State gives some South Bend schools an "F"

SOUTH BEND, Ind. – This year the Indiana Department of Education began giving schools letter grades to show their performance on the ISTEP test.  This week they released the results and the news isn’t good for some South Bend Schools.

Overall, the South Bend Community School Corporation received a grade of “C,” which shows they’re making progress.  Riley High School, Rise-Up Academy and Washington High School narrowly avoided a state takeover by improving their scores.

But, four South Bend schools didn’t make the grade this year.  Muessel Primary Center, Greene Intermediate Center, Navarre Intermediate Center and Dickinson Intermediate Fine Arts Academy all received “F” grades.  This puts them all on the list of schools on academic probation.  It’s the first year on probation for Muessel, Greene and Navarre.  It’s Dickinson’s fourth year on probation.  Six-years in a row of probation puts schools in danger of a state takeover. 

South Bend schools weren’t the only Michiana schools to receive a failing grade.

In Elkhart, Northside and Pierre Moran Middle Schools both got “F” grades.

The grades weren’t all bad for Michiana, Penn-Harris Madison schools received almost all “A” grades.  Penn High got a “C” grade.  The lowest Penn-Harris grades went to Bittersweet Elementary and Grissom Middle School both got a grade of “D.”

John Young Middle School in Mishawaka also got a grade of “D.”  But, School City of Mishawaka also received mostly “A” grades.  School City also proves it's not impossible to bounce back from a failing grade.  Mishawaka High School bounced up to a "C" after going on academic probation last year.

Officials from South Bend Community School Corporation weren’t available to comment on the grades.

A complete list of school grades can be found on the Indiana Department of Education website:  www.doe.in.gov/pl221/welcome.html