Valley Mills Elementary School

5101 S High School Rd
Indianapolis, IN 46221

554 Students

Elementary School K - 6th

School Overview

Valley Mills Elementary School, located on South High School Road in Indianapolis, is a primary educational institution within the Metropolitan School District of Decatur Township. The school serves a diverse student population, focusing on building a strong academic foundation while fostering a supportive community environment. Its mission is deeply rooted in the district’s broader goals of preparing students for future success through personalized learning, character development, and active engagement with families and the surrounding neighborhood.

Beyond its core curriculum, Valley Mills emphasizes the "Decatur Proud" culture, which encourages students to excel both inside and outside the classroom. The school provides various resources and programs designed to meet the unique needs of its learners, often integrating modern instructional strategies to enhance engagement. By maintaining a focus on inclusivity and student-centered growth, Valley Mills Elementary aims to create a welcoming atmosphere that nurtures each child’s social, emotional, and intellectual development throughout their early academic years.

554

Total Students

39.0

Full-Time Teachers

14.2

Student/Teacher Ratio

65.7%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Valley Mills Elementary School
Demographic	Student Count
White	289
Hispanic	76
Black	136
Asian	7
Two or More	43
American Indian	2
Pacific Islander	1

White
289 (52.2%)
Black
136 (24.5%)
Hispanic
76 (13.7%)
Two or More
43 (7.8%)
Asian
7 (1.3%)
American Indian
2 (0.4%)
Pacific Islander
1 (0.2%)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	MSD Decatur Township
Phone:	(317)856-6363
Grade Range:	K - 6th
Total Students:	554
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	39.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	14.2
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	351
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	13

* 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 87

Grade 1 80

Grade 2 84

Grade 3 79

Grade 4 69

Grade 5 81

Grade 6 74