Aspire Charter Academy

Charter School 684 Students

Elementary School K - 8th

School Overview

Aspire Charter Academy, located in Gary, Indiana, is a public charter school that serves students in grades K-8. As part of the National Heritage Academies network, the school operates with a focus on academic rigor, character development, and a "Moral Focus" curriculum that emphasizes values such as respect, integrity, and responsibility alongside standard core subjects. The school is tuition-free and open to the public, aiming to provide families in the Gary area with a structured alternative to traditional district schools.

The academy’s educational philosophy centers on the belief that every child can succeed through a combination of high expectations and a supportive, disciplined learning environment. Beyond their academic coursework, students are encouraged to participate in extracurricular activities and community-focused initiatives. By maintaining small class sizes and fostering a close partnership between teachers, parents, and students, Aspire Charter Academy strives to prepare its graduates for success in high school and beyond.

684

Total Students

33.0

Full-Time Teachers

20.7

Student/Teacher Ratio

96.1%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Aspire Charter Academy
Demographic	Student Count
White	2
Hispanic	70
Black	556
Two or More	56

Black
556 (81.3%)
Hispanic
70 (10.2%)
Two or More
56 (8.2%)
White
2 (0.3%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Charter School
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Aspire Charter Academy
Phone:	(219)944-7400
Grade Range:	K - 8th
Total Students:	684
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	33.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	20.7
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	609
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	48

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Kindergarten 77

Grade 1 78

Grade 2 80

Grade 3 77

Grade 4 76

Grade 5 77

Grade 6 73

Grade 7 77

Grade 8 69