Van Rensselaer Elementary School

Summary:

Van Rensselaer Elementary School is a public elementary school serving grades 3-5 in Rensselaer, Indiana, with 321 students and a student-teacher ratio of 15.4. The school is part of the Rensselaer Central School Corp district, which is ranked 63 out of 381 districts in the state and has a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Van Rensselaer Elementary consistently outperforms the state and district averages on ILEARN assessments, with 50.48% of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and 60.77% proficient in math, significantly higher than the district's 49.52% and 53.33% respectively. The school also has a higher percentage of minority students at 14.02%, including 10.59% Hispanic and 1.25% African American, compared to nearby Rensselaer Central Primary School. While the school's chronic absenteeism rate has increased from 7.8% to 14.0% in recent years, it remains lower than the 21.3% rate at Rensselaer Central Primary.

Van Rensselaer Elementary's consistent academic growth, outperforming the district, and diverse student population make it a standout school in the region. The school has moved up in the statewide rankings from 394 out of 1,031 Indiana elementary schools in 2018-2019 to 247 out of 1,010 in 2023-2024, a testament to its effective teaching and learning strategies. With a higher percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch at 52.34% compared to 55.44% at Rensselaer Central Primary, Van Rensselaer Elementary is serving a community with unique needs and providing a high-quality education.


Detail:

Public 3-5

 902 E Washington
       Rensselaer, IN  47978


(219) 866-8212

District: Rensselaer Central School Corp

SchoolDigger Rank:
247th of 1,010 Indiana Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $9,069 Help


Students who attend Van Rensselaer Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Rensselaer Central Middle School
High:    Rensselaer Central High School

Student/teacher ratio:  15.1 Help
Number of students:  310

Racial breakdown:

White:
84.5%
Hispanic:
11.0%
Two or more races:
1.9%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  46.5% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Van Rensselaer Elementary School ranks better than 75.5% of elementary schools in Indiana. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 74.24. (See more...)
Help
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
Help
Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (84.5%), Hispanic (11%), two or more races (1.9%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 46.5% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Van Rensselaer Elementary School is 15.1. (See more...)
Help
Compare Van Rensselaer Elementary School employs 20.5 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Van Rensselaer Elementary School is $9,069.
Schooldigger Rankings:

Van Rensselaer Elementary School was not ranked this year due to insufficient test score data.

Rensselaer Central School Corp:

SchoolDigger ranks Rensselaer Central School Corp 68th of 381 Indiana school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Your rating for Van Rensselaer Elementary School?

Rank History for Van Rensselaer Elementary School

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Compare
Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools IN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2005 36.68 707th 959 26.3%
2006 32.57 742nd 961 22.8%
2007 35.19 740th 985 24.9%
2008 46.06 646th 996 35.1%
2009 52.19 569th 1003 43.3%
2010 48.58 617th 1009 38.9%
2011 53.33 579th 1025 43.5%
2012 54.98 538th 1015 47.0%
2013 53.36 578th 1035 44.2%
2014 60.10 472nd 1036 54.4%
2015 62.76 414th 1040 60.2%
2016 59.97 473rd 1046 54.8%
2017 53.73 552nd 1033 46.6%
2018 56.78 494th 1027 51.9%
2019 62.72 394th 1031 61.8%
2021 79.81 172nd 1016 83.1%
2022 79.58 178th 1020 82.5%
2023 81.10 171st 1016 83.2%
2024 74.24 247th 1010 75.5%
See the entire list of Indiana Elementary School Rankings!

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

Van Rensselaer Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
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Data source: Indiana Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 1)
0%

0%

0%

0%

100%

  

Reviews:
by a parent
Saturday, August 4, 2018

Open Quote Terrible school. Finally we got to move thank god. My children had so many issues with bullying it was unreal. I have so much to say, but no time to say. Do not send children to these schools. Rensselaer all over has become Meth city. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Van Rensselaer Elementary School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 414 0 0 3 0 n/a n/a 0 417
1989 419 0 0 1 0 n/a n/a 0 420
1990 392 0 0 8 0 n/a n/a 0 400
1991 367 0 0 7 0 n/a n/a 0 374
1992 391 0 0 8 0 n/a n/a 0 399
1993 370 0 0 8 0 n/a n/a 0 378
1994 507 0 1 6 0 n/a n/a 0 514
1995 535 1 0 3 0 n/a n/a 0 539
1996 535 1 0 3 0 n/a n/a 0 539
1997 526 1 0 5 0 n/a n/a 0 532
1998 527 1 0 9 0 n/a n/a 0 537
1999 541 0 0 7 0 n/a n/a 0 548
2000 519 0 0 10 0 n/a n/a 0 529
2001 492 0 1 9 0 n/a n/a 0 502
2002 506 2 0 14 0 n/a n/a 0 522
2003 506 2 0 14 0 n/a n/a 0 522
2004 505 5 1 16 0 n/a n/a 0 527
2005 497 0 0 21 0 n/a n/a 0 518
2006 508 1 0 20 0 n/a n/a 0 529
2007 479 0 1 21 0 n/a n/a 17 518
2008 487 1 3 23 0 n/a n/a 13 527
2009 495 0 3 28 0 n/a n/a 16 542
2010 500 3 2 26 0 n/a n/a 22 553
2011 461 4 1 24 1 0 19 0 510
2012 429 4 0 34 0 0 13 0 480
2013 304 1 0 21 0 0 6 0 332
2014 287 1 1 28 0 0 8 0 325
2015 304 1 0 34 0 0 6 0 345
2016 307 1 1 44 1 0 8 0 362
2017 284 0 0 50 1 0 10 0 345
2018 273 0 1 44 2 0 10 0 330
2019 259 1 1 48 2 0 9 0 320
2020 268 2 1 46 0 0 11 0 328
2021 257 3 1 39 1 0 9 0 310
2022 293 1 1 44 1 0 7 0 347
2023 276 4 2 34 1 0 4 0 321
2024 262 2 4 34 2 0 6 0 310

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 Van Rensselaer Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 417 18.6 22.4 19.9
1989 420 17.6 23.8 22.9
1990 400 17.1 23.3 17.3
1991 374 17.1 21.8 16.6
1992 399 18.0 22.1 27.8
1993 378 16.2 23.3 25.4
1994 514 28.4 18.1 23.3
1995 539 28.2 19.1 21.2
1996 539 28.2 19.1 21.2
1997 532 28.2 18.9 21.1
1998 537 28.4 18.9 25
1999 548 30.4 18.0 32.7
2000 529 30.4 17.4 35
2001 502 30.6 16.4 37.5
2002 522 31.5 16.6 38.1
2003 522 31.5 16.6 38.1
2004 527 31.5 16.7 37.2
2005 518 30.9 16.8 36.5
2006 529 30.7 17.2 39.7
2007 518 n/a n/a 44.3
2008 527 33.1 15.9 45.7
2009 542 33.0 16.4 53.2
2010 553 31.0 17.8 60.6
2011 510 27.3 18.6 56.3
2012 480 28.0 17.1 58.5
2013 332 21.0 15.8 53.6
2014 325 21.0 15.4 50.8
2015 345 19.0 18.1 55.1
2016 362 22.0 16.4 54.1
2017 345 23.0 15.0 53
2018 330 21.0 15.6 52.7
2019 320 19.0 16.8 57.2
2020 328 20.0 16.4 53.7
2021 310 22.0 14.0 48.4
2022 347 21.0 16.5 40.9
2023 321 20.8 15.4 52.3
2024 310 20.5 15.1 46.5

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 Van Rensselaer Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 417 18.6 22.4 19.9
1989 420 17.6 23.8 22.9
1990 400 17.1 23.3 17.3
1991 374 17.1 21.8 16.6
1992 399 18.0 22.1 27.8
1993 378 16.2 23.3 25.4
1994 514 28.4 18.1 23.3
1995 539 28.2 19.1 21.2
1996 539 28.2 19.1 21.2
1997 532 28.2 18.9 21.1
1998 537 28.4 18.9 25
1999 548 30.4 18.0 32.7
2000 529 30.4 17.4 35
2001 502 30.6 16.4 37.5
2002 522 31.5 16.6 38.1
2003 522 31.5 16.6 38.1
2004 527 31.5 16.7 37.2
2005 518 30.9 16.8 36.5
2006 529 30.7 17.2 39.7
2007 518 n/a n/a 44.3
2008 527 33.1 15.9 45.7
2009 542 33.0 16.4 53.2
2010 553 31.0 17.8 60.6
2011 510 27.3 18.6 56.3
2012 480 28.0 17.1 58.5
2013 332 21.0 15.8 53.6
2014 325 21.0 15.4 50.8
2015 345 19.0 18.1 55.1
2016 362 22.0 16.4 54.1
2017 345 23.0 15.0 53
2018 330 21.0 15.6 52.7
2019 320 19.0 16.8 57.2
2020 328 20.0 16.4 53.7
2021 310 22.0 14.0 48.4
2022 347 21.0 16.5 40.9
2023 321 20.8 15.4 52.3
2024 310 20.5 15.1 46.5

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 Van Rensselaer Elementary School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $1,198 (13.0%) $8,002 (87.0%) $9,200
2020 $423 (4.8%) $8,404 (95.2%) $8,828
2021 $578 (6.1%) $8,884 (93.9%) $9,462
2022 $746 (8.2%) $8,323 (91.8%) $9,069

Data source: Indiana Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Van Rensselaer Elementary 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 394th of 1031 Elementary schoolsRanks 171st of 1016 Elementary schools
 21.4%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
3rd Grade English Language Arts (Van Rensselaer Elementary School)51.252.8
 1.6%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Rensselaer Central School Corp)51.252.8
 1.6%
   3rd Grade English Language Arts (Indiana)46.339.7
 6.6%
3rd Grade Math (Van Rensselaer Elementary School)54.761.8
 7.1%
   3rd Grade Math (Rensselaer Central School Corp)54.761.8
 7.1%
   3rd Grade Math (Indiana)58.753.1
 5.6%
4th Grade English Language Arts (Van Rensselaer Elementary School)56.455.1
 1.4%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Rensselaer Central School Corp)56.455.1
 1.4%
   4th Grade English Language Arts (Indiana)45.840.3
 5.5%
4th Grade Math (Van Rensselaer Elementary School)54.763.3
 8.6%
   4th Grade Math (Rensselaer Central School Corp)54.763.3
 8.6%
   4th Grade Math (Indiana)5448.8
 5.2%
4th Grade Science (Van Rensselaer Elementary School)52.148.6
 3.5%
   4th Grade Science (Rensselaer Central School Corp)52.148.6
 3.5%
   4th Grade Science (Indiana)46.337
 9.3%
5th Grade English Language Arts (Van Rensselaer Elementary School)53.867
 13.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Rensselaer Central School Corp)53.867
 13.2%
   5th Grade English Language Arts (Indiana)47.540.2
 7.3%
5th Grade Math (Van Rensselaer Elementary School)49.564.2
 14.7%
   5th Grade Math (Rensselaer Central School Corp)49.564.2
 14.7%
   5th Grade Math (Indiana)47.841.1
 6.7%
5th Grade Social Studies (Van Rensselaer Elementary School)50.545
 5.5%
   5th Grade Social Studies (Rensselaer Central School Corp)50.545
 5.5%
   5th Grade Social Studies (Indiana)4639.1
 6.9%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students320321
 0.3%
African American14
 300%
American Indian21
 50%
Asian12
 100%
Hispanic4834
 29.2%
Pacific Islander00
White259276
 6.6%
Two or More Races94
 55.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients57.2%52.3%
 4.9%


Schools Near Van Rensselaer Elementary School









Frequently Asked Questions about Van Rensselaer Elementary School

In the 2023-24 school year, 310 students attended Van Rensselaer Elementary School.

Van Rensselaer Elementary School ranks 247th of 1010 Indiana elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Students at Van Rensselaer Elementary School are 85% White, 11% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races, 1% Asian.

Students who attend Van Rensselaer Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Rensselaer Central Middle School
High : Rensselaer Central High School


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Indiana Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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