notably affordable, and median rents are also on the lower side, consistent with the area's modest cost of living.
Ouabache Elementary is a regular public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. Its enrollment of around that size for its grade band is heavily white, with small shares of Black, Hispanic, and two-or-more-races students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, which is a strong indicator of the economic challenges many families face.
State testing data from the ILEARN assessment shows that proficiency rates in math and English language arts are well below the typical range for Indiana schools. In math, just over one in five students scored proficient or above. In ELA, about one in five did the same. Science results, tested in fourth grade, were similar, with roughly one in five students reaching proficiency. Social studies, tested in fifth grade, showed a slightly higher proficiency rate, closer to one in four. These are the school's current achievement levels, and a parent should look into this further with the school to understand what academic supports and interventions are in place. The district brief did not identify any recent major district-level changes, such as referendums or capital projects, that would affect the school.
Because this is an elementary school, there are no high school outcomes such as a graduation rate or college-going metrics to consider. The school's size and grade structure mean the focus is entirely on the early grades. The school's website address is provided in the directory details for families who want to learn more about specific programs and daily operations.
For a family, the core question is how the school meets the needs of a high-poverty student body when state test results show broad challenges. The housing market in this part of Terre Haute is comparatively affordable, which may appeal to families looking for lower-cost entry into homeownership. The combination of modest housing costs and a school with low test scores is a familiar dynamic in many communities. Families who value strong academic peer groups or consistently high proficiency rates may find themselves looking elsewhere in the district or considering private or magnet options. Families who are comfortable engaging directly with the school to understand its academic support and progress efforts will get the clearest picture of whether Ouabache fits their child.
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