Lake County Schools & Education
Lake County, Indiana
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
24/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
89.3%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
89.3%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 92.6%
Per-Pupil Spending
$5,266
National avg $13,239
State avg $5,507
School Score
24/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 39/100
State Score Position
#81
of 92 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Lake County
Measured School Summary
Lake County faces educational challenges with a school score of 24/100 and a graduation rate of 89.3%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $5,266 per pupil, Lake County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 37% below the Indiana average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 3.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 4% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Lake County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
120 public schools and 30 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
24/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #81 of 92 Indiana counties with school score data.
Completion
89.3%
3.3 pts below the state average
Funding context
$5,266
$241 below the state average
School coverage
120
30 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Lake County has 120 public schools across 30 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Lake County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Large multi-district county
Lake County has many school records across many districts. County averages are only the opening screen; neighborhood-level assignment and grade-band fit matter more here.
State position
#81
of 92 Indiana counties with school score data. The county score is 15 points below the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
School City of Hammond
Elementary to high school visible
11,505 students
17 listed schools in this county slice.
Lake Central School Corporation
Elementary to high school visible
9,293 students
10 listed schools in this county slice.
Crown Point Community School Corp
Elementary to high school visible
9,064 students
10 listed schools in this county slice.
Merrillville Community School Corp
Elementary to high school visible
6,004 students
8 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
School City of Hammond is the largest listed district slice, with 17 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Lake County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Lake County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Lake County, Indiana
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
Indiana's Diverse Education Powerhouse
Lake County features a massive educational network of 120 public schools serving 75,089 students. With 30 different districts and a mix of 70 elementary, 20 middle, and 23 high schools, the scale of options is unparalleled in the region. This infrastructure serves a wide variety of urban and suburban communities.
A Hub for District and Charter Choices
School City of Hammond is the largest district with 11,505 students, followed closely by Crown Point's 9,064. Lake County is also a leader in school choice, hosting 13 charter schools that represent nearly 11% of the county's total institutions. This variety allows families to choose between traditional district schools and alternative public models.
From Urban Centers to Suburban Sprawl
The county is overwhelmingly suburban, with 91 schools in suburb settings and 19 in city environments. While the average school size is 642, the county is home to massive campuses like Lake Central High School, which enrolls over 3,000 students. This mix offers everything from large-scale 'mega-schools' to smaller urban academies.
School Overview
Total Schools
120
in Lake County
Reported Enrollment
75,089
120 schools reporting
School Districts
30
districts
Charter Schools
13
11% of total
School Level Breakdown
30 School Districts in Lake County
School City of Hammond
GuideLake Central School Corporation
GuideCrown Point Community School Corp
GuideMerrillville Community School Corp
GuideSchool Town of Munster
GuideGary Community School Corp
GuideSchool City of Hobart
GuideSchool City of East Chicago
GuideTri-Creek School Corporation
School Town of Highland
120 Public Schools in Lake County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 17 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 120 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Central High School | Profile | Lake Central School Corporation | Saint John, 46373Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 3,069 |
| Crown Point High School | Profile | Crown Point Community School Corp | Crown Point, 46307Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,948 |
| Merrillville High School | Profile | Merrillville Community School Corp | Merrillville, 46410Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 2,042 |
| Hammond Central High School | Profile | School City of Hammond | Hammond, 46320Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,863 |
| Morton Senior High School | Profile | School City of Hammond | Hammond, 46323Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,609 |
| Munster High School | Profile | School Town of Munster | Munster, 46321Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,564 |
| 21st Century Charter Sch of Gary | Profile | 21st Century Charter Sch of Gary | Gary, 46402City: Small | KG–12 | Charter | 1,337 |
| Hobart High School | Profile | School City of Hobart | Hobart, 46342Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,306 |
| Gary Lighthouse Charter School | Profile | Gary Lighthouse Charter School | Gary, 46406City: Small | KG–12 | Charter | 1,127 |
| Robert Taft Middle School | Profile | Crown Point Community School Corp | Crown Point, 46307Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 1,091 |
| East Chicago Central High School | Profile | School City of East Chicago | East Chicago, 46312Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 1,079 |
| Hal E Clark Middle School | Profile | Lake Central School Corporation | Saint John, 46373Suburb: Large | 5–8 | Middle | 1,069 |
| Griffth Jr/Sr High School | Profile | Griffith Public Schools | Griffith, 46319Suburb: Large | 6–12 | High | 1,059 |
| Colonel John Wheeler Middle School | Profile | Crown Point Community School Corp | Crown Point, 46307Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 1,046 |
| Lowell Senior High School | Profile | Tri-Creek School Corporation | Lowell, 46356Town: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,033 |
| West Side Leadership Academy | Profile | Gary Community School Corp | Gary, 46406City: Small | 9–12 | High | 1,013 |
| Highland High School | Profile | School Town of Highland | Highland, 46322Suburb: Large | 9–12 | High | 987 |
| Kahler Middle School | Record | Lake Central School Corporation | Dyer, 46311Suburb: Large | 5–8 | Middle | 922 |
| Pierce Middle School | Record | Merrillville Community School Corp | Merrillville, 46410Suburb: Large | 7–8 | Middle | 919 |
| Hobart Middle School | Record | School City of Hobart | Hobart, 46342Suburb: Large | 6–8 | Middle | 917 |
Lake Central High School
Lake Central School Corporation
Saint John, 46373 / Suburb: Large
Crown Point High School
Crown Point Community School Corp
Crown Point, 46307 / Suburb: Large
Merrillville High School
Merrillville Community School Corp
Merrillville, 46410 / Suburb: Large
Hammond Central High School
School City of Hammond
Hammond, 46320 / Suburb: Large
Morton Senior High School
School City of Hammond
Hammond, 46323 / Suburb: Large
Munster High School
School Town of Munster
Munster, 46321 / Suburb: Large
21st Century Charter Sch of Gary
21st Century Charter Sch of Gary
Gary, 46402 / City: Small
Hobart High School
School City of Hobart
Hobart, 46342 / Rural: Fringe
Gary Lighthouse Charter School
Gary Lighthouse Charter School
Gary, 46406 / City: Small
Robert Taft Middle School
Crown Point Community School Corp
Crown Point, 46307 / Suburb: Large
East Chicago Central High School
School City of East Chicago
East Chicago, 46312 / Suburb: Large
Hal E Clark Middle School
Lake Central School Corporation
Saint John, 46373 / Suburb: Large
Griffth Jr/Sr High School
Griffith Public Schools
Griffith, 46319 / Suburb: Large
Colonel John Wheeler Middle School
Crown Point Community School Corp
Crown Point, 46307 / Suburb: Large
Lowell Senior High School
Tri-Creek School Corporation
Lowell, 46356 / Town: Fringe
West Side Leadership Academy
Gary Community School Corp
Gary, 46406 / City: Small
Highland High School
School Town of Highland
Highland, 46322 / Suburb: Large
Kahler Middle School
Lake Central School Corporation
Dyer, 46311 / Suburb: Large
Pierce Middle School
Merrillville Community School Corp
Merrillville, 46410 / Suburb: Large
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$5,266
State avg $5,507
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Lake County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Indiana counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Indiana?
How should I read the school score in Lake County?
What is the graduation rate in Lake County?
How much does Lake County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Lake County, Indiana — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Lake County, Indiana?
Lake County features a massive educational network of 120 public schools serving 75,089 students. With 30 different districts and a mix of 70 elementary, 20 middle, and 23 high schools, the scale of options is unparalleled in the region. This infrastructure serves a wide variety of urban and suburban communities.
What are the major school districts in Lake County, Indiana?
School City of Hammond is the largest district with 11,505 students, followed closely by Crown Point's 9,064. Lake County is also a leader in school choice, hosting 13 charter schools that represent nearly 11% of the county's total institutions. This variety allows families to choose between traditional district schools and alternative public models.
What is the school experience like in Lake County?
The county is overwhelmingly suburban, with 91 schools in suburb settings and 19 in city environments. While the average school size is 642, the county is home to massive campuses like Lake Central High School, which enrolls over 3,000 students. This mix offers everything from large-scale 'mega-schools' to smaller urban academies.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.