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GreatSchools Rating

Northwest Community High School

Public | 7-12 | 1390 students
“We are best known for IB program”
 

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  • This is not a very good school. We transferred to Northwest after moving here...

  • I am pulling my daughter out and do NOT advise ANYONE to allow their kids to...

  • Principle Larry Yarrell is an excellent leader, and always has the best...

  • This school is filled with Ivy Leage level teachers

 

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Last modified
Community Rating

3 stars

Based on 9 ratings
Community Rating by Year
2013:
Based on 2 ratings
2012:
No new ratings
2011:
No new ratings
2010:
No new ratings

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4 reviews of this school

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Posted Wednesday, June 12, 2013
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This is not a very good school. We transferred to Northwest after moving here to Indy. The staff is unprofessional (fist fighting with each other in front of students) for just an example. I've been hung up on by the registrar. There is a sense of "not caring" in the school. It seems that the teachers care more about 2:30 then the children's educations that they're paid to teach. Hopefully, next year the staff will be more caring, seeing how supposedly they are getting some new staff. I pray for the kids that attend this school, including my child. They need a safe place to learn where the teachers care.
—Submitted by a parent

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Posted April 10, 2013
Report it

I am pulling my daughter out and do NOT advise ANYONE to allow their kids to go here. WAY TO MUCH BULLYING and teachers nseeing it and do NOTHING. I have been in there many times over the bullying and my child has told every teacher she knows, the dean, the principle, the counclers, and the cops and NOBODY will listen!!!!!!
—Submitted by a parent

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Posted September 5, 2009
Report it

Principle Larry Yarrell is an excellent leader, and always has the best interest of our children at heart. We're fortunate to have him.
—Submitted by a parent

Write your own review
Posted February 21, 2009
Report it

This school is filled with Ivy Leage level teachers
—Submitted by a parent

Write your own review

Community ratings and reviews do not represent the views of GreatSchools nor does GreatSchools check their accuracy or verify the reviewers' identities. Use your discretion when evaluating these reviews.

About these ratings

The Community Rating is the school’s average rating from its community members (e.g., parents, students, and school staff). The highest possible rating is five stars; the lowest is one star.

The test results by subgroup show how the designated group of students is performing in comparison to the general population.
English/Language Arts

The state average for English/Language Arts was 75% in 2012.

2012

 
 
n/a

2011

 
 
n/a

2010

 
 
n/a
Math

The state average for Math was 78% in 2012.

2012

 
 
n/a

2011

 
 
n/a

2010

 
 
n/a
Social Studies

The state average for Social Studies was 71% in 2012.

2012

 
 
n/a

2011

 
 
n/a

2010

 
 
n/a
Scale: % passing

About the tests

In 2011-2012 Indiana used the Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress-Plus (ISTEP+) assessment to test students in grades 3 through 8 in English/language arts and math, grades 4 and 6 in science, and in grades 5 and 7 in social studies. The ISTEP+ is a standards-based test, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Indiana. The goal is for all students to score at the passing level on the test.

See Indiana's state standards

Source: Indiana Department of Education

English/Language Arts

The state average for English/Language Arts was 73% in 2012.

2012

 
 
n/a

2011

 
 
n/a

2010

 
 
n/a
Math

The state average for Math was 80% in 2012.

2012

 
 
n/a

2011

 
 
n/a

2010

 
 
n/a
Scale: % passing

About the tests

In 2011-2012 Indiana used the Indiana Statewide Testing for Educational Progress-Plus (ISTEP+) assessment to test students in grades 3 through 8 in English/language arts and math, grades 4 and 6 in science, and in grades 5 and 7 in social studies. The ISTEP+ is a standards-based test, which means it measures specific skills defined for each grade by the state of Indiana. The goal is for all students to score at the passing level on the test.

See Indiana's state standards

Source: Indiana Department of Education

Algebra I

The state average for Algebra I was 70% in 2012.

221 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
27%

2011

 
 
30%

2010

 
 
32%
Scale: % passing

About the tests

In 2011-2012 Indiana used the End-of-Course (ECA) assessment to test students in middle and high school in Algebra I, Biology I, and English 10. The ECA is a criterion-referenced assessment developed specifically for students completing their instruction in Algebra I, Biology I, or English 10. The goal is for all students to score at the passing level on the test.

See Indiana's state standards

Source: Indiana Department of Education

Biology I

The state average for Biology I was 46% in 2012.

77 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
6%

2011

 
 
15%

2010

 
 
8%
English

The state average for English was 78% in 2012.

252 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
44%

2011

 
 
33%

2010

 
 
20%
Scale: % passing

About the tests

In 2011-2012 Indiana used the End-of-Course (ECA) assessment to test students in middle and high school in Algebra I, Biology I, and English 10. The ECA is a criterion-referenced assessment developed specifically for students completing their instruction in Algebra I, Biology I, or English 10. The goal is for all students to score at the passing level on the test.

See Indiana's state standards

Source: Indiana Department of Education

  • In 2011-2012, this school received a grade of "F".
  • In 2010-2011, this school received a grade of "C".
  • In 2009-2010, this school received a grade of "F".

About the tests

Indiana uses the A through F School Grading System to assess the overall performance of a school. For the 2011-2012 school year, schools were graded based on performance and participation levels in state standardized tests and student growth using the Indiana Growth Model. In addition, high schools were graded on four-year (on-time) graduation rates and college and career readiness indicators including Advanced Placment exam results and industry certification exam results.

See Indiana's state standards

Source: Indiana Department of Education

GreatSchools Rating

What makes up this rating?

Academic rating
3 / 10
Climate rating
Not available

This school's GreatSchools Rating is based on academics (90%) and climate (10%). The academic rating measures students' test scores, academic growth and college readiness. The climate rating measures safety, cleanliness, parent involvement and more.

Learn more about our methodology

What is the new GreatSchools Rating?

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Above
average

Our rating (from 1 to 10) reflects a school's overall performance. The higher the rating, the more likely the school will prepare your child for the future, so choose an above-average school (8-10) if possible. For average schools (4-7), do careful research and look for evidence that the school has high-quality programs. For below-average schools (1-3), take caution; a low-performing school may not provide the instruction or environment your child needs to learn, and you may need to supplement classroom lessons at home.

Academic rating

The academic rating is made up of equally-weighted parts: students' test scores, their academic growth (for elementary and middle schools) and their readiness for college (for high schools). The graphs below compare this school's results in each area to other schools in the city and state. Growth and college readiness ratings are coming soon, pending publication of 2012 data.
Overall academic rating

3

Below average
Test score rating 2012*
This school
City
State
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Learn more about this school's test scores »
College readiness rating 2011***
This school
City
State
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
This school
Percent of graduates taking ACT: 18%
Average Composite ACT score: 16

*Test scores are based on 2012 ISTEP and ECA results from the state of Indiana.

***This rating is based on the average SAT scores of students that graduated in 2011. ACT scores were used if more students took that test. Data is provided by the Indiana Department of Education.

Climate ratings

Climate rating for this school is not yet available.

Student ethnicity

Ethnicity This school State average
Black 60% 12%
Hispanic 29% 8%
White 6% 73%
Multiracial 3% 4%
Asian 2% 2%
American Indian 0% 0%
Native Hawaiin or Pacific Islander N/A 0%
Source: IN Dept. of Education, 2010-2011

Student subgroups

  This school District averageState average
Students participating in free or reduced-price lunch program 81%N/A47%
Special education 16%N/A15%
English learners 19%N/A5%
Source: IN Dept. of Education, 2010-2011

Student-teacher ratio

  This school District averageState average
Students per FTE teacher 15N/A17
Source: NCES, 2008-2009

Teacher resources

Special staff resources available to students Assistant principal(s)
Instructional aide(s)/coach(es)
Music teacher(s)
PE instructor(s)
Security personnel
School social worker/counselors(s)
Special education coordinator
Read more about programs at this school
Source: Manually entered by a school official.

Special education / special needs

Level of special education programming offered
  • Moderate - the school consistently offers a full program for particular special education needs
Staff resources available to students
  • Special education coordinator

Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math (STEM)

School facilities
  • Computer lab

Arts & music

Staff resources available to students
  • Music teacher(s)

Language learning

Level of ESL/ELL programming offered
  • Moderate - the school consistently offers a full program for particular ESL/ELL needs
Languages supported by ESL/ELL programs
  • Spanish

Health & athletics

Staff resources available to students
  • Instructional aide(s)/coach(es)
  • PE instructor(s)
School facilities
  • Access to sports fields
  • Gym
School leaders can update this information here.

School basics

School start time
  • 7:30 a.m.
School end time
  • 2:30 p.m.
School Leader's name
  • Ms Phyllis Barnes
Gender
  • Coed
Fax number
  • (317) 226-3409

Programs

Instructional and/or curriculum models used

Don't understand these terms?
  • Standards-based
Specific academic themes or areas of focus

Don't understand these terms?
  • None
Level of special education programming offered
  • Moderate - the school consistently offers a full program for particular special education needs
Level of ESL/ELL programming offered
  • Moderate - the school consistently offers a full program for particular ESL/ELL needs
Languages supported by ESL/ELL programs
  • Spanish

Resources

Staff resources available to students
  • Assistant principal(s)
  • Instructional aide(s)/coach(es)
  • Music teacher(s)
  • PE instructor(s)
  • School social worker/counselors(s)
  • Security personnel
  • Special education coordinator
Extra learning resources offered
  • Title I Schoolwide program (SWP)
Transportation provided for students by the school / district
  • Buses/vans for students only
School facilities
  • Access to sports fields
  • Cafeteria
  • Computer lab
  • Gym
  • Internet access
  • Library
School leaders can update this information here.

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5525 W 34th St
Indianapolis, IN 46224
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Phone: (317) 693-5600

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