Bend Gate Elementary School, Henderson KY

Original Research by School Decision on Bend Gate Elementary School

Bend Gate Elementary is a regular public school in Henderson, Kentucky, serving kindergarten through fifth grade within the Henderson County district. It is one of the elementary options families in the area consider, and the data gives a clear picture of what those families will find.

Academically, the school shows a notable pattern that varies by grade and subject. In both math and reading, fourth grade stands out as the strongest year, with a solid majority of students scoring at the proficient level. Third grade and fifth grade lag behind that mark, particularly in math, where the share of proficient students is markedly lower. Science results for fourth grade follow a similar range, while social studies in fifth grade is the weakest area across all tested subjects. A parent looking at this school should note that performance is not flat across the grades; the school seems to do its best work in fourth grade, while the later elementary years pose a greater challenge. Because the school serves kindergarten through fifth grade only, there is no graduation rate to report, as that metric does not apply to this grade band.

The student body reflects the broader community. The school is part of the Henderson County district, which operates under a property tax rate set by the board and has recently increased its career and technical education pathways at the high school level, though those programs are not relevant for an elementary campus. The district has also been undertaking facility upgrades, including roof replacements and security improvements, across multiple buildings. A substantial share of students at Bend Gate qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of the economic makeup of the families the school serves. The student population is predominantly white, with a notable proportion of students who identify with two or more races and smaller shares of Black and Hispanic students. The school does not report numbers for students with IEPs or English learners, so a parent seeking information on special education supports or language services would need to follow up directly with the school.

Henderson itself is a midsize city on the Ohio River, with an economy balanced between manufacturing and agriculture. It is part of the Evansville metropolitan area and connected to Indiana by the interstate bridges. The city's population has been relatively stable, and housing values in the area are below the national average, which could matter for families considering a move. The downtown and riverfront have public amenities including a play area, trails, and a water park, and the locally owned public transit system is a distinctive feature.

Bend Gate Elementary is an option for families in Henderson County who want a regular neighborhood elementary school. The academic picture is mixed, with a clear peak in fourth grade and weaker performance in fifth grade and in social studies. A parent should consider whether the school's grade-level pattern matches where their child is likely to enter and should inquire further about the supports that are in place for the grades where proficiency rates are lower.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 344%

School 44% · District 48% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▲ 1 pts above state median

Grade 468%

School 68% · District 59% · ▲ 9 pts above district

▲ 23 pts above state median

Grade 555%

School 55% · District 59% · ▼ 4 pts below district

▲ 13 pts above state median

English language arts

Grade 347%

School 47% · District 57% · ▼ 10 pts below district

even with state median

Grade 466%

School 66% · District 56% · ▲ 10 pts above district

▲ 16 pts above state median

Grade 552%

School 52% · District 61% · ▼ 9 pts below district

▲ 1 pts above state median

Science

Grade 445%

School 45% · District 44% · ▲ 1 pts above district

▲ 7 pts above state median

Social studies

Grade 535%

School 35% · District 46% · ▼ 11 pts below district

▼ 3 pts below state median

This schoolHenderson County, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income37%Higher-income65%28 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income64%Higher-income70%6 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income53%Higher-income50%3 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income30%Higher-income69%39 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income61%Higher-income80%19 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income53%Higher-income57%4 pp gap