Pierce Middle School
Merrillville, IN
PublicMiddle · Grades 7–8
Federal accountability rating
Indiana Department of Education
Does Not Meet Expectations for 2024–25.
K–8
- E/La academic achievement
- Approaches Expectations
- Math academic achievement
- Does Not Meet Expectations
- E/La academic progress
- Does Not Meet Expectations
- Math academic progress
- Does Not Meet Expectations
- E/La closing gaps
- Does Not Meet Expectations
- Math closing gaps
- Does Not Meet Expectations
- English learner progress
- Does Not Meet Expectations
- Addressing chronic absenteeism
- Does Not Meet Expectations
| School year | Overall school rating |
|---|---|
| 2022–23 | Does Not Meet Expectations |
| 2023–24 | Does Not Meet Expectations |
| 2024–25 | Does Not Meet Expectations |
Test scores
Indiana Department of Education · ILEARN
English language arts
770 students tested26.8% at or above proficiency in 2025–26.
- Above proficiency35
- At proficiency171
- Approaching proficiency347
- Below proficiency217
Math
765 students tested19.2% at or above proficiency in 2025–26.
- Above proficiency26
- At proficiency121
- Approaching proficiency241
- Below proficiency377
ELA, math, and social studies cannot be compared with years before 2025–26.
Discipline
U.S. Department of Education
31.7% of students were suspended out of school at least once in 2023–24.
| Measure | 2021–22 | 2023–24 |
|---|---|---|
| Enrolled in the fall | 975 | 899 |
| Suspended out of school | 27.5% · 268 | 31.7% · 285 |
| Suspended in school | 39.1% · 381 | 35.7% · 321 |
| Expelled | 1.4% · 14 | 0.0% · 0 |
Attendance
Indiana Department of Education
19.8% of students were chronically absent in 2024–25.
| Measure | 2022–23 | 2023–24 | 2024–25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total student count | 984 | 957 | 926 |
| Chronically absent | 18.4% · 181 | 19.7% · 189 | 19.8% · 183 |
Chronically absent means missing 10% or more of the school days a student was enrolled.
School Profile
Location
Suburb, Large
Enrollment
899 students
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
Principal
Candace Lillie
Demographics
Hispanic/Latino19.6%
White6.8%
Black or African American66.7%
Asian0.6%
Two or More Races6.2%
American Indian or Alaska Native0.1%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander0.0%
Public school directory
NCES ID 180969001588
- District
- Merrillville Community School Corp
- Status
- Open
- School category
- Regular School
- Charter
- No
- Virtual instruction
- No virtual instruction
- Enrollment
- 899 students
- Teachers (FTE)
- 62
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 · 2025–26
- Indiana Chronic Absenteeism · Indiana Department of Education · 2024–25