Budget Committee
Indiana · corporation 3030 · Hamilton County

Westfield Washington Schools

District briefing, fall 2026: enrollment, achievement, attendance, finances and property taxes.

On the ballot · November 3, 2026

Westfield Washington Schools: one referendum question

Shall Westfield Washington Schools increase property taxes paid to the school corporation for no more than eight (8) years for the purpose of funding educational and operational expenses due to reductions in property tax revenue through the Excellent Schools → Excellent Community initiative including student safety by the addition of School Resource Officers in each school; maintaining small class sizes; advancing student health and well-being by adding school counselors, social workers, and mental health supports; advancing academic and essential programs to meet the educational needs of all students; and supporting and retaining teachers and staff by imposing a property tax rate that does not exceed $0.3941 and results in a maximum annual amount that does not exceed $38,000,000? If this operating referendum public question is approved by the voters, for a median residence of $450,000 the property's annual property tax bill would increase by $873 per year. The most recent operating referendum public question proposed by the school corporation was held in 2022 and passed.

Source: Indiana Department of Local Government Finance, final determination 26-007-REF

Enrollment
10,396
2025-26
Fall ADM
9,601
2023-24 funding count
Enrollment, 5 yr
+23.1%
headcount change · regional +4.0%
Chronic absence
8.2%
2024-25
Spending / pupil
$12,463
FY2024
School tax rate
$1.2883
pay 2026
Home value
+40%
5-yr avg vs. 12 nearby districts
Enrollment

10,396 students in 2025-26, +23.1% over five years; the regional peer median moved +4.0%.

Achievement

60.7% proficient in ELA and 65.7% in math on ILEARN 2025 (median corporation 38.2% and 40.7%), 11th of 290 statewide in ELA. Graduation rate 96.8%.

Attendance

8.2% of students were chronically absent in 2024-25, against 13.2% for the median corporation.

Spending

$12,463 current spending per pupil in FY2024, above the peer median of $12,109 and above the statewide median of $11,831.

Property tax

The school tax rate payable 2026 totals $1.2883 per $100 of assessed value on a $94.1M levy; $13.7M of it is the operating referendum.

Referendum

The November 3, 2026 ballot asks for an operating referendum tax of up to $0.3941 per $100 of assessed value for up to 8 years, raising at most $38 million a year. If it passes, the county auditor estimates the tax bill on a median home ($450,000 assessed value) would rise by $873 a year.

Westfield-Washington enrolled 10,396 students in 2025-26. Since 2005-06 enrollment has grown 98%; the regional peer median grew 26% and the median Indiana corporation shrank 11%. The chart indexes each series to its 2005-06 level.

Westfield-WashingtonRegional peers (median)Indiana (median corporation)
211177144110762005-062009-102013-142017-182021-222025-26

Enrollment and the funding count

Indiana's tuition support formula pays on average daily membership (ADM), counted each September and again in the spring; ADM excludes pre-kindergarten, which the enrollment count includes. Westfield-Washington's fall ADM was 9,601 in 2023-24, 0.99 per enrolled student.

School yearEnrolled studentsFall ADMPer enrolled student
2018-198,1198,0290.99
2019-208,4358,3360.99
2020-218,4438,3660.99
2021-228,8208,7370.99
2022-239,1809,0870.99
2023-249,7019,6010.99

IDOE State Tuition Support Annual Reports, Appendix A (fall count, non-virtual plus virtual ADM), and IDOE enrollment (October count).

Students, 2025-26

Student groupWestfield-WashingtonPeers (median)Indiana (median)
Eligible for free or reduced-price meals21.5%25.7%46.4%
Receiving special education services15.2%16.4%18.4%
English learners8.4%4.5%2.1%
White71.2%67.7%87.6%
Hispanic or Latino11.9%10.4%6.1%
Black or African American5.5%5.1%1.0%
Asian5.5%3.3%0.4%
Two or more races5.6%5.3%3.4%

Home values against nearby districts

Across the five most recent Census releases (2016–20 to 2020–24), the median owner-occupied home in Westfield-Washington averaged $354,080, 40% above the median of the 12 districts within 25 miles ($253,820). That ranks 3rd of 13 in the area and at the 99th percentile of Indiana districts (state median $158,850).

ACS 5-year releaseWestfield-WashingtonNearby medianDifferenceIndiana median
2016–20$278,500$201,700+38%$132,200
2017–21$306,900$221,200+39%$141,050
2018–22$365,700$256,100+43%$160,550
2019–23$392,900$285,500+38%$175,600
2020–24$426,400$304,600+40%$187,600
Five-release average$354,080$253,820+40%$158,850

U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates, median value of owner-occupied homes (table B25077), in nominal dollars. Consecutive releases share four of their five survey years, so the average is a smoothed level rather than five independent years. Nearby districts are those whose NCES office address lies within 25 miles of Westfield-Washington's: Zionsville (10 mi, $475,780); Carmel Clay (7 mi, $418,580); Hamilton Southeastern (10 mi, $325,800); Noblesville (6 mi, $296,760); Brownsburg (21 mi, $271,960); MSD Washington Township (11 mi, $259,840); Mt Vernon (20 mi, $247,800); Hamilton Heights (9 mi, $234,420); South Madison Com Sch Corp (20 mi, $202,460); Lebanon (17 mi, $197,640); MSD Pike Township (15 mi, $188,140); Beech Grove City (25 mi, $143,000).

Where resident students go, fall 2025

Of 10,988 students who live in the district, 10,238 attend Westfield-Washington schools: a retention rate of 93.2%, 6th of 290 statewide. 750 leave: 350 on Choice Scholarships to private schools, 128 to charter schools and 272 to other public corporations. 77 students transfer in. The largest destinations:

AttendsStudentson Choice Scholarshipsat charters
Options Charter Schools83083
Carmel Clay Schools6000
Guerin Catholic High School59590
Sheridan Community Schools5600
Heritage Christian School44440
Cloverdale Community Schools4300

IDOE enrollment (October count) and fall 2025-26 transfer report. Retention = resident students enrolled in the corporation as a share of all students who live there (“settled”).

On the spring 2025 ILEARN, 60.7% of Westfield-Washington students were proficient in English/language arts and 65.7% in math, against 38.2% and 40.7% for the median Indiana corporation. That ranks 11th and 13th among 290 corporations. Against the peer median it trails in IREAD-3 and graduation.

MeasureWestfield-WashingtonPeer medianregional beneathIndiana (median)Statewide rank
ILEARN English/language arts, grades 3–8 (2025)60.7%55.8%regional 46.2%38.2%11th of 290
ILEARN math (2025)65.7%60.9%regional 51.9%40.7%13th of 290
ILEARN science (2025)68.8%58.8%regional 51.7%43.2%4th of 290
ILEARN, proficient in both ELA and math (2025)52.8%46.8%regional 36.4%28.1%10th of 290
IREAD-3 pass rate (2026)93.8%94.8%regional 94.2%91.3%100th of 290
SAT, met both benchmarks, grade 11 (2026)50.6%39.5%regional 29.9%19.3%6th of 289
Graduation rate (2025 cohort)96.8%97.2%regional 98.0%95.1%93rd of 289
Schools rated Meets or Exceeds Expectations (2025)100%90%regional 78%33%1st of 290

IDOE assessment, graduation and federal accountability files. Rank is among Indiana's public school corporations with a reported result (1st = highest). Only the 2025 ILEARN release is on file, so there is no trend line here.

In 2024-25, 8.2% of Westfield-Washington students were chronically absent (missing 10% or more of the school year), against 10.3% in the peer median and 13.2% in the median Indiana corporation. That is 39th lowest of 290. Before the pandemic, in 2018-19, the rate was 5.5%.

Westfield-WashingtonPeers (median)Indiana (median corporation)
19%14%10%6%1%2012-132014-152016-172018-192020-212022-232024-25

IDOE chronic absenteeism file, 2012-13 to 2024-25. A student is chronically absent after missing 10% or more of enrolled days.

Westfield-Washington spent $12,463 per pupil on current operations in FY2024, against $12,109 for the peer median and $11,831 for the median Indiana corporation. Local property tax provided 36% of revenue (peer median 31%, Indiana median 25%) and state aid 43% (Indiana median 55%).

Westfield-WashingtonPeers (median)Indiana (median corporation)
$13,109$11,440$9,770$8,101$6,432FY2006FY2010FY2014FY2018FY2024

U.S. Census Bureau annual school finance survey (F-33), current spending per pupil, nominal dollars, excluding the teacher-retirement payments the state makes on corporations' behalf (reported inconsistently in FY2023). Capital and debt payments are not current spending.

For taxes payable in 2026 the corporation certified $94.1M across its funds, at a combined rate of $1.2883 per $100 of net assessed value. The operating referendum adds $13.7M ($0.1700 per $100). Referendum debt for capital projects adds $6.4M. Indiana's property-tax caps do not apply to referendum levies, which makes an operating referendum the one local operating revenue source outside the caps.

DLGF certified levyPay 2022Pay 2023Pay 2024Pay 2025Pay 2026
Total certified school levy$58.1M$62.8M$74.4M$85.8M$94.1M
Operations fund$19.2M$20.8M$21.6M$23.2M$24.2M
Debt service$23.5M$26.5M$36.5M$45.3M$49.9M
Operating referendum$9.0M$9.4M$9.7M$10.8M$13.7M
Referendum debt (capital)$6.4M$6.1M$6.6M$6.4M$6.4M
Total school tax rate per $100$1.4000$1.2302$1.2771$1.2771$1.2883
Operating referendum rate per $100$0.2000$0.1700$0.1528$0.1469$0.1700

Westfield-Washington and its regional peers, pay 2026

CorporationTotal school rate per $100Operating referendum rateTotal levy
Beech Grove City Schools$1.9999$0.5500$15.1M
Brownsburg Community School Corp$1.4624$0.0000$64.8M
Zionsville Community Schools$1.3000$0.2444$68.7M
Westfield-Washington Schools$1.2883$0.1700$94.1M
Noblesville Schools$1.2510$0.3700$75.1M
Mt Vernon Community School Corp$1.2382$0.1700$32.6M
Hamilton Southeastern Schools$1.1476$0.1995$140.9M
MSD Washington Township$1.1203$0.2500$93.8M
Hamilton Heights School Corp$1.0615$0.0000$14.5M
MSD Pike Township$1.0047$0.2400$72.6M
Lebanon Community School Corp$0.8657$0.0913$32.8M
Carmel Clay Schools$0.8425$0.2400$111.6M
South Madison Com Sch Corp$0.7777$0.0000$13.5M

Westfield-Washington's operating referendum rate is the 8th highest of these 13 corporations. Statewide, 66 of 290 school units levied an operating referendum for taxes payable 2026.

Indiana Department of Local Government Finance, Certified Budget, Levy, CNAV and Rate by Fund files. Operating referendum = funds 0022, 0023 and 0025; referendum debt = 0187 and 0287. Rates are per $100 of net assessed value; referendum funds are levied on a different assessed-value base from the other funds, so the rates are summed as published.

The November 3, 2026 question asks for an operating referendum tax of up to $0.3941 per $100 of assessed value for up to 8 years, raising at most $38 million a year. If it passes, the county auditor estimates the tax bill on a median home ($450,000 assessed value) would rise by $873 a year.

For taxes payable 2026, Westfield-Washington levies $13.7M through an operating referendum, at $0.1700 per $100 of assessed value. The question's ceiling of $0.3941 is $0.2241 above that rate.

Westfield-Washington has put 4 referendum questions to voters since 2010; all passed. Statewide, DLGF records 190 operating referendum questions from 2009 through 2025, and 133 passed (70%).

ElectionTypeResult
November 2022OperatingPassed
May 2017Construction (borrowing)Passed
November 2016OperatingPassed
November 2010OperatingPassed

Ballot terms: the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance's final determination on each question, which quotes the approved wording and the county auditor's certified median-home estimate. Past results: DLGF historic referenda records (outcome only; DLGF does not publish vote counts). Current levy: DLGF certified levy by fund.

Wherever this briefing sets Westfield-Washington beside other school corporations, it uses the groups below. A group figure is the middle value across its members, each counted equally, so one large member cannot dominate it.

Peers 12 school corporations

The 12 Indiana districts (public school corporations) most like Westfield-Washington on four equally weighted factors: total enrollment (compared as a ratio), current spending per pupil, students per teacher and the share of students eligible for free or reduced-price meals, each difference scaled by how much the factor varies across districts, and none more than two standard deviations away on any one. The group starts with nearby districts that match closely (within half a standard deviation on average) and fills the rest from anywhere in the state. Peers carry the achievement, spending and staffing comparisons.

School corporationCountyMilesEnrollmentSpending per pupilStudents per teacherFree/reduced-price meals
Noblesville SchoolsHamilton610,348$12,99915.625.9%
Carmel Clay SchoolsHamilton715,913$12,31115.912.8%
Hamilton Southeastern SchoolsHamilton1020,633$11,80317.821.0%
Brownsburg Community School CorpHendricks2110,627$10,88016.834.2%
Beech Grove City SchoolsMarion255,481$12,80715.628.8%
Bartholomew Con School CorpBartholomew6111,459$12,25816.139.3%
Sunman-Dearborn Com Sch CorpDearborn833,659$12,23316.322.7%
Northwest Allen County SchoolsAllen948,281$9,91116.922.5%
Crown Point Community School CorpLake1139,289$11,98518.423.5%
Duneland School CorporationPorter1175,869$12,85715.828.5%
Lake Central School CorporationLake1198,662$11,55417.825.5%
Warrick County School CorpWarrick1529,800$11,58516.735.0%

Regional peers 12 school corporations

The 12 districts (public school corporations) within 25 miles of Westfield-Washington, straight line between district offices, whose profile on the same four factors is comparable: on average within one standard deviation. They carry enrollment, property taxes and home values, and their median sits beneath the peer median elsewhere. A district in both groups appears in both lists.

School corporationCountyMilesEnrollmentSpending per pupilStudents per teacherFree/reduced-price meals
Noblesville SchoolsHamilton610,348$12,99915.625.9%
Carmel Clay SchoolsHamilton715,913$12,31115.912.8%
Hamilton Heights School CorpHamilton92,280$10,20216.331.1%
Hamilton Southeastern SchoolsHamilton1020,633$11,80317.821.0%
Zionsville Community SchoolsBoone108,003$10,93316.37.2%
MSD Washington TownshipMarion1111,325$14,17715.345.6%
MSD Pike TownshipMarion1510,640$14,46916.046.5%
Lebanon Community School CorpBoone173,754$12,55514.847.0%
Mt Vernon Community School CorpHancock205,109$11,21815.929.6%
South Madison Com Sch CorpMadison204,560$10,40517.834.1%
Brownsburg Community School CorpHendricks2110,627$10,88016.834.2%
Beech Grove City SchoolsMarion255,481$12,80715.628.8%

“Indiana median” is the middle value across Indiana's public school corporations. Corporations that enroll mostly virtual students are left out of both groups. Spending is F-33 current spending excluding state on-behalf payments; students per teacher is the NCES Common Core of Data count.