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A+

Carmel Clay Schools

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 2 towns

Serves Carmel and Clay Township.

Carmel’s School Grade A+ better than 98% of Indiana school districts

Students
16,145
Schools
15
Spent per student
$13,433
IN $13,688
Students per teacher
16:1
Free or reduced lunch
13%
Debt
$258.9M
fiscal 2024
The gist

What stands out about Carmel Clay Schools

  • Its letter, A+: results better than 98% of Indiana districts
  • Math proficiency 33 pts above the state
  • Reading proficiency 29 pts above the state
  • Graduation rate 10 pts above the state
  • 16 students per teacher
  • Debt of $258.9M, about $16,034 per student
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

A+: better than 98% of the 396 Indiana school districts we grade. Each town’s School Grade weighs its districts by the students they test; spending and class size are shown but don’t count.

Test scoresReading and math well above the state, 2021–22
A+
GraduationFour-year graduation well above the state, class of 2023
A+
The towns it serves, and their School Grades
A+Carmel 105,634A+Clay Township 104,932

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Carmel. Grade by grade →

PK–511 elementary schoolsThis district
6–83 middle schoolsThis district
9–12Carmel High SchoolThis district

Test scores vs. IN

2021–22 · class of 2023
Math proficiency70%
State average 37.5% · 8,805 students tested
Reading / language arts70%
State average 41.3% · 8,805 students tested
Graduation rate (4-year)98%
State average 88.1% · 1,300 in the class

100% of students in the tested grades sat the 2022 tests.

Reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute); the newest year for each measure.

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024
$13,433 per student · 2% below IN
Spending
Classroom instruction 61%Support & administration 35%Other 4%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 44%State 53%Federal 3%

Fiscal 2022–24 includes federal pandemic relief (ESSER).

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time
15,751’20
16,215’21
16,072’22
16,116’23
16,145’24

About steady since 2020–21.

Students
White 66%Asian 17%Hispanic 7%Black 5%Two or more races 4%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%

Schools in the district

15 public schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Indiana’s other public schools.

Prairie Trace Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Carmel
A+
715 students15:1
Cherry Tree Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Carmel
A+
711 students16:1
Carmel Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Carmel
A+
700 students14:1
Smoky Row Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Carmel
A+
692 students15:1
Clay Center Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Carmel
666 students14:1
Forest Dale Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Carmel
A
638 students13:1
Woodbrook Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Carmel
A+
628 students14:1
College Wood Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Carmel
A+
616 students16:1
West Clay Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Carmel
A+
580 students15:1
Mohawk Trails Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Carmel
A
543 students13:1
Towne Meadow Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Carmel
A+
527 students14:1
Creekside Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Carmel
A+
1,428 students19:1
Clay Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Carmel
A
1,415 students17:1
Carmel Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Carmel
A−
1,047 students14:1
Carmel High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Carmel
A+
5,239 students17:1

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Hamilton Southeastern SchoolsDelaware Township, Fishers, Noblesville
$12,846per student
Noblesville SchoolsNoblesville, Noblesville Township
$14,287per student
Westfield-Washington SchoolsWestfield, Westfield Washington Township
$13,566per student
Indianapolis Public SchoolsWashington Township
$22,943per student

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES school directory 2024–25 and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau’s school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: state results reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express and the Urban Institute). The letters are our own summary, graded within Indiana.