Photo: Chris Flook · CC BY-SA 4.0

B⁺

Schools in Pendleton · South Madison Community School Corporation

Pendleton’s public schools outscore 73% of Indiana districts

On the state math tests, 47% of Pendleton’s students scored proficient, above the Indiana average (38%). The grade covers the public school district serving Pendleton, 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.

#197of 592 Indiana townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Indiana state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% 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

46%

▲ 5 pts vs IN 41%

2021–22

Math proficiency

47%

▲ 10 pts vs IN 38%

2021–22

Graduate on time

93%

▲ 5 pts vs IN 88%

class of 2023

Spent per student

$11.4K

▼ 17% vs IN $13.7K

FY2024

Students per teacher

20.1

IN 15.3 · larger classes

Schools in town

4,670 students on the public path

In brief

Pendleton’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 933 Indiana towns with household incomes within a quarter of Pendleton’s, its schools beat 63%, lower than their 73% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 46% and math 47% in spring 2022, against 41% and 38% statewide; 93% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $11,360 per student, against $13,688 across Indiana (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then one middle and one high school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 7 the district’s path is Pendleton Heights Middle School, then Pendleton Heights High School. Enrollment is up 6% 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 Pendleton’s grade

A⁻ Test scoresB⁻ Graduation

B+: better than 73% of Indiana school districts, #197 of 592 Indiana towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the Indiana average; test scores are the stronger of the two.

Indiana school districts we grade (396)Better than 73%

Lower resultsHigher results

Indiana towns with similar household incomes (933)Better than 63%

B⁺A⁻A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 2,308 test results and a graduating class of 312 could put Pendleton anywhere from B+ to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Pendleton’s students in the tested grades sat them (2,307 in math, 2,308 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

Kindergarten in Pendleton · depends on your address

Pendleton Elementary School

Grades PK–6 · 893 students · 18:1 students per teacher

A⁻

Maple Ridge Elementary School

Grades PK–6 · 858 students · 20:1 students per teacher

B⁻

East Elementary School

Grades K–6 · 687 students · 18:1 students per teacher

A⁻

The path, start to finish

PK–63 schoolsDepends on your addressB⁻ to A⁻

7–8Pendleton Heights Middle SchoolSouth Madison Community School CorporationB

9–12Pendleton Heights High SchoolSouth Madison Community School CorporationA⁻

Pendleton’s public schools are run by South Madison Community School Corporation, which also serves Adams, Fall Creek, Green and Ingalls and others. 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.

South Madison Community School CorporationGrades PK–12 · 5 schools · 4,670 students, up 6% since 2020–21 · 20.1 per teacher (IN 15.3)

$11,360IN $13,688 · FY2024

B⁺

Test scores · 2021–22

Above the state in reading

Reading46%

State average 41.3% · 2308 students tested

Math47%

State average 37.5% · 2307 students tested

Pendleton vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door

Town	Schools	Main districts
Pendleton	B⁺	South Madison Community School Corporation
Anderson	C⁻	Anderson Community School Corporation
Ingalls	B⁺	South Madison Community School Corporation
Green	B⁺	South Madison Community School Corporation
Stony Creek	B⁺	Frankton-Lapel
Lapel	B⁺	Frankton-Lapel PK–12 · South Madison Community School Corporation PK–12
Fall Creek	B⁺	South Madison Community School Corporation

4 of the 6 neighbors share South Madison Community School Corporation with Pendleton, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Pendleton

5 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 Pendletonin other towns

Pendleton Elementary School

Elementary · Grades PK–6

A⁻

893 students18:1Rate it →

Maple Ridge Elementary School

Elementary · Grades PK–6

B⁻

858 students20:1Rate it →

East Elementary School

Elementary · Grades K–6

A⁻

687 students18:1Rate it →

Pendleton Heights Middle School

Middle · Grades 7–8

730 students21:1Rate it →

Pendleton Heights High School

High · Grades 9–12

A⁻

1,502 students23:1Rate it →

Questions about Pendleton’s schools

Are Pendleton’s schools good?

By Indiana’s own tests, yes: the public schools Pendleton children attend outscore 73% of Indiana’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #197 of 592 Indiana towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 63%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Pendleton in?

South Madison Community School Corporation, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 4,670 students in 5 schools (2024–25).

Where do Pendleton kids go to high school?

Pendleton Heights High School, with 1,502 students; its own test results earn an A−.

What is Pendleton’s graduation rate?

93% of the class of 2023 in South Madison Community School Corporation graduated in four years, against 88% across Indiana.

How much does Pendleton spend per student?

$11,360 in South Madison Community School Corporation (FY2024), against $13,688 across Indiana. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Pendleton families are saying about school.

Town Square →

Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Pendleton → They have their own page.

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.