Indianapolis Public Schools

Indianapolis, Indiana — 54 schools

22,027
Total Enrollment
54
Schools
$26,790
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Indianapolis Public Schools operates 54 public schools serving 22,027 students, placing it among the larger districts in Indiana. The school portfolio breaks down into 37 other, 7 elementary, 6 high, 4 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 21,187 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Marion County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $26,790 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 34.1% local, 53.5% state, and 12.3% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $87,381 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 56/100, ranked #140 of 373 in Indiana against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 4 of 54 schools offering Advanced Placement (95 AP courses district-wide), a 306.3:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 39.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 35.6% African American, 33.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.0% White across the district's schools.

Indianapolis Public Schools school enrollment varies 47× across entities

Indianapolis Public Schools school enrollment ranges from 50 students (lowest) to 2,360 students (highest), a spread of 2,310 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme enrollment heterogeneity — the district operates both small specialty programs and large comprehensive campuses inside a single budgeting unit. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Indianapolis Public Schools has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 67.3% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

Indianapolis Public Schools student-counselor ratio is 306:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Indianapolis Public Schools is typically wider than the Indianapolis Public Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Indianapolis Public Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 39.0% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

12.3%
Federal
53.5%
State
34.1%
Local

Funding Equity

56
Equity Score
140 / 373
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Marion County county, where this district is located.

$1,118
Studio/mo
$1,267
1 BR/mo
$1,473
2 BR/mo
$1,907
3 BR/mo
$2,338
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$87,381
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 54 schools in Indianapolis Public Schools.

White 23.0%
Hispanic or Latino 33.7%
African American 35.6%
Asian 1.0%
Multiracial 6.4%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

4 / 54
Schools with AP
95 AP courses total
306.3:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
39.0%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Indianapolis Public Schools

School Enrollment
Arsenal Technical High School
2,360
Crispus Attucks High School
1,269
Shortridge High School
1,206
George Washington High School
729
Northwest Community Middle School
623
Edison School of the Arts 47
617
Hw Longfellow Med/Stem Magnet Midl
538
Thomas D Gregg School 15
525
H L Harshman Middle School
509
Rousseau Mcclellan School 91
506
Carl Wilde School 79
472
Clarence Farrington School 61
451
Lew Wallace School 107
440
Daniel Webster School 46
416
Charles Warren Fairbanks Sch 105
398
Meredith Nicholson School 96
391
William Mckinley School 39
386
Ips/Butler Lab at William Bell 60
381
William Penn School 49
367
Brookside School 54
366
Arlington Community Middle School
365
James Russell Lowell School 51
363
Arlington Woods School 99
361
Center for Inquiry School 84
360
Cold Spring School
359
Center for Inquiry School 70
351
Center for Inquiry School 27
348
Eleanor Skillen School 34
328
Anna Brochhausen School 88
326
Robert Lee Frost School 106
308
Center for Inquiry School 2
303
Ips/Butler Lab at Eliza Blaker 55
301
Jonathan Jennings School 109
275
Francis W Parker School 56
274
Ernie Pyle School 90
268
Paul I Miller School 114
267
Frederick Douglass School 19
259
Christian Park School 82
251
George Washington Carver School 87
246
George S Buck School 94
245
Ralph Waldo Emerson School 58
241
James Whitcomb Riley School 43
240
Merle Sidener Gifted Academy
228
Theodore Potter School 74
208
Floro Torrence School 83
197
James a Garfield School 31
173
George W Julian School 57
165
Raymond F Brandes School 65
150
Francis Bellamy Pre-School Center
123
Thrival Academy
101
Emmerich Manual High School
83
Impact Academy 2
64
Impact Academy 1
56
Impact Academy 3
50

Nearby Districts in Indiana

Top districts in the same state — compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Fort Wayne Community Schools
28,612 students · 50 schools · $15,804/pupil
Compare vs Indianapolis Public Schools →
Hamilton Southeastern Schools
21,612 students · 22 schools · $13,097/pupil
Compare vs Indianapolis Public Schools →
MSD Lawrence Township
16,414 students · 17 schools · $14,366/pupil
Compare vs Indianapolis Public Schools →
Perry Township Schools
16,222 students · 17 schools · $13,927/pupil
Compare vs Indianapolis Public Schools →

Compare Indianapolis Public Schools

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Fort Wayne Community Schools →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Indianapolis Public Schools?

Indianapolis Public Schools has 54 schools, including 6 high, 4 middle, 7 elementary, 37 other. Total enrollment is 22,027 students.

How much does Indianapolis Public Schools spend per student?

Indianapolis Public Schools spends $26,790 per student. The district has an equity score of 56/100, ranking #140 in Indiana.

What is the average teacher salary in Indianapolis Public Schools?

The average teacher salary in Indianapolis Public Schools is $87,381 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Indianapolis Public Schools?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Marion County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Indianapolis Public Schools?

Indianapolis Public Schools students are 35.6% African American, 33.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.0% White, 1.0% Asian, averaged across 54 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Indianapolis Public Schools?

Indianapolis Public Schools has an equity score of 56/100, ranking #140 out of 373 districts in Indiana. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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Full national footprint

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Quarterly

Refreshed within 30 days of upstream release

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Federal

Authoritative data, no third-party aggregation

Page reliability score 94.0%
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