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Merle Sidener Middle School (Closed 2009)

2424 E Kessler Blvd
Indianapolis, IN 46220

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Merle Sidener Middle School serves 350 students in grades 7-8.

The student-teacher ratio of 16:1 was higher than the Indiana state level of 15:1.

Minority enrollment was 92% of the student body (majority Black), which was higher than the Indiana state average of 38% (majority Hispanic and Black).

School Overview

Grades Offered

Grades 7-8

View Data

Distribution of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Merle Sidener Middle School
7	187
8	163

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Total Students

350 students

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Total Students Trends Over Years (1989-2025)
Year	Merle Sidener Middle School
2025	350
2024	350
2023	350
2022	350
2021	350
2020	350
2019	350
2018	350
2017	350
2016	350
2015	350
2008	350
2007	394
2006	297
2005	355
2004	306
2003	262
2002	281
2001	227
2000	258
1999	263
1998	330
1997	346
1996	414
1995	384
1994	479
1993	311
1992	388
1991	395
1990	330
1989	359

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Total Classroom Teachers

22 teachers

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Total Classroom Teachers Trends Over Years (1988-2025)
Year	Merle Sidener Middle School
2025	22
2024	22
2023	22
2022	22
2021	22
2020	22
2019	22
2018	22
2017	22
2016	22
2015	22
2008	22
2006	21
2005	23
2004	20
2003	19
2002	23
2001	20
2000	21
1999	25
1998	24
1997	28
1996	25
1995	26
1994	34
1993	23
1992	21
1991	24
1990	23
1989	23
1988	25

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School Rankings

This School

State Level (IN)

Student-Teacher Ratio

16:1

15:1

View Data

Student-Teacher Ratio Comparison Over Years (1988-2025)
Year	Merle Sidener Middle School	Indiana	Indianapolis Public Schools
2025	16:1	15:1
2024	16:1	15:1
2023	16:1	16:1	13:1
2022	16:1	16:1	12:1
2021	16:1	16:1	10:1
2020	16:1	17:1	13:1
2019	16:1	17:1	13:1
2018	16:1	17:1	13:1
2017	16:1	17:1	13:1
2016	16:1	18:1	15:1
2015	16:1	18:1	14:1
2008	16:1	18:1	14:1
2006	14:1	18:1	14:1
2005	15:1	18:1	14:1
2004	15:1	18:1	15:1
2003	14:1	18:1	15:1
2002	12:1	18:1	16:1
2001	11:1	18:1	16:1
2000	12:1	18:1	16:1
1999	11:1	18:1	15:1
1998	14:1	18:1	16:1
1997	12:1	18:1	16:1
1996	17:1	18:1	18:1
1995	15:1	18:1	17:1
1994	14:1	18:1	17:1
1993	14:1	18:1	17:1
1992	18:1	19:1	18:1
1991	16:1	18:1	16:1
1990	14:1	18:1	16:1
1989	16:1	18:1	17:1
1988	17:1	19:1	17:1

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American Indian

n/a

Asian

n/a

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-1997)
Year	Merle Sidener Middle School	Indiana	Indianapolis Public Schools
1997	1%	2%	1%
1996	2%	1%	1%
1995	1%	1%	1%
1993	1%	1%
1992	1%	1%	1%
1991	1%	1%
1990	1%	1%
1989	1%	1%	1%
1988	1%	1%	1%

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Hispanic

15%

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Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1991-2025)
Year	Merle Sidener Middle School	Indiana	Indianapolis Public Schools
2025	4%	15%
2024	4%	15%
2023	4%	14%	29%
2022	4%	14%	29%
2021	4%	13%	27%
2020	4%	12%	26%
2019	4%	12%	26%
2018	3%	12%	25%
2017	3%	12%	25%
2016	3%	11%	24%
2008	4%	8%	16%
2007	5%	7%	13%
2006	1%	6%	12%
2005	2%	5%	11%
2004	1%	5%	10%
2003	1%	4%	8%
2002	1%	4%	7%
1998	1%	3%	2%
1997	1%	2%	2%
1996	2%	2%	2%
1995	3%	2%	1%
1994	2%	2%	1%
1993	1%	2%	1%
1992	1%	2%	1%
1991	2%	2%	2%

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Black

88%

14%

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2025)
Year	Merle Sidener Middle School	Indiana	Indianapolis Public Schools
2025	88%	14%
2024	88%	13%
2023	88%	13%	46%
2022	88%	13%	46%
2021	88%	13%	47%
2020	88%	13%	49%
2019	88%	13%	49%
2018	90%	12%	51%
2017	90%	12%	51%
2016	90%	12%	52%
2008	88%	13%	60%
2007	86%	13%	59%
2006	90%	13%	60%
2005	88%	12%	59%
2004	92%	12%	60%
2003	91%	12%	60%
2002	88%	12%	60%
2001	91%	12%	60%
2000	88%	12%	60%
1999	84%	11%	59%
1998	83%	11%	59%
1997	70%	11%	58%
1996	65%	11%	57%
1995	63%	11%	56%
1994	70%	11%	55%
1993	66%	11%	53%
1992	59%	11%	52%
1991	59%	11%	51%
1990	56%	11%	50%
1989	56%	11%	49%
1988	53%	11%	49%

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White

62%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2025)
Year	Merle Sidener Middle School	Indiana	Indianapolis Public Schools
2025	8%	62%
2024	8%	63%
2023	8%	64%	19%
2022	8%	65%	19%
2021	8%	66%	20%
2020	8%	67%	19%
2019	8%	67%	19%
2018	7%	69%	21%
2017	7%	69%	21%
2016	7%	69%	21%
2008	8%	77%	24%
2007	9%	78%	26%
2006	9%	80%	28%
2005	10%	81%	30%
2004	7%	82%	30%
2003	8%	82%	31%
2002	11%	83%	33%
2001	9%	84%	34%
2000	12%	84%	35%
1999	16%	85%	37%
1998	16%	85%	38%
1997	27%	85%	39%
1996	31%	86%	40%
1995	33%	86%	42%
1994	28%	86%	44%
1993	32%	86%	46%
1992	39%	86%	46%
1991	38%	86%	47%
1990	43%	86%	49%
1989	43%	86%	49%
1988	45%	86%	49%

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Hawaiian

n/a

Two or more races

n/a

All Ethnic Groups

0.21

0.57

View Data

Diversity Score Comparison Over Years (1988-2025)
Year	Merle Sidener Middle School	Indiana	Indianapolis Public Schools
2025	0.21	0.57
2024	0.21	0.56
2023	0.21	0.55	0.66
2022	0.21	0.54	0.66
2021	0.21	0.53	0.66
2020	0.21	0.52	0.65
2019	0.21	0.52	0.65
2018	0.19	0.50	0.64
2017	0.19	0.50	0.64
2016	0.19	0.50	0.64
2008	0.24	0.41	0.57
2007	0.27	0.39	0.56
2006	0.18	0.34	0.56
2005	0.22	0.33	0.56
2004	0.15	0.31	0.55
2003	0.17	0.31	0.54
2002	0.22	0.30	0.53
2001	0.17	0.28	0.52
2000	0.21	0.27	0.52
1999	0.29	0.27	0.52
1998	0.29	0.26	0.52
1997	0.44	0.27	0.52
1996	0.49	0.25	0.52
1995	0.50	0.25	0.52
1994	0.44	0.25	0.52
1993	0.47	0.25	0.52
1992	0.50	0.24	0.52
1991	0.51	0.25	0.52
1990	0.51	0.25	0.52
1989	0.51	0.24	0.52
1988	0.52	0.24	0.52

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Eligible for

70%

42%

View Data

Free Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1989-2025)
Year	Merle Sidener Middle School	Indiana	Indianapolis Public Schools
2025	70%	42%
2024	70%	43%
2023	70%	47%	69%
2022	70%	39%	66%
2021	70%	42%	67%
2020	70%	41%	66%
2019	70%	41%	66%
2018	69%	40%	66%
2017	69%	40%	66%
2016	69%	41%	68%
2015	69%	41%	72%
2008	70%	31%	72%
2007	64%	29%	73%
2006	71%	28%	71%
2005	67%	28%	69%
2004	67%	27%	68%
2003	62%	25%	66%
2002	63%	24%	63%
2001	57%	22%	61%
2000	64%	21%	60%
1999	68%	22%	64%
1998	67%	22%	65%
1997	61%	22%	64%
1996	58%	22%	64%
1995	51%	22%	63%
1994	47%	22%	62%
1993	41%	22%	60%
1992	33%	21%	56%
1991	30%	17%	47%
1990	25%	17%	47%
1989	26%	16%	45%

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Eligible for

View Data

Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility Comparison Over Years (1999-2025)
Year	Merle Sidener Middle School	Indiana	Indianapolis Public Schools
2025	8%	6%
2024	8%	6%
2023	8%	4%	2%
2022	8%	6%	1%
2021	8%	5%	1%
2020	8%	8%	2%
2019	8%	8%	2%
2018	8%	8%	3%
2017	8%	8%	3%
2016	8%	7%	3%
2015	8%	8%	3%
2008	8%	8%	7%
2007	11%	8%	10%
2006	10%	8%	10%
2005	12%	8%	12%
2004	15%	8%	13%
2003	14%	8%	13%
2002	11%	7%	13%
2001	20%	7%	14%
2000	10%	6%	11%
1999	8%	6%	11%

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School Statewide Testing

View Education Department Test Scores

School District Name

Indianapolis Public Schools

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), IN Dept. of Education

Frequently Asked Questions

How many students attend Merle Sidener Middle School?

350 students attend Merle Sidener Middle School.

What is the racial composition of the student body?

88% of Merle Sidener Middle School students are Black, 8% of students are White, and 4% of students are Hispanic.

What is the student-teacher ratio of Merle Sidener Middle School?

Merle Sidener Middle School has a student ration of 16:1, which is higher than the Indiana state average of 15:1.

What grades does Merle Sidener Middle School offer ?

Merle Sidener Middle School offers enrollment in grades 7-8

What school district is Merle Sidener Middle School part of?

Merle Sidener Middle School is part of Indianapolis Public Schools.

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