Merle Sidener Gifted Academy
Indianapolis, IN
PublicMiddle · Grades 2–8
Federal accountability rating
Indiana Department of Education
Meets Expectations for 2024–25.
K–8
- E/La academic achievement
- Meets Expectations
- Math academic achievement
- Meets Expectations
- E/La academic progress
- Meets Expectations
- Math academic progress
- Meets Expectations
- E/La closing gaps
- Meets Expectations
- Math closing gaps
- Does Not Meet Expectations
- Addressing chronic absenteeism
- Does Not Meet Expectations
| School year | Overall school rating |
|---|---|
| 2022–23 | Exceeds Expectations |
| 2023–24 | Meets Expectations |
| 2024–25 | Meets Expectations |
Test scores
Indiana Department of Education · ILEARN
English language arts
133 students tested60.2% at or above proficiency in 2025–26.
- Above proficiency23
- At proficiency57
- Approaching proficiency49
- Below proficiency4
Math
133 students tested75.9% at or above proficiency in 2025–26.
- Above proficiency41
- At proficiency60
- Approaching proficiency24
- Below proficiency8
Science
44 students tested72.7% at or above proficiency in 2025–26.
- Above proficiency19
- At proficiency13
- Approaching proficiency12
- Below proficiency0
| Measure | 2023–24 | 2024–25 | 2025–26 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students tested | 84 | 56 | 44 |
| Proficient | 73.8% | 78.6% | 72.7% |
Social studies (grade 5)
53 students tested77.4% at or above proficiency in 2025–26.
- Above proficiency23
- At proficiency18
- Approaching proficiency9
- Below proficiency3
ELA, math, and social studies cannot be compared with years before 2025–26.
Discipline
U.S. Department of Education
3.3% of students were suspended out of school at least once in 2023–24.
| Measure | 2021–22 | 2023–24 |
|---|---|---|
| Enrolled in the fall | 362 | 305 |
| Suspended out of school | 4.1% · 15 | 3.3% · 10 |
| Suspended in school | 3.3% · 12 | 3.0% · 9 |
| Expelled | 0.0% · 0 | 1.3% · 4 |
Attendance
Indiana Department of Education
16.7% of students were chronically absent in 2024–25.
| Measure | 2022–23 | 2023–24 | 2024–25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total student count | 317 | 316 | 233 |
| Chronically absent | 10.1% · 32 | 8.5% · 27 | 16.7% · 39 |
Chronically absent means missing 10% or more of the school days a student was enrolled.
School Profile
Location
City, Large
Enrollment
304 students
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
Principal
Milanda Penn
Demographics
Hispanic/Latino21.1%
White37.8%
Black or African American29.9%
Asian1.3%
Two or More Races9.9%
American Indian or Alaska Native0.0%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander0.0%
Public school directory
NCES ID 180477002439
- District
- Indianapolis Public Schools
- Status
- Open
- School category
- Regular School
- Charter
- No
- Virtual instruction
- No virtual instruction
- Enrollment
- 304 students
- Teachers (FTE)
- 19.5
Sources
- NCES Common Core of Data · National Center for Education Statistics · 2023–24
- Indiana School Directory · Indiana Department of Education · 2026-06-08
- Civil Rights Data Collection · U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights · 2021–22, 2023–24
- Indiana Federal Accountability · Indiana Department of Education · 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25
- Indiana ILEARN · Indiana Department of Education · 2023–24, 2024–25, 2025–26
- Indiana Chronic Absenteeism · Indiana Department of Education · 2024–25