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Schools in New Chicago · River Forest Community School Corporation

New Chicago’s public schools score below 77% of Indiana districts on tests and graduation

Math proficiency in New Chicago’s districts is 19%, below the Indiana average (38%). The grade covers the public school district serving New Chicago, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Indiana, not nationally.

K–12Where will my kid go?

From Indiana state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
28%
▼ 13 pts vs IN 41%
2021–22
Math proficiency
19%
▼ 18 pts vs IN 38%
2021–22
Graduate on time
80–84%
▼ 4–8 pts vs IN 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$11.6K
▼ 15% vs IN $13.7K
FY2024
Students per teacher
17.4
IN 15.3 · larger classes
Schools in town
0
1,707 students on the public path
In brief

New Chicago’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 817 Indiana towns with household incomes within a quarter of New Chicago’s, its schools beat 3%, lower than their 23% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 28% of tested students were proficient in reading and 19% in math, against 41% and 38% statewide; 98% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

80–84% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Indiana (the state reports New Chicago’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $11,634 per student, against $13,688 across Indiana (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 6 the district’s path is River Forest Middle School, then River Forest High School. Enrollment is up 8% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind New Chicago’s grade

C− Test scoresD Graduation

C−: better than 23% of Indiana school districts. Both inputs trail the Indiana average; test scores are the closer of the two to typical.

Indiana school districts we grade (396)Better than 23%
Lower resultsHigher results
Indiana towns with similar household incomes (817)Better than 3%
C−CA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 813 test results and a graduating class of 129 could put New Chicago anywhere from C− to C. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of New Chicago’s students in the tested grades sat them (813 in math, 813 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve New Chicago, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–52 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC− to C
6–8River Forest Middle Schoolin HobartD
9–12River Forest High Schoolin HobartC

New Chicago’s public schools are run by River Forest Community School Corporation, which also serves Hobart and Lake Station. Parts of New Chicago (2% of its land) are served by Hobart School City instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

River Forest Community School CorporationGrades PK–12 · 4 schools · 1,707 students, up 8% since 2020–21 · 17.4 per teacher (IN 15.3)
$11,634IN $13,688 · FY2024
C−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading28%
State average 41.3% · 813 students tested
Math19%
State average 37.5% · 813 students tested

New Chicago vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Indiana towns that share New Chicago’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
New ChicagoC−River Forest Community School Corporation
Lake StationC−River Forest Community School Corporation PK–12 · Lake Station K–12
HobartB−Hobart School City PK–12 · Merrillville Community School PK–12

Every school in New Chicago

4 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Indiana’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

Also serving New Chicagoin other towns
Henry S Evans Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Lake Station
C
400 students18:1Rate it →
John I Meister Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Hobart
C−
373 students17:1Rate it →
River Forest Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Hobart
D
369 students15:1Rate it →
River Forest High School
High · Grades 9–12 · Hobart
C
565 students20:1Rate it →

Questions about New Chicago’s schools

Are New Chicago’s schools good?

On Indiana’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools New Chicago children attend score below 77% of Indiana’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C− Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 3%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is New Chicago in?

River Forest Community School Corporation, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,707 students in 4 schools (2024–25). Small parts of New Chicago are served by Hobart School City.

Where do New Chicago kids go to high school?

River Forest High School in Hobart, with 565 students; its own test results earn a C.

What is New Chicago’s graduation rate?

80–84% of the class of 2023 in River Forest Community School Corporation graduated in four years, against 88% across Indiana.

How much does New Chicago spend per student?

$11,634 in River Forest Community School Corporation (FY2024), against $13,688 across Indiana. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

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What New Chicago families are saying about school.

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School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Indiana. Stars are from neighbors.