At a glance
Reported students
228
NCES CCD 2024–25
Teachers (FTE)
21
NCES CCD 2024–25
Student–teacher ratio
10.9:1
Calculated; not a class-size measure
Grades served
01–08
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
School benchmarks
Indiana elementary enrollment
9th percentile
Compared with 1,053 same-level schools reporting enrollment.
District median enrollment
360.5
Merle Sidener Academy 59 - a High Ability School: 228 reported students.
State peer staffing position
5th percentile
10.9:1 reported; state peer median 15:1. Ratio is not class size.
Historical enrollment and staffing · CRDC 2021–22
These older figures are kept separate from 2024–25 statistics and benchmarks. Differences between years can reflect changes in enrollment, staffing, or reporting scope.
- Students
- 362
- Teachers (FTE)
- 20
- Student–teacher ratio
- 18.1:1
What the reported data says about Merle Sidener Academy 59 - a High Ability School
Merle Sidener Academy 59 - a High Ability School is a public elementary school serving grades 01–08 in Indianapolis. It is one of 50 current school records connected to Indianapolis Public Schools. NCES reports 228 students for 2024–25.
Among 1,053 elementary schools in Indiana with comparable records, this school is smaller than the reported median of 434 students. Its enrollment is at approximately the 9th percentile for that peer group. Size describes the campus, not instructional quality.
The reported student–teacher ratio is 10.9:1, below the Indiana median of 15:1 for the same school level. This ratio uses total enrollment and teacher FTE; it is not an average classroom headcount and can be affected by special programs or part-time staffing.
The largest reported race and ethnicity groups are Black (39%) and White (31.1%). English learners represent 1.4% of enrollment. Students served under IDEA represent 10.8%. These figures help families understand who the school serves; they are not rating inputs.
Questions worth asking Merle Sidener Academy 59 - a High Ability School
- 1How do the reported 10.9:1 student–teacher ratio and 21 teacher FTE translate into actual class sizes by grade?
- 2Which advanced, gifted, career, arts, and computer-science courses are available this year, and how do students qualify?
- 3What counseling support is available today? The school reported 1 counselor FTE in 2021–22.
- 4Does community eligibility provide breakfast and lunch to every enrolled student, and are summer meals available?
Enrollment needs
- English learners
- 1.4%
- Students with disabilities
- 10.8%
- Free/reduced-price lunch
- 47.8%
- Lunch program
- Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Reported support staff
- Counselors (FTE)
- 1
- Nurses (FTE)
- 0
- Psychologists (FTE)
- 0
- Social workers (FTE)
- 0
CRDC 2021–22 full-time-equivalent counts; verify current assignments with the school.
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White31.1%
- Hispanic18.9%
- Black39%
- Asian2.6%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial8.3%
Race/ethnicity: NCES CCD 2024–25. English learner and disability context: CRDC 2021–22. Lunch eligibility: NCES CCD 2024–25. Privacy rules can produce missing values.
Programs reported by the school
Gifted and talented
Not reported as offered
CRDC 2021–22: the AP flag records student enrollment; gifted and computer-science fields describe reported programs/classes. Confirm current courses and eligibility with the school.
Other schools in Indianapolis Public Schools
Start with campuses at the same school level or with similar reported enrollment.
Washington Irving Neighborhood School 14
Elementary · Grades PK–08
230 reported students
James Whitcomb Riley School 43
Elementary · Grades PK–08
240 reported students
Ralph Waldo Emerson School 58 - an Exploratory School
Elementary · Grades PK–06
241 reported students
George Washington Carver School 87 - a Montessori School
Elementary · Grades PK–08
246 reported students
Theodore Potter School 74 - a Dual Language School
Elementary · Grades KG–06
208 reported students
Christian Park School 82 - an Exploratory School
Elementary · Grades PK–06
251 reported students
Public schools near Merle Sidener Academy 59 - a High Ability School
Closest campuses by straight-line distance between NCES geocodes, favoring the same school level. Distance is not drive time or an attendance assignment.
| School | Grades | Students | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| ACE Preparatory Academy Elementary · Charter · ACE Preparatory Academy | KG–05 | 131 | 0.9 mi |
| Eliza Baker School 55 - a Butler Lab Reggio Emilia School Elementary · Indianapolis Public Schools | PK–08 | 301 | 1.1 mi |
| Rousseau McClellan School 91 - a Montessori School Elementary · Indianapolis Public Schools | PK–08 | 506 | 1.2 mi |
| Joseph J. Bingham School 84 Elementary · Indianapolis Public Schools | KG–08 | 360 | 1.6 mi |
| Mary Nicholson School 70 Elementary · Indianapolis Public Schools | KG–08 | 351 | 2.2 mi |
| Tindley Genesis Academy Elementary · Charter · Tindley Genesis Academy | KG–06 | 368 | 2.2 mi |
Frequently asked questions about Merle Sidener Academy 59 - a High Ability School
What grades does Merle Sidener Academy 59 - a High Ability School serve?
Merle Sidener Academy 59 - a High Ability School reports grades 01–08 in the NCES 2025–26 preliminary directory. It is classified as an elementary school in Indianapolis Public Schools.
How many students attend Merle Sidener Academy 59 - a High Ability School?
Merle Sidener Academy 59 - a High Ability School reported 228 students in the NCES 2024–25 membership file. That places it near the 9th percentile among 1,053 Indiana elementary schools reporting enrollment. The 2021–22 civil-rights collection recorded 362 students.
What is the student–teacher ratio at Merle Sidener Academy 59 - a High Ability School?
The calculated ratio is 10.9:1, based on 228 students and 21 full-time-equivalent classroom teachers in 2024–25. The Indiana median for the same school level is 15:1. A ratio is not the same as average class size.
Is Merle Sidener Academy 59 - a High Ability School a public, charter, or magnet school?
Merle Sidener Academy 59 - a High Ability School is a public school and is not a charter school. Enrollment is generally based on Indianapolis Public Schools attendance boundaries and transfer rules.
What share of Merle Sidener Academy 59 - a High Ability School students qualify for free or reduced-price meals?
47.8% of students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024–25. The school participates in community eligibility, which can provide meals to every student and changes how eligibility is reported. This describes the students served and is not a quality measure.
Which school district is Merle Sidener Academy 59 - a High Ability School in?
Merle Sidener Academy 59 - a High Ability School is part of Indianapolis Public Schools, based in Indianapolis, IN, which operates 50 current schools. Confirm attendance zones and enrollment rules with the district.
What public schools are near Merle Sidener Academy 59 - a High Ability School?
The closest public schools by straight-line distance include ACE Preparatory Academy (0.9 mi), Eliza Baker School 55 - a Butler Lab Reggio Emilia School (1.1 mi), Rousseau McClellan School 91 - a Montessori School (1.2 mi). Distance does not determine eligibility; attendance boundaries and program rules do.