Lebanon Schools Outperform State and Regional Peers in Academic “Value-Added” Growth
A new independent study released by the Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) at Ball State University reveals that Lebanon Community School Corporation (LCSC) is a statewide leader in driving student achievement beyond demographic expectations.
The March 2026 report, A “Value-Added” Measure of School Performance in Indiana, shifts the focus from raw test scores to “value-added” measurements, isolating the specific contribution of school leadership and teacher quality to student outcomes. The findings highlight LCSC as a top-performing district in both Boone County and the State of Indiana.
The Ball State report notes that while student poverty is the dominant predictor of raw performance, nearly 60% of a student’s success is attributable to “controllable” factors like teacher quality, curriculum, and leadership. By ranking in the top quintiles for growth, LCSC is identified as a regional model for academic efficiency and excellence.
Key Highlights for Lebanon and Whitestown Families and Communities:
Statewide Excellence: In 8th-grade proficiency and SAT college-ready benchmarks, LCSC performed in the top 40% (Quintile 2) of all school corporations in Indiana.
Surpassing Expectations: LCSC’s 8th-grade students outperformed their predicted proficiency rates by 3.5%, indicating that the district is successfully bridging achievement gaps.
Stability in 3rd Grade Outcomes: LCSC’s 3rd-grade performance remains steady. Their results are within the expected range for our demographic profile, providing a solid baseline for the targeted academic initiatives we have underway (p. 9).
Excellence in College Readiness: In the critical measure of SAT performance, Lebanon students outperformed their predicted benchmarks by 4.1 percentage points. This “Positive Value-Added” indicates that LCSC is effectively preparing their students for post-secondary success at a higher rate than many of their peers.
Growth Persistence: While the state sees “modest” persistence in growth over time, LCSC shows a strong upward trajectory in secondary education (SAT results).
Stability Across the Board: While some districts see performance “randomness” or drops as students move into middle school, LCSC maintains a consistent, stable environment. The district consistently ranks in the top half of all Indiana schools for organizational effectiveness.
Providing Lebanon and Whitestown the Best Value in the Region
When compared to private and charter alternatives, LCSC offers a premier “value proposition.” Lebanon and Whitestown families receive the same (or better) educational growth as charter schools and expensive private institutions without the burden of high tuition, while benefiting from comprehensive services like robust athletics, co-curricular and extracurricular variety, and specialized special education.
Boone County Advantage: In middle school “Value-Added” performance, LCSC (+3.5% value-added) compares with Zionsville Community Schools (+1.0% value-added), to demonstrate that Lebanon’s educational environment is a primary driver of student growth.
The Best Choice in the Region: LCSC offers a high-performing public alternative that rivals the educational growth of many “donut county” schools, including public, charter, and private schools, while maintaining its unique community identity and comprehensive student support services.
A Message from the Superintendent
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Lebanon Schools top state in Ball State ‘value-added’ study
