2026 ILEARN: Indianapolis charter schools are the highest performing public school type in IPS boundaries

The ILEARN assessment is given to Indiana students in grades 3-8 each year, and measures math and English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency. Analyzing results helps our community understand how well schools are serving students. There is still progress to make across all school types. However, Indianapolis charter and innovation network schools stand out, achieving the largest gains and the strongest results for historically marginalized students. 

The 2026 ILEARN results show Indianapolis independent charter and innovation schools leading the way on post-pandemic learning gains and proficiency rates. Indianapolis charter schools outpaced Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) direct-run schools and the Marion County district average in proficiency and growth for all students, as well as for Black, Hispanic, low-income, special education, and English Language Learner (ELL) students.

Independent and innovation charter schools surpass IPS direct-run and Marion County post-pandemic growth

This year, the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) updated cut scores for the ILEARN assessment. While this impacts how these new results should be viewed, showing trends over time is still valuable, especially when looking at progress following the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Strong One-Year Growth: Even with scoring updates, this year’s statewide proficiency rates were similar to last year’s rates. From 2025 to 2026, Indianapolis charter and innovation schools made gains far exceeding local averages, while IPS direct-run schools remained stagnant or slightly declined.

​​​​​These gains were achieved for all students, as well as Black, Hispanic, low-income, and English Language Learner (ELL) students.

Significant Post-Pandemic Growth: Since 2021, independent and innovation charter schools have achieved significantly higher ELA and math proficiency gains than IPS direct-run schools and the Marion County average across nearly every student group.

• Black students at independent and innovation charter schools achieved math gains at more than 2.5 the rate than their peers at IPS direct-run schools.
• Black and Hispanic students at innovation charter schools achieved ELA gains at more than four times the rate than their peers at IPS direct-run schools.

Independent and innovation charter schools also serve low-income, special education, and ELL students well, achieving larger percentage point gains in math and ELA than IPS direct-run and the Marion County average. 

• Low-income students at independent and innovation charter schools achieved math gains at two times the rate than their peers at IPS direct-run schools.
• English Language Learner at independent charter schools achieved ELA gains at more than four times the rate than their peers at IPS direct-run schools.

Compared to the state, independent and innovation charter schools: 

• Made greater math gains than the state average for all students, as well as Black, Hispanic, and low-income students. 
• Made greater ELA gains than the state average for all students, and Black and low-income students. 

Independent charter students outperform IPS, Marion County proficiency rates

ILEARN proficiency rates measure if a student is on grade-level for math and reading, an important indicator alongside growth to understand how well schools are serving students.

For proficiency rates on the 2026 ILEARN, independent charter schools in Indianapolis: 

• Outperform IPS direct-run and Marion County school proficiency overall and for Black, Hispanic, and low-income students in math and ELA.
• Outperform the state average for Black students in math and ELA. 
• Outperform the state average for Hispanic students in math.

Additionally, independent charter school students are two to nearly three times more likely to achieve proficiency than their peers in IPS direct-run schools for multiple student groups: 

• Black students’ math ILEARN proficiency is nearly three times higher at independent charters than at direct-run IPS schools.
• Black students’ ELA ILEARN proficiency is more than two times higher at independent charters than at direct-run IPS schools.
• Hispanic students’ math and ELA ILEARN proficiency is two times higher at independent charters than at direct-run IPS schools.
• Low-income students’ math and ELA ILEARN proficiency is two times higher at independent charters than at direct-run IPS schools.

Explore more comparisons between independent charter schools, IPS direct-run schools, and Marion County average proficiency rates for ELA and math in the gallery below: 

How these results should inform the Indianapolis education system’s next chapter 

These results show that a family’s choice in school has a tangible impact on their achievement, and that Indianapolis independent and innovation charter schools are the public schools that drive the most gains. 

The Indianapolis Public Education Corporation has begun their work to create systems that help right-size operations and facilities within IPS boundaries. The single school performance framework will aim to do this, which will include academic performance results. Ultimately, their work should ensure families have more high-quality options using a variety of factors. 

The 2026 ILEARN results add to years of positive gains for charter schools and multiple studies from Brown University, Stanford University, the University of Arkansas that show clear evidence for the continued growth of charter schools in Indianapolis. 

Our community should celebrate this momentum and come together to build on it for every family in our city.