The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in Science. The lowest is 25% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Francis Vigo Elementary School
Francis Vigo Elementary School serves an early and elementary grade span from prekindergarten through fifth grade in Vincennes, Indiana, as part of the Vincennes Community School Corp. The school is a regular public school, and its enrollment is relatively modest for a school covering this grade range. The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Black and Hispanic students, and a very small number of students of other racial backgrounds. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating the school serves a population with significant economic need.
State testing results for the most recent school year show that on the Indiana ILEARN assessments, the share of students meeting proficiency in math and English language arts was below the midpoint of what is typical in the state. In science, the share of students scoring proficient was in a similar range. In social studies, which is tested only at the fifth-grade level, the proficiency rate was lower still. When compared with other districts in Knox County, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits in the bottom quartile. Participation rates on the math and English language arts tests were high, meaning nearly all enrolled students took the tests, providing a complete picture of student performance. A parent looking at these results may want to discuss with the school how it supports students who are not yet meeting grade-level benchmarks.
The school does not offer high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. Information on special education and English learner populations was not available in the data provided, so a family with a child who may need these services would want to ask the school directly about its programs and staffing for those students.
Vincennes is a small historic city that serves as the county seat of Knox County. The city has a classic Midwestern downtown core, a significant university presence through Vincennes University, and auto-oriented commercial corridors along US 41 and US 50. The Wabash River forms the city’s western edge. The economy spans agriculture, healthcare, technology, and tourism, with Vincennes University as a major institutional anchor. Housing values in the area are notably below national benchmarks, and the estimated monthly mortgage payment on a median-priced home is lower than what families in many other parts of the country would face.
The district has made recent investments that directly affect the school environment. The Vincennes Community School Corp established its own police force in partnership with the local police department, creating a dedicated school safety department. This represents a lasting structural change to how the district approaches security, and a parent may find it reassuring to know the school has a formal safety apparatus. The district also partnered with the YMCA to operate the Little Alice Learning Center, which provides early childcare for three- and four-year-olds. This expands pre-K access, and since Francis Vigo Elementary serves prekindergarten, families with young children may find this a relevant community resource.
For a family considering this school, the picture is fairly straightforward. It is a neighborhood elementary school serving a community with economic diversity and academic results that are on the lower end relative to peers in the county and state. The school environment is typical of a small-city K-5 building, with the district having recently added formal policing and expanded early childhood options. The surrounding housing market is affordable, and the city itself offers a blend of historic character, a university culture, and basic amenities. A parent whose priority is high absolute test scores will find this school below that mark and will want to investigate how the school addresses learning gaps. A parent whose priority is a local, community-rooted elementary experience in an affordable area may find this a straightforward option worth visiting.
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