Ben Davis High School

Summary:

Ben Davis High School is a public high school located in Indianapolis, Indiana, serving grades 10-12 with a total enrollment of 3,392 students. The school is part of the MSD Wayne Township district, which is ranked 288 out of 381 districts in Indiana and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Ben Davis High School faces significant challenges, with consistently low academic performance, ranking 356 out of 431 Indiana high schools in the 2023-2024 school year. Only 26.47% of 11th-grade students were proficient or better in SAT/Evidence-based Reading and Writing, compared to the district average of 31.09%. The school also has a high chronic absenteeism rate of 30.5% and a four-year graduation rate of 82.2%, both of which are lower than nearby schools. However, the school's diverse student population, with 39.8% African American and 33.2% Hispanic students, is a strength, and its African American and multi-racial student subgroups perform relatively better compared to other subgroups.

Interestingly, the nearby Ben Davis University High School, which is also part of the MSD Wayne Township district, significantly outperforms Ben Davis High School in academic metrics, graduation rates, and chronic absenteeism. Additionally, the Achieve Virtual Education Academy has higher academic performance than Ben Davis High School in some areas, suggesting that alternative educational models may better serve students in the district. Addressing the underlying socioeconomic challenges faced by the high percentage of students (65.98%) receiving free or reduced-price lunch at Ben Davis High School could be crucial in improving the school's overall performance.


Detail:

Public 10-12

 1200 N Girls Sch Rd
       Indianapolis, IN  46214


(317) 988-7000

District: MSD Wayne Township

SchoolDigger Rank:
357th of 431 Indiana High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $13,049 Help


Student/teacher ratio:  18.1 Help
Number of students:  3,274

Racial breakdown:

African American:
39.3%
Hispanic:
36.1%
White:
18.5%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  68.1% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Ben Davis High School ranks worse than 82.8% of high schools in Indiana. It also ranks last among 3 ranked high schools in the MSD Wayne Township School District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 17.34. (See more...)
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The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at Ben Davis High School who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.
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
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Compare Details Ben Davis High School has the largest high school student body size in the MSD Wayne Township School District. Student population at Ben Davis High School is diverse. Racial makeup is: African American (39.3%), Hispanic (36.1%), White (18.5%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 68.1% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Ben Davis High School is 18.1, which is the 2nd best among 3 high schools in the MSD Wayne Township School District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Ben Davis High School employs 180.3 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Ben Davis High School is $13,049, which is the highest among 4 high schools in the MSD Wayne Township School District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Ben Davis High School:

SchoolDigger ranks Ben Davis High School 357th of 431 Indiana public high schools. (See Ben Davis High School in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


MSD Wayne Township:

SchoolDigger ranks MSD Wayne Township 287th of 381 Indiana school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Ben Davis High School

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Rank History for all students at Ben Davis High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2005 27.71 298th 349 14.6%
2006 31.14 295th 349 15.5%
2007 24.21 314th 354 11.3%
2008 26.25 314th 360 12.8%
2009 26.50 318th 364 12.6%
2010 11.46 340th 362 6.1%
2011 6.64 353rd 364 3.0%
2012 5.13 361st 373 3.2%
2013 5.01 340th 353 3.7%
2014 3.24 365th 379 3.7%
2015 4.37 381st 400 4.8%
2016 11.10 359th 394 8.9%
2017 8.26 351st 380 7.6%
2018 8.40 357th 385 7.3%
2019 14.48 342nd 389 12.1%
2021 17.12 341st 388 12.1%
2022 18.53 339th 409 17.1%
2023 13.04 359th 398 9.8%
2024 17.34 357th 431 17.2%
See the entire list of Indiana High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Ben Davis High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 24.33 69th 94 26.6%
2023 22.97 77th 104 26.0%
2024 41.71 55th 102 46.1%
See the entire list of Best Indiana High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Ben Davis High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 36.36 45th 74 39.2%
2024 34.85 60th 94 36.2%
See the entire list of Best Indiana High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Ben Davis High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 20.64 260th 285 8.8%
2024 34.35 185th 289 36.0%
See the entire list of Best Indiana High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Ben Davis High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 18.32 327th 379 13.7%
2024 20.89 314th 377 16.7%
See the entire list of Best Indiana High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Ben Davis High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 12.83 352nd 388 9.3%
2024 15.06 338th 392 13.8%
See the entire list of Best Indiana High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Ben Davis High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 12.35 349th 383 8.9%
2024 13.27 354th 392 9.7%
See the entire list of Best Indiana High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Ben Davis High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 49.06 52nd 125 58.4%
2023 36.87 66th 125 47.2%
2024 36.53 73rd 132 44.7%
See the entire list of Best Indiana High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Ben Davis High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 25.68 124th 164 24.4%
2023 18.54 147th 166 11.4%
2024 21.87 155th 184 15.8%
See the entire list of Best Indiana High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Ben Davis High School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools IN State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 28.29 292nd 378 22.8%
2023 20.30 323rd 375 13.9%
2024 24.69 307th 381 19.4%
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.

Ben Davis High School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 




Data source: Indiana Department of Education

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
100%

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Reviews:
by a parent
Sunday, November 5, 2017

Open Quote Our choice to enroll our kids at Ben Davis came after researching the AP/Honors courses available compared to other private high schools in the area. We knew the rich AP course offerings (20+ classes) coupled with the diverse student body were perfect for our family. And the decision has proven fruitful! Our kids were able to take advantage of the great academics, theatre/music programs, and strong athletic teams. Most importantly, our children experienced an environment where students from all socioeconomic statuses, ethnicities, religions, and experiences came together. We wanted our children to have a "real world" school experience, not one where they were placed in a homogenous bubble of students. Ben Davis was just that and prepared our children to go into their universities and careers with the ability to move through and feel comfortable in different spaces and communities with ease. This understanding is the foundation to empathy and understanding that we need in this world. Close Quote



Enrollment information for Ben Davis High School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 2287 384 31 8 4 n/a n/a 0 2714
1989 2056 447 28 8 1 n/a n/a 0 2540
1990 1956 429 32 10 1 n/a n/a 0 2428
1991 1893 424 32 12 32 n/a n/a 0 2393
1992 1828 407 33 17 2 n/a n/a 0 2287
1993 1853 439 36 20 3 n/a n/a 0 2351
1994 1817 424 38 28 3 n/a n/a 0 2310
1995 1811 463 35 28 6 n/a n/a 0 2343
1996 1811 463 35 28 6 n/a n/a 0 2343
1997 1875 534 35 27 3 n/a n/a 5 2479
1998 1924 569 38 40 10 n/a n/a 1 2582
1999 1876 542 36 51 8 n/a n/a 0 2513
2000 1863 553 35 58 5 n/a n/a 0 2514
2001 1728 585 43 54 5 n/a n/a 0 2415
2002 1831 679 41 94 9 n/a n/a 0 2654
2003 1831 679 41 94 9 n/a n/a 0 2654
2004 1693 724 43 148 9 n/a n/a 0 2617
2005 1845 863 45 176 11 n/a n/a 0 2940
2006 1745 922 61 224 9 n/a n/a 0 2961
2007 1819 1054 50 260 10 n/a n/a 112 3305
2008 1674 1073 50 284 14 n/a n/a 122 3217
2009 1626 1142 37 336 10 n/a n/a 131 3282
2010 1625 1196 44 418 9 n/a n/a 121 3413
2011 1538 1193 37 446 9 0 141 0 3364
2012 1443 1192 39 469 7 0 157 0 3307
2013 1252 1139 30 502 8 1 169 0 3101
2014 1171 1148 27 569 6 2 175 0 3098
2015 1126 1151 27 593 1 0 168 0 3066
2016 1137 1146 23 645 1 1 171 0 3124
2017 1095 1091 28 746 2 0 175 0 3137
2018 1004 1135 24 870 3 5 154 0 3195
2019 904 1179 26 944 5 4 174 0 3236
2020 872 1223 19 988 5 5 172 0 3284
2021 835 1262 17 987 4 3 172 0 3280
2022 714 1306 17 1064 3 3 171 0 3278
2023 720 1350 21 1126 4 3 168 0 3392
2024 606 1288 23 1182 1 3 171 0 3274

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 Ben Davis High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 2714 159.5 17.0 10.2
1989 2540 161.5 15.7 12.6
1990 2428 158.5 15.3 10.4
1991 2393 150.6 15.8 12.9
1992 2287 148.3 15.4 15.9
1993 2351 150.1 15.7 18.2
1994 2310 149.3 15.5 18.3
1995 2343 149.3 15.7 16.4
1996 2343 149.3 15.7 16.4
1997 2479 146.6 16.9 12.9
1998 2582 149.2 17.3 12.7
1999 2513 158.8 15.8 17
2000 2514 155.1 16.2 18.5
2001 2415 155.9 15.5 19.3
2002 2654 159.8 16.6 27.1
2003 2654 159.8 16.6 27.1
2004 2617 159.7 16.4 37
2005 2940 172.6 17.0 37.4
2006 2961 176.5 16.8 46.7
2007 3305 n/a n/a 50.6
2008 3217 186.1 17.3 55.4
2009 3282 181.5 18.1 53.7
2010 3413 184.2 18.5 60.3
2011 3364 189.8 17.7 60
2012 3307 192.0 17.2 61.8
2013 3101 200.0 15.5 65.3
2014 3098 191.0 16.2 69.2
2015 3066 181.0 16.9 70.2
2016 3124 184.0 16.9 68.1
2017 3137 191.8 16.3 67.8
2018 3195 192.0 16.6 73.8
2019 3236 192.5 16.8 75.2
2020 3284 195.2 16.8 64.1
2021 3280 215.5 15.2 62.1
2022 3278 182.5 17.9 57.7
2023 3392 183.7 18.4 66
2024 3274 180.3 18.1 68.1

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 Ben Davis High School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 2714 159.5 17.0 10.2
1989 2540 161.5 15.7 12.6
1990 2428 158.5 15.3 10.4
1991 2393 150.6 15.8 12.9
1992 2287 148.3 15.4 15.9
1993 2351 150.1 15.7 18.2
1994 2310 149.3 15.5 18.3
1995 2343 149.3 15.7 16.4
1996 2343 149.3 15.7 16.4
1997 2479 146.6 16.9 12.9
1998 2582 149.2 17.3 12.7
1999 2513 158.8 15.8 17
2000 2514 155.1 16.2 18.5
2001 2415 155.9 15.5 19.3
2002 2654 159.8 16.6 27.1
2003 2654 159.8 16.6 27.1
2004 2617 159.7 16.4 37
2005 2940 172.6 17.0 37.4
2006 2961 176.5 16.8 46.7
2007 3305 n/a n/a 50.6
2008 3217 186.1 17.3 55.4
2009 3282 181.5 18.1 53.7
2010 3413 184.2 18.5 60.3
2011 3364 189.8 17.7 60
2012 3307 192.0 17.2 61.8
2013 3101 200.0 15.5 65.3
2014 3098 191.0 16.2 69.2
2015 3066 181.0 16.9 70.2
2016 3124 184.0 16.9 68.1
2017 3137 191.8 16.3 67.8
2018 3195 192.0 16.6 73.8
2019 3236 192.5 16.8 75.2
2020 3284 195.2 16.8 64.1
2021 3280 215.5 15.2 62.1
2022 3278 182.5 17.9 57.7
2023 3392 183.7 18.4 66
2024 3274 180.3 18.1 68.1

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 Ben Davis High School

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $567 (4.9%) $10,974 (95.1%) $11,541
2020 $519 (4.6%) $10,824 (95.4%) $11,343
2021 $991 (7.9%) $11,548 (92.1%) $12,539
2022 $1,094 (8.4%) $11,955 (91.6%) $13,049

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

Impact of COVID-19 on Ben Davis 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 342nd of 389 High schoolsRanks 359th of 398 High schools
 2.3%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
End of Course Biology (Ben Davis High School)1.91.1
 0.8%
   End of Course Biology (MSD Wayne Township)23.28.6
 14.6%
   End of Course Biology (Indiana)38.629
 9.6%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students32363392
 4.8%
African American11791350
 14.5%
American Indian54
 20%
Asian2621
 19.2%
Hispanic9441126
 19.3%
Pacific Islander43
 25%
White904720
 20.4%
Two or More Races174168
 3.4%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients75.2%66%
 9.2%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Ben Davis High School

Ben Davis High School ranks in the bottom 17.2% of Indiana high schools.

In the 2023-24 school year, 3,274 students attended Ben Davis High School.

Students at Ben Davis High School are 39% African American, 36% Hispanic, 19% White, 5% Two or more races.


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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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