Aspire Charter Academy earned the highest elementary school ranking among Gary schools in the U.S. News 2027 Best Elementary Schools list, placing No. 383 out of 1,020 ranked Indiana elementary schools.

The charter school on West 15th Avenue was the only Gary elementary to crack the top half of the statewide list. Nine other Gary elementary schools that U.S. News ranked all landed at No. 729 or lower.

U.S. News ranked schools based on performance on state-required tests and how well they prepare students for high school, according to the rankings site. The rankings draw on state assessment data from the 2023-2024 school year and school profile data from the Common Core of Data (2025).

Aspire Charter Academy's profile

Aspire Charter Academy serves 684 students in grades K-8 with a 21-to-1 student-teacher ratio, according to its U.S. News profile. The school enrolls 96% economically disadvantaged students.

On state tests, 20% of Aspire students scored at or above the proficient level in math and 31% in reading. Those numbers trail Indiana's statewide averages of 39% in math and 37% in reading, according to U.S. News.

Still, U.S. News rated Aspire's reading and math performance as "Well Above Expectations." The rankings site distinguishes between raw proficiency rates and a separate performance measure that accounts for how schools compare against similar student populations.

The school's high ranking earned it eligibility to display a U.S. News Best Elementary Schools award badge, according to the site.

How other Gary schools ranked

The 21st Century Charter School of Gary placed No. 729 among Indiana elementary schools. That K-12 charter school on Washington Street enrolls 1,180 students, with 15% scoring proficient in math and 18% in reading.

Seven other Gary elementary schools all ranked in the No. 765-1020 range, the bottom quarter of the statewide list:

  • Banneker Elementary at Marquette
  • Beveridge Elementary School
  • Charter School of the Dunes
  • Daniel Hale Williams Elementary School
  • Frankie Woods McCullough Academy
  • Gary Lighthouse Charter School
  • Glen Park Academy for Excellence in Learning
  • Longfellow New Tech Elementary School

Banneker Elementary at Marquette, part of Gary Community School Corp., posted 16% math proficiency and 13% reading proficiency. The district average for Gary Community School Corp. was 8% in both subjects, according to U.S. News.

U.S. News analyzed 107,223 pre-K, elementary and middle schools nationwide for its 2027 rankings.