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GreatSchools Rating

Virgil I Grissom Middle School

Public | 6-8 | 639 students

 
 
Last modified
Community Rating

4 stars

Community Rating by Year
2013:
No new ratings
2012:
No new ratings
2011:
Based on 2 ratings
2010:
Based on 1 rating

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5 reviews of this school


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Posted September 19, 2011

In actuality, this school exists in the middle of a cornfield - not a ghetto. If its students are 90% low income (an accusation I doubt), they bring in enough fundraising money to provide free uniforms including top-rated football helmets for its football players (unlike Discovery located in the same district). We live in the Mishawaka school district and chose Grissom in the Penn school district instead. The teachers are friendly and care about the students. Parents can check online to see if their children have homework, what their test scores were, and what afterschool activities are happening. Parents are also given teacher's contact information. The school offers regular sports, intermural activities and sports, and various academic bowl opportunities. My son was concerned before attending that the other students would not accept him and would make fun of him because he was homeschooled for most of his life. He not only made friends quickly, but the coach kept me updated on how he was fitting in with others. He loves going here.
—Submitted by a parent


Posted February 10, 2011

This school is the ghetto! 90% of the kids are low-income, trashy, don't care about anything. Serves mostly Village Green (a trashy trailer park), the ghetto of Mishawaka, and the ghetto of Osceola. Would much rather go to Schmucker or Discovery!


Posted March 9, 2010

In the sixth grade. All teachers are funny, rules are decent. I love it here!
—Submitted by a student


Posted November 1, 2008

I am a seventh grader that goes to Grissom. I love the school and all the rules are really fair. I think the FACS class is the best and Mrs. Johnson, Mr. Larson, Ms. George, Mrs. Zdziebko, Mrs. McBride, Mrs. Adamo, Ms. Stafford, Mr. Russell, and Coach L are the best teachers in the whole world! I love them all. This school is the greatest and no matter what the Guardsmen are the greatest and best!
—Submitted by a student


Posted August 22, 2007

My 7th grader is an A student. I'm a single working mother and I trust the teachers to help me keep him motivated and learning. Good work! Middle income kids, not spoiled, work for what they get. Great teachers and great principal!
—Submitted by a parent


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 78% in 2012.

192 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
85%

2011

 
 
84%

2010

 
 
78%
Math

The state average for Math was 82% in 2012.

192 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
94%

2011

 
 
85%

2010

 
 
82%
Science

The state average for Science was 64% in 2012.

192 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
73%

2011

 
 
67%

2010

 
 
58%
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 75% in 2012.

196 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
87%

2011

 
 
82%

2010

 
 
76%
Math

The state average for Math was 78% in 2012.

196 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
89%

2011

 
 
74%

2010

 
 
72%
Social Studies

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

195 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
79%

2011

 
 
69%

2010

 
 
70%
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.

215 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
83%

2011

 
 
78%

2010

 
 
73%
Math

The state average for Math was 80% in 2012.

215 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
92%

2011

 
 
74%

2010

 
 
75%
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.

73 students were tested at this school in 2012.

2012

 
 
96%

2011

 
 
100%

2010

 
 
100%
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 "A".
  • In 2010-2011, this school received a grade of "D".
  • In 2009-2010, this school received a grade of "C".

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
8 / 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?

Rating legend
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Average
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

8

Above 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 »

Student growth rating 2012**
This school
City
State
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
This school
Reading growth
Average
Math growth
Above average

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

**The academic growth rating measures how schools affect student test score improvement over time in reading and math. Data is from the 2012 school year and 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
White 85% 73%
Multiracial 6% 4%
Black 4% 12%
Hispanic 3% 8%
American Indian 1% 0%
Asian 1% 2%
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 36%N/A47%
Special education 13%N/A15%
English learners 2%N/A5%
Source: IN Dept. of Education, 2010-2011

Student-teacher ratio

  This school District averageState average
Students per FTE teacher 22N/A17
Source: NCES, 2008-2009

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13881 Kern Rd
Mishawaka, IN 46544
Website: Click here
Phone: (574) 633-4061

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