- Prairie Trace Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 715 students
- Cherry Tree Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 711 students
- Carmel Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 700 students
- Smoky Row Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 692 students
- Clay Center Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 666 students
- Forest Dale Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 638 students
- Woodbrook Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 628 students
- College Wood Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 616 students
- West Clay Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 580 students
- Mohawk Trails Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 543 students
- Towne Meadow Elementary School — Grades PK–5 · 527 students
- Creekside Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 1,428 students
- Clay Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 1,415 students
- Carmel Middle School — Grades 6–8 · 1,047 students
- Carmel High School — Grades 9–12 · 5,239 students
| Metric | Carmel Clay Schools | National Average | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Student Enrollment | 16,000 | 3,700 | ↑ Larger than avg |
| Number of Schools | 15 | 6 | Varies by district |
| Per-Pupil Spending | $11,000/yr | $13,700/yr | ≈ Near avg |
| District Type | Public School District | Public District | — |
| Overall Rating | 10/10 — Excellent | — | Top 10% in IN |
| District | Rating | Percentile | Students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carmel Clay Schools (this district) | 10/10 | 100th | 16,000 |
| Alexandria Community School Corporation | 6/10 | 56th | 1,522 |
| Frankton-Lapel Community Schools | 6/10 | 57th | 3,090 |
| Anderson Community School Corporation | 2/10 | 17th | 6,196 |
🔢 Show the math behind this rating
Ranked against 377 rated districts in IN → 100th percentile → 10/10.
Source: Indiana Dept. of Education ILEARN, grades 3–8 Corporation Total proficient, 2024–25 school year. Full methodology →
About Carmel Clay Schools
Carmel Clay Schools is the public school district assigned to zip code 40032 in Carmel, Indiana. Serving students from Pre-K – 12th, this district is the primary public education system for families living in and around zip code 40032. The sections below cover the district’s resources, scale, rating, and everything families need to know about enrollment and school assignment.
Funding and Resources
Carmel Clay Schools spent $10,192 per student in the 2019–20 school year (U.S. Dept. of Education CCD finance data), 7% below Indiana’s statewide $11,000 estimate. Of the district’s 2019 graduating cohort of 1,278 students, an estimated 97% earned a diploma within four years (EDFacts adjusted cohort graduation rate).
District Scale and Program Breadth
With 19 schools, Carmel Clay Schools operates as a large district serving students from Pre-K – 12th. The district enrolls approximately 16,000 students in total. Large districts typically provide broad program variety: multiple course tracks at the high school level, dedicated arts and athletic programs, specialized learning pathways, and a wider range of student support services. Individual school quality within a large district can vary considerably — always research your specific assigned school, not just district-level averages.
Understanding the 10/10 Rating
Carmel Clay Schools has earned an overall SchoolDistrictFinder rating of 10/10, placing it in the top-tier tier. Our ratings are based on state assessment results — the share of students scoring proficient or above in reading and math, as reported in Indiana’s ILEARN grades 3–8 assessments (2024–25 school year). We average each district’s reading and math proficiency, then rank it against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score. Because Indiana is compared only against itself, the rating reflects how this district performs relative to its in-state peers.
Carmel Clay Schools ranks among the highest-performing public school districts in Indiana on state assessments, with reading and math proficiency rates in roughly the top 10–20% statewide. Homes in and around zip code 40032 often carry a measurable premium relative to neighboring areas served by lower-rated districts. Families moving here for academic strength will find a district whose students test well above the state norm. Even within top-rated districts, individual school performance varies — confirm your specific school assignments directly with the district.
Enrollment for Families in Zip Code 40032
Children in zip code 40032 are assigned to Carmel Clay Schools for public school enrollment, covering grades Pre-K – 12th. School assignments are address-specific — your elementary, middle, and high school placements depend on your exact street address within zip code 40032, not just your neighborhood. Two homes on opposite ends of the same zip code may be assigned to different schools within the same district.
To confirm your specific school assignments, contact Carmel Clay Schools at (317)844-9961 or visit www1.ccs.k12.in.us/. Typical enrollment documents include proof of residency (lease or deed plus a utility bill), your child’s birth certificate, current immunization records, and prior school records. If your child has an IEP or 504 plan, bring that documentation to enrollment — Indiana districts are required to continue services within a reasonable period. Fall enrollment windows typically open in late winter or early spring; contact the district for exact dates and required steps.
School Districts and Home Values in Carmel
School district quality is one of the most consistent factors in residential home pricing. Because Carmel Clay Schools serves zip code 40032, homes in and around zip code 40032 often carry a measurable premium over comparable properties in adjacent lower-rated districts. District boundaries are address-specific — verify the exact district assignment for any property you’re seriously considering rather than assuming based on the neighborhood. A single block can place two adjacent homes in different districts with different ratings and different annual property tax implications.
Use the property tax estimator on this page to calculate estimated annual tax obligations based on your target purchase price. In Indiana, property taxes are a primary funding source for public schools — your tax payments directly support Carmel Clay Schools programs and staff. Understanding both district quality and the associated tax burden is essential financial due diligence before committing to any home in zip code 40032.
Data Sources and Accuracy
All district information on this page is sourced from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024–2025, the U.S. Department of Education’s annual census of all public school districts — the same dataset used by researchers, journalists, and policymakers to analyze American public education. District boundaries, school assignments, phone numbers, and per-pupil expenditure figures are updated annually when NCES publishes new data, typically in spring. Always verify your specific school assignment and enrollment requirements directly with Carmel Clay Schools before making any housing or enrollment decision based on zip code 40032 data.