Original Research by School Decision on Ben Davis University High School
Ben Davis University High School is a regular public high school serving grades 10 through 12 within the MSD Wayne Township school district in Indianapolis. It is a small school for its grade band, with a student enrollment that is notably diverse. The largest groups of students are Hispanic and Black, with a substantial share of White students and a small Asian population. A significant majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a key indicator of the economic context of the student body.
The school sits on a campus at 1155 South High School Road in the western part of Marion County. The surrounding housing market is relatively affordable compared to national and state benchmarks, with home values and rents that are below the broader market averages. This creates a financial context where families may find housing costs more manageable than in many other parts of the Indianapolis area.
State testing data was not available for this school. The comparison set that would have placed the school's academic performance against other districts in Marion County could not be calculated because the necessary proficiency measures were missing. Similarly, a graduation rate was not reported in the available data, so that metric is absent from this profile. Readers should note that Ben Davis University High School serves only upper high school grades, which may affect the reporting of some state accountability measures, but the reason for the missing data on these particular metrics is not specified in the information provided.
The parent district, MSD Wayne Township, has made several publicly reported changes that directly affect Ben Davis University High School. Voters passed both an operating and a capital projects referendum in 2022. The operating referendum supports teacher salaries, academic programs, and school safety. The capital projects referendum funds major facility upgrades across the district, including a new elementary school. These measures have a lasting impact on property taxes, staffing levels, and the physical learning environment for all district schools.
Separately, the district has been expanding STEM and project-based learning initiatives across all grade levels as part of its strategic plan. Publicly reported sources indicate that Ben Davis University High School received Indiana Department of Education STEM certification, reflecting a curricular shift toward science, technology, engineering, and math integration. This represents a notable programmatic emphasis that parents should consider when evaluating the school’s academic pathway.
Given the absence of state testing outcomes and a graduation rate, a parent or resident will need to obtain additional information directly from the school or district to understand academic performance. The data that is available paints a picture of a small, diverse upper high school serving a population where economic need is widespread, sitting within a district that has invested in both facilities and a STEM-focused academic identity.
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