The top reported proficiency rate is 21% in Social studies. The lowest is 16% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Westlake Elementary School
Westlake Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in Indianapolis’s MSD Wayne Township. It is a regular public school with no charter or magnet status. The school is one of several elementary buildings in a district that also includes middle and high schools, so a family sending a child here will eventually transition to a district middle school and then to Ben Davis High School.
The enrollment is large for an elementary building serving these grade levels. The student body is majority Black, with a substantial Hispanic population and a smaller share of white students. More than three-quarters of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate that places the school in a high-poverty context. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported in the available records; a parent may want to ask the school directly about how those populations are served and what supports are in place.
On state assessments, proficiency rates are low across every tested subject. In math and English language arts, roughly one in five students scored at the proficient level or above. Science and social studies results follow a similar pattern. The school’s overall proficiency index sits above the midpoint when compared to other district-level entities in Marion County, but that comparison reflects a county where many schools face similar challenges; the absolute rates remain low by any measure. Families should understand that this is a school where a large majority of students are not meeting state benchmarks, and a parent may want to discuss with the school what academic interventions and enrichment are provided for students at different levels.
The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report. Chronic absenteeism data was also unavailable. These gaps are not unusual for an elementary school, but a parent may want to ask the school about attendance patterns and how they approach student engagement.
Westlake is located in the far western edge of Indianapolis, near the border with Hendricks County. The housing market in this part of the city has home values somewhat below the state average, though rents have been declining recently. The area is a mix of residential neighborhoods and commercial corridors, typical of suburban-ring Indianapolis.
The district itself has been in a period of noticeable change. In 2022, voters approved both an operating referendum and a capital projects referendum. The operating levy supports teacher salaries, academic programs, and school safety. The capital referendum funds facility improvements, including a new elementary school to replace the current Westlake building. According to publicly reported information, the new Westlake is in design and expected to open in 2027. This means families enrolling now will likely see the school operate in its current facility for at least the next year or two before a move to a new building. The district has also been expanding STEM and project-based learning across all grade levels, with two district schools – Ben Davis High School and Chapel Hill 7th & 8th Grade Center – receiving state STEM certification. That curricular direction may influence what Westlake students experience in their elementary years.
Given the low test scores and the high-poverty context, this is a school where academic proficiency is a clear challenge. The district has made recent financial commitments to staffing and facilities that could shift the learning environment over the next few years, but the current data shows a school where the majority of students are below grade-level benchmarks. A family considering Westlake should factor in the upcoming building replacement and the district’s STEM focus, while also seeking direct information from the school about student supports, special education services, and how the school works with families to address learning gaps.
See more original research from School Decision →