Get to Know...
..... Elwood Community Schools

Elwood Community High School offers a comprehensive four-year program in 12 discipline areas. The faculty is made up of 30 full time and nine career-technical education teachers. There are two administrators, one full time athletic director, one guidance counselor, and one part time school social worker. Students may also attend one of the nine different career-technical programs available through the Hinds Career Center. Both academic and technical prep programs are available at Elwood Community High School, as well as honors and advanced placement courses in the areas of English, history, and science. Elwood Community High School cooperates with Indiana University in awarding dual credit for students in English and math. The Career Center offers dual credit through Vincennes University and IVY Tech. Learning Disability Services are available through the school and through cooperation with the Anderson Special Education Cooperative. Twenty-seven percent of the graduates earn academic honors diplomas, and 47% earned Core 40 diplomas. Approximately 47% of the students will attend a four-year university, 24% a two-year program, and 12% will join the military.

State required achievement tests are given to grades nine and ten. All freshmen are required to participate in NWEA (Northwest Evaluation Association) testing two times a year. Results from these and other formal evaluation instruments are used to evaluate curriculum and instruction. Elwood students have available to them a variety of support services such as counseling, speech and hearing pathology, school nurse, drivers education, summer school, and remediation classes for ISTEP/GQE success. Adult education and GED classes are offered at Hinds Area Career Center along with other school and community services.

The school year is divided into two 18-week semesters, each containing three six-week grading periods. Elwood is currently in its eighth year of using a Block 8 schedule, where students alternate between eight different classes every other day. Students attend four 75 minute classes per day and a 50 minute class that meets daily. One day a week there are 50 minutes of "contact" period for individual help from individual teachers. Built within the time frame there is 15 minutes of school-wide reading time daily. Students’ overall grade point averages are calculated using a 4.0 scale with selected classes being weighted at an additional 1.0 value. Class ranking is computed using the same scale. Grades are distributed six times a year along with deficiency reports midway through each six weeks grading period. Parent/Teacher conferences are held each year in late October.

In addition to the curriculum offerings, Elwood students are offered a variety of extracurricular activities in which to participate. Interscholastic sports are available in nine areas for boys and seven areas for girls. Elwood is a member of the Central Indiana Conference, the Madison County Athletic Association and the Indiana High School Athletic Association. Students may also participate in student council, honor society, drama, academic competitions, co-curricular clubs, and music groups.

Quotes from staff about Elwood Schools:

• "We are small enough to care for kids as individuals and large enough to offer a wide variety of programs and classes."
• "We have a well-educated and well-trained staff that puts its focus on students."