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A−

Southern Wells Community Schools

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 5 towns

Serves Liberty Township, Nottingham Township, Chester Township, Jackson Township and Poneto.

Liberty Township’s School Grade A− better than 80% of Indiana school districts

Students
880
Schools
2
Spent per student
$11,699
IN $13,688
Students per teacher
15:1
Free or reduced lunch
43%
Debt
$6.8M
fiscal 2024
The gist

What stands out about Southern Wells Community Schools

  • Its letter, A−: results better than 80% of Indiana districts
  • Math proficiency 6 pts above the state
  • Reading proficiency 7 pts above the state
  • Graduation rate 7 pts above the state
  • Spends 15% less per student than the IN average
  • 15 students per teacher
  • Enrollment up 6% since 2020–21
  • Debt of $6.8M, about $7,733 per student
The School Grade

What this district adds to its towns’ grade

A−: better than 80% 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−
The towns it serves, and their School Grades
A−Liberty Township 1,106A−Nottingham Township 1,040Chester Township 972Jackson Township 777Poneto 178

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Liberty Township. Grade by grade →

PK–6Southern Wells Elementary SchoolThis district
7–12Southern Wells Jr-Sr High SchoolThis district

Test scores vs. IN

2021–22 · class of 2023
Math proficiency43%
State average 37.5% · 450 students tested
Reading / language arts48%
State average 41.3% · 450 students tested
Graduation rate (4-year)90–100%
State average 88.1% · 51 in the class · small group: the state reports a range

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
$11,699 per student · 15% below IN
Spending
Classroom instruction 55%Support & administration 40%Other 5%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 33%State 63%Federal 5%

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

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

Enrollment over time
830’20
845’21
889’22
883’23
880’24

Up 6% since 2020–21.

Students
White 95%Hispanic 4%Two or more races <1%Asian <1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%

Schools in the district

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

Southern Wells Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Poneto
B
496 students18:1
Southern Wells Jr-Sr High School
High · Grades 7–12 · Poneto
B
384 students13:1

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Blackford County SchoolsHarrison Township, Washington Township
$13,509per student
Bluffton-Harrison Metropolitan School DistrictHarrison Township
$11,967per student
Huntington County Community School CorporationSalamonie Township
$12,608per student
Eastbrook Community School CorporationVan Buren Township
$11,512per 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.