Is Bluffton High School a good school?

Bluffton High School ranks 65 th of 431 Indiana high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Bluffton High School?

In the 2023-24 school year, 507 students attended Bluffton High School.

What is the racial makeup of Bluffton High School?

Students at Bluffton High School are 86% White, 7% Hispanic, 3% African American, 3% Two or more races.

What schools feed into Bluffton High School?

Bluffton High School is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Bluffton-Harrison Elementary School Middle : Bluffton-Harrison Middle School

Bluffton High School

Summary:

Bluffton High School is a public high school serving grades 9-12 in Bluffton, Indiana, with a student population of 468. The school is part of the Blackford County Schools district, which is ranked 132 out of 381 districts in the state and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Bluffton High School stands out for its consistently high graduation rates, ranging from 98.1% to 100% over the past 5 years, significantly higher than the state average and many nearby schools like Blackford Junior-Senior High School and Wayne High School. The school also maintains a strong academic performance, ranking in the top 25% of Indiana high schools and earning a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger for most of the past decade. Bluffton High School students have outperformed the state and district averages in SAT/Evidence-Based Reading and Writing, with proficiency rates around 51% compared to the state average of around 50%. While the school has seen a slight increase in chronic absenteeism, its rate of 14% is still lower than many nearby schools.

Bluffton High School's consistent academic excellence, with its stable statewide ranking and 4-star rating, suggests a well-established and effective educational program. The school's student population is predominantly White, but it has seen a slight increase in racial diversity in recent years. Bluffton High School also faces socioeconomic challenges, with around 42% of its students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. However, the school's performance generally outpaces nearby schools like Bellmont Senior High School and Adams Central High School, suggesting a high level of educational quality in the region.

Detail:

Public 9-12

1 Tiger Trl
Bluffton, IN 46714

(260) 824-3724

District: MSD Bluffton-Harrison

SchoolDigger Rank:
65^th of 431 Indiana High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $13,210

Feeder schools for Bluffton High School:

Elementary:	Bluffton-Harrison Elementary School
Middle:	Bluffton-Harrison Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 13.1

Number of students: 507

Racial breakdown:

White:

86.4%

Hispanic:

7.1%

African American:

2.8%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 41%

See top rated Indiana high schools

Compare Bluffton High School to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details Bluffton High School ranks better than 84.9% of high schools in Indiana. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 72.79. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Bluffton High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

Chronic absenteeism in a school refers to a situation where students repeatedly miss school, with the threshold often defined as missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (86.4%), Hispanic (7.1%), African American (2.8%). (See more...)

Compare Details 41% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Bluffton High School is 13.1. (See more...)

Compare Bluffton High School employs 38.5 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at Bluffton High School is $13,210.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Bluffton High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Bluffton High School 65^th of 431 Indiana public high schools. (See Bluffton High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Female students:

Male students:

White students:

MSD Bluffton-Harrison:

SchoolDigger ranks MSD Bluffton-Harrison 114^th of 381 Indiana school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Your rating for Bluffton High School?

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Rank History for Bluffton High School

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Rank History for all students at Bluffton High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IN State Percentile
2005	82.97	35^th	349	90.0%
2006	61.39	140^th	349	59.9%
2007	68.81	105^th	354	70.3%
2008	66.05	117^th	360	67.5%
2009	74.50	76^th	364	79.1%
2010	55.14	109^th	362	69.9%
2011	52.31	146^th	364	59.9%
2012	56.83	118^th	373	68.4%
2013	41.95	188^th	353	46.7%
2014	29.24	282^nd	379	25.6%
2015	51.24	175^th	400	56.3%
2016	62.81	119^th	394	69.8%
2017	69.45	84^th	380	77.9%
2018	45.35	237^th	385	38.4%
2019	76.01	49^th	389	87.4%
2021	63.88	97^th	388	75.0%
2022	73.13	96^th	409	76.5%
2023	73.45	62^nd	398	84.4%
2024	72.79	65^th	431	84.9%

See the entire list of Indiana High School Rankings!

Rank History for Special Education students at Bluffton High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	60.80	79^th	285	72.3%

See the entire list of Best Indiana High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Bluffton High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	55.84	130^th	379	65.7%
2024	48.41	182^nd	377	51.7%

See the entire list of Best Indiana High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Bluffton High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	66.31	96^th	388	75.3%
2024	62.71	106^th	392	73.0%

See the entire list of Best Indiana High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Bluffton High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	77.43	45^th	383	88.3%
2024	76.37	55^th	392	86.0%

See the entire list of Best Indiana High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Bluffton High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IN State Percentile	SchoolDigger Rating
2023	89.98	12^th	166	92.8%

See the entire list of Best Indiana High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Bluffton High School

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	IN State Percentile
2022	59.32	146^th	378	61.4%
2023	66.51	76^th	375	79.7%
2024	67.22	69^th	381	81.9%

See the entire list of Best Indiana High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Indiana Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Indiana Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Bluffton High School

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	484	0	0	7	2	n/a	n/a	0	493
1989	437	0	2	8	0	n/a	n/a	0	447
1990	451	0	2	11	0	n/a	n/a	0	464
1991	476	0	2	7	0	n/a	n/a	0	485
1992	449	0	3	5	0	n/a	n/a	0	457
1993	465	0	1	7	0	n/a	n/a	0	473
1994	479	0	2	7	0	n/a	n/a	0	488
1995	461	0	1	9	1	n/a	n/a	0	472
1996	461	0	1	9	1	n/a	n/a	0	472
1997	463	2	1	19	0	n/a	n/a	0	485
1998	466	4	1	23	0	n/a	n/a	0	494
1999	486	4	1	13	0	n/a	n/a	0	504
2000	466	6	1	13	0	n/a	n/a	0	486
2001	459	7	2	22	0	n/a	n/a	0	490
2002	431	5	6	8	1	n/a	n/a	0	451
2003	431	5	6	8	1	n/a	n/a	0	451
2004	434	4	6	12	1	n/a	n/a	0	457
2005	443	5	6	13	1	n/a	n/a	0	468
2006	442	5	7	20	1	n/a	n/a	0	475
2007	438	4	7	16	2	n/a	n/a	2	469
2008	445	4	7	22	2	n/a	n/a	7	487
2009	419	3	6	20	0	n/a	n/a	9	457
2010	447	5	4	18	1	n/a	n/a	10	485
2011	426	1	2	31	0	1	6	0	467
2012	440	2	1	27	0	1	6	0	477
2013	431	5	2	31	1	0	6	0	476
2014	390	4	7	28	1	0	3	0	433
2015	402	5	3	36	2	0	4	0	452
2016	396	6	4	35	3	0	3	0	447
2017	390	5	7	32	1	2	6	0	443
2018	394	6	3	31	0	4	4	0	442
2019	420	7	5	33	0	5	8	0	478
2020	399	8	8	33	0	4	12	0	464
2021	417	10	6	34	0	3	7	0	477
2022	419	9	5	29	0	2	7	0	471
2023	404	15	7	30	0	1	11	0	468
2024	438	14	5	36	0	1	13	0	507

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Bluffton High School

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Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	493	30.1	16.3	9.9
1989	447	30.1	14.8	6.5
1990	464	30.2	15.3	7.1
1991	485	28.8	16.8	6.6
1992	457	27.0	16.9	6.3
1993	473	28.7	16.5	7
1994	488	27.8	17.6	6.1
1995	472	28.0	16.9	5.1
1996	472	28.0	16.9	5.1
1997	485	27.0	18.0	10.5
1998	494	28.6	17.3	8.1
1999	504	29.1	17.3	12.3
2000	486	28.1	17.3	12.6
2001	490	27.5	17.8	8.4
2002	451	28.2	16.0	11.8
2003	451	28.2	16.0	11.8
2004	457	27.2	16.8	17.5
2005	468	28.2	16.6	18.2
2006	475	26.1	18.2	13.5
2007	469	n/a	n/a	18.4
2008	487	28.1	17.3	21.5
2009	457	28.7	15.9	24.8
2010	485	29.8	16.2	32.8
2011	467	26.1	17.8	37.5
2012	477	32.3	14.7	34.4
2013	476	31.3	15.1	37.2
2014	433	32.3	13.3	39
2015	452	31.0	14.5	40.7
2016	447	31.0	14.4	42.3
2017	443	32.8	13.4	42.2
2018	442	33.9	13.0	47.3
2019	478	31.9	14.9	46.2
2020	464	34.0	13.6	46.6
2021	477	33.4	14.2	41.3
2022	471	37.5	12.5	36.3
2023	468	37.5	12.4	42.3
2024	507	38.5	13.1	41

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Bluffton High School

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	493	30.1	16.3	9.9
1989	447	30.1	14.8	6.5
1990	464	30.2	15.3	7.1
1991	485	28.8	16.8	6.6
1992	457	27.0	16.9	6.3
1993	473	28.7	16.5	7
1994	488	27.8	17.6	6.1
1995	472	28.0	16.9	5.1
1996	472	28.0	16.9	5.1
1997	485	27.0	18.0	10.5
1998	494	28.6	17.3	8.1
1999	504	29.1	17.3	12.3
2000	486	28.1	17.3	12.6
2001	490	27.5	17.8	8.4
2002	451	28.2	16.0	11.8
2003	451	28.2	16.0	11.8
2004	457	27.2	16.8	17.5
2005	468	28.2	16.6	18.2
2006	475	26.1	18.2	13.5
2007	469	n/a	n/a	18.4
2008	487	28.1	17.3	21.5
2009	457	28.7	15.9	24.8
2010	485	29.8	16.2	32.8
2011	467	26.1	17.8	37.5
2012	477	32.3	14.7	34.4
2013	476	31.3	15.1	37.2
2014	433	32.3	13.3	39
2015	452	31.0	14.5	40.7
2016	447	31.0	14.4	42.3
2017	443	32.8	13.4	42.2
2018	442	33.9	13.0	47.3
2019	478	31.9	14.9	46.2
2020	464	34.0	13.6	46.6
2021	477	33.4	14.2	41.3
2022	471	37.5	12.5	36.3
2023	468	37.5	12.4	42.3
2024	507	38.5	13.1	41

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Bluffton High School

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$791 (7.5%)	$9,802 (92.5%)	$10,593
2020	$920 (8.4%)	$10,052 (91.6%)	$10,971
2021	$1,194 (10.4%)	$10,263 (89.6%)	$11,457
2022	$1,664 (12.6%)	$11,546 (87.4%)	$13,210

Data source: Indiana Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Bluffton High School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 49^th of 389 High schools	Ranks 62^nd of 398 High schools	3%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
End of Course Biology (Bluffton High School)	55	42.9	12.1%
End of Course Biology (MSD Bluffton-Harrison)	55	42.9	12.1%
End of Course Biology (Indiana)	38.6	29	9.6%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	478	468	2.1%
African American	7	15	114.3%
American Indian	0	0
Asian	5	7	40%
Hispanic	33	30	9.1%
Pacific Islander	5	1	80%
White	420	404	3.8%
Two or More Races	8	11	37.5%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	46.2%	42.3%	3.9%

Schools Near Bluffton High School

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing (2024)	SAT Mathematics (2024)	ILEARN English Language Arts (2024)			ILEARN Math (2024)			ILEARN Biology (2024)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2022)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	SAT Evidence-based Reading and Writing 11th Grade	SAT Mathematics 11th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 7th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts 8th Grade	ILEARN English Language Arts All Grades	ILEARN Math 7th Grade	ILEARN Math 8th Grade	ILEARN Math All Grades	ILEARN Biology End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Bluffton High School	Public	9-12	1 Tiger Trl	Bluffton	46714	Wells County	MSD Bluffton-Harrison	No	No	No	No	(260) 824-3724	507	39	13.1	41.0%	438 (86.4%)	14 (2.8%)	36 (7.1%)	5 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	13 (2.6%)	72.8	65^th of 431 public high schools	84.9%		73.5	62^nd of 398 public high schools	84.4%	3	51.0	30.0							63.5	$13,210	$1,664	$11,546
Norwell High School	Public	9-12	1100 E Us 224	Ossian	46777	Wells County	Norwell Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(260) 543-2213	745	44	17.1	25.6%	674 (90.5%)	6 (0.8%)	39 (5.2%)	10 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (2.1%)	72.2	70^th of 431 public high schools	83.8%		63	111^th of 398 public high schools	72.1%	41	57.1	34.9							48.2	$9,836	$263	$9,572
Southern Wells Junior-Senior High School	Public	7-12	9120 S 300 W	Poneto	46781	Wells County	Southern Wells Com Schools	No	No	No	No	(765) 728-5534	384	32	12.0	41.1%	365 (95.1%)	1 (0.3%)	16 (4.2%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	57.3	152^nd of 431 public high schools	64.7%		38.4	249^th of 398 public high schools	37.4%	97	45.2	25.8	58.8	64.8	61.5	45.6	42.6	44.3	47.3	$12,175	$578	$11,596
Adams Central High School	Public	9-12	222 W Washington St	Monroe	46772	Adams County	Adams Central Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(260) 692-6151	408	30	13.6	25.0%	379 (92.9%)	4 (1.0%)	12 (2.9%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.2%)	67.7	87^th of 431 public high schools	79.8%		75	58^th of 398 public high schools	85.4%	29	63.3	36.7							37.7	$10,672	$1,556	$9,115
South Adams High School	Public	9-12	1000 Parkway St	Berne	46711	Adams County	South Adams Schools	No	No	No	No	(260) 589-3131	365	29	12.7	41.9%	302 (82.7%)	3 (0.8%)	50 (13.7%)	4 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.6%)	61.8	127^th of 431 public high schools	70.5%		62.1	115^th of 398 public high schools	71.1%	12	46.6	26.1							53.6	$15,503	$2,975	$12,527
Bellmont Senior High School	Public	9-12	1000 North Adams Dr	Decatur	46733	Adams County	North Adams Community Schools	No	No	No	No	(260) 724-7121	610	48	12.8	33.6%	520 (85.2%)	10 (1.6%)	61 (10.0%)	4 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.3%)	12 (2.0%)	76.8	55^th of 431 public high schools	87.2%		74.7	60^th of 398 public high schools	84.9%	5	57.4	35.8							55.9	$13,427	$2,597	$10,830
Wayne High School	Public	9-12	9100 Winchester Rd	Fort Wayne	46819	Allen County	Fort Wayne Community Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(260) 467-6400	1,417	97	14.6	64.9%	397 (28.0%)	435 (30.7%)	289 (20.4%)	169 (11.9%)	2 (0.1%)	2 (0.1%)	123 (8.7%)	22.7	335^th of 431 public high schools	22.3%		25.5	308^th of 398 public high schools	22.6%	27	31.6	8.0							28.5	$11,180	$1,106	$10,074
Blackford Junior-Senior High School	Public	7-12	2392 N Sr 3 N	Hartford City	47348	Blackford County	Blackford County Schools	No	No	No	No	(765) 348-7560	715	51	14.1	51.7%	638 (89.2%)	6 (0.8%)	38 (5.3%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (4.2%)	38.9	272^nd of 431 public high schools	36.9%		46.9	197^th of 398 public high schools	50.5%	75	51.3	13.3	38.2	44.6	41.5	46.5	46.4	46.5	26.6	$11,246	$1,200	$10,046

Bluffton High School

Bluffton High School:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

MSD Bluffton-Harrison:

What do you think?

Rank History for Bluffton High School

Rank History for all students at Bluffton High School

Rank History for Special Education students at Bluffton High School

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Bluffton High School

Rank History for Female students at Bluffton High School

Rank History for Male students at Bluffton High School

Rank History for Hispanic students at Bluffton High School

Rank History for White students at Bluffton High School

Enrollment information for Bluffton High School

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Bluffton High School

Student/Teacher Ratio Bluffton High School

Per Pupil Expenditures for Bluffton High School

Impact of COVID-19 on Bluffton High School

Rankings

Test Scores

Student Body

Schools Near Bluffton High School