The population bases of Greenwood and Indian Creek schools differ widely, but the two schools share one commonality: more than 15% of the student body lives outside the district.
Indian Creek schools, a rural, sparsely populated district in southern Johnson County, does not have the population growth necessary to sustain only having students attend from inside its geographic boundaries.
Greenwood Community Schools, which borders Indianapolis, is the most densely populated district in Johnson County. As is the case with Indian Creek schools, Greenwood schools relies on out-of-district students to sustain its student population but for a different reason — population growth is limited because the area is fully developed.
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Per Indiana law, schools have the choice to accept all transfers unless there are disciplinary issues, such as extended suspensions or expulsions. Clark-Pleasant Community Schools, which is in a rapidly growing area, chooses to restrict transfers heavily. The district schooled 92 out-of-district students during the fall semester, compared to 606 students who live within the district’s boundaries but attend school elsewhere, according to documents from the Indiana Department of Education.
Even with those transfer restrictions, Clark-Pleasant has a 2% annual growth rate, and its middle school, with 1,737 students, is the third largest in the state, spokesperson John Venter said.
“We get phone calls all the time from families who say, ‘We’d like to enter your schools,’” Venter said. “We just began entertaining the notion of having some kids (transfer in) on some grade levels. It’s risky because of the rate of growth. We’re enrolling kids every week that live within the district, so if you cross the threshold and need another section or teacher, it’s more difficult to find a qualified teacher.”
Before 2018, Clark-Pleasant schools only allowed out-of-district students if they were the children or grandchildren of current employees. In 2018, the district allowed kindergarten transfers during a six-week window, and last year, it allowed kindergartners and high school students to transfer in. The school board hasn’t determined if the district will have a transfer window this year, Venter said.
At Franklin, Center Grove and Edinburgh schools, the ratio of students transferring in and out of those districts is roughly even.
At Greenwood and Indian Creek schools, administrators believe that a strong reputation has led to more students flocking to the schools from other districts.
At Indian Creek schools, 369 out-of-district students took classes there during the fall semester, compared to 171 living in the district but going to school elsewhere, according to department of education documents.
“That speaks volumes to the solid reputation we have, with strong athletics, academics and fine arts,” superintendent Tim Edsell said. “This creates a competitive environment of schools striving to produce a good setting where students are going to learn and have different opportunities.”
As is the case with Indian Creek, Greenwood schools does not recruit students and instead relies on word of mouth to drive students in from other districts, superintendent Kent DeKoninck said.
“Families come in and have done research online and come to our schools. Friends and relatives have children who go here,” DeKoninck said.
“We feel pretty fortunate. People believe we are a great place for their children to come and receive an education.”
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The number of students attending each county school district from outside that district’s boundaries, compared with those choosing to leave their home district to attend school elsewhere in the fall of 2019.
District;Transferring in;Transferring out
Center Grove;414;401
Clark-Pleasant;92;606
Edinburgh;158;116
Franklin;337;343
Greenwood;675;243
Indian Creek;369;171
Information: Indiana Department of Education
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