These 10 Indianapolis schools have the most kids passing the 2016 ISTEP test

Find our all our stories and databases on the 2016 ISTEP test results, as well as other testing coverage, here.

The annual release of state test scores this morning contained disappointing news for Marion County public school students and educators — but there’s still plenty of schools that can claim the bragging rights that come from outperforming their peers.

The Marion County public schools that posted the highest scores on this year’s ISTEP are largely traditional public schools — not charter schools — that serve fairly affluent students and tend to have more white students than minorities.

This is not surprising — in Indianapolis and across the country, wealthier white schools typically to do better on state exams. In some cases that’s because those schools have more resources, experienced teachers and less teacher turnover. There’s also research that shows standardized tests favor white, middle class kids.

But even many of these top-performing schools posted scores that were slightly lower than last year, when scores dropped considerably because of a major test change that stemmed from new, more challenging state standards in 2014.

Here’s a look at the public schools with the top 10 highest ISTEP passing rates in Marion County. For context, the racial makeup of students in the county is fairly balanced, with white and black students each making up a little more than one third of kids and the last third a mix of children from Hispanic, Asian and other ethnic backgrounds.

These 10 Marion County public schools had the highest passing rates:

Merle Sidener Gifted Academy. This Indianapolis Public Schools magnet for high ability students had 89.8 percent of its kids pass English and math tests.

Demographics:

  • 48 percent white, 26.5 percent black, 12.3 percent Hispanic and 11.3 percent multiracial.
  • 35 percent of students qualify for meal assistance.

Center For Inquiry School 84. Another IPS magnet, CFI schools run by lottery. About 76 percent of students passed English and math.

Demographics:

  • 83.4 percent white, 5.5 percent black, 5.5 percent multiracial, 2.8 percent Asian, 2.8 percent Hispanic.
  • 4.8 percent of students qualify for meal assistance.

Paramount School of Excellence. This charter school saw 73 percent of students pass both ISTEP tests.

Demographics:

  • 48.1 percent black, 27.7 percent white, 14.1 percent Hispanic, 9.8 percent multiracial.
  • 83.9 percent of students qualify for meal assistance.

Amy Beverland Elementary School. This Lawrence Township school is designated as a communications magnet. 72 percent of students passed both tests.

Demographics:

  • 59.3 percent white, 25.4 percent black, 8.1 percent multiracial, 5.1 percent Hispanic.
  • 24.6 percent of students qualify for meal assistance.

Arthur Newby Elementary School. At this Speedway school, about 70 percent of students passed both tests.

Demographics:

  • 63.3 percent white, 25 percent black, 6.1 percent multiracial, 4.4 percent Hispanic.
  • 43.9 percent of students qualify for meal assistance.

Bunker Hill Elementary School. At this Franklin Township school, 69.3% of students passed both exams.

Demographics:

  • 73.1 percent white, 11.9 percent Asian, 5.7 percent Hispanic, 5.2 percent multiracial, 3.7 percent black.
  • 30.8 percent of students qualify for meal assistance.

Allisonville Elementary School. Sixty-eight percent of students passed English and math at this Washington Township school.

Demographics:

  • 61.5 percent white, 18.3 percent black, 12.1 percent Hispanic, 6.3 percent multiracial.
  • 33.2 percent of students qualify for meal assistance.

Mary Adams Elementary School. Also a school in Franklin Township, 67.3 percent of students passed both exams.

Demographics:

  • 82.1 percent white, 5.7 percent multiracial, 4.8 percent Hispanic, 4.6 percent Asian, 2.8 percent black.
  • 32 percent of students qualify for meal assistance.

Rosa Parks Elementary School. At this Perry Township school, 67.1 percent of students passed.

Demographics:

  • 67 percent white, 15.5 percent Asian, 7.1 percent Hispanic, 6.7 percent multiracial, 3.7 percent black.
  • 30.9 percent of students qualify for meal assistance.

Speedway Junior High School. Also in Speedway, 66.7 kids passed English and math.

Demographics:

  • 54.2 percent white, 22.9 percent black, 12.2 percent Hispanic, 6.6 percent multiracial, 3.7 percent Asian.
  • 52.1 percent of students qualify for meal assistance.