News

The Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees voted unanimously this morning to appoint Mrs. Jennifer (Jen) Smoker to fill the Penn Township Seat #1 vacancy created by the resignation of Matthew Chaffee in early October. A long-time resident and active community volunteer, Mrs. Smoker is a dedicated P-H-M parent of four children attending district schools. Her service and advocacy for students and staff have been felt ...

U.S. News and World Report released its “Best Schools” rankings for K-8 public schools by state and Elm Road is #172 out of Indiana’s 989 public elementary schools! Data is based on the 2021–2022, 2022–2023 and 2023–2024 school years. All of P-H-M’s elementary schools are ranked among Indiana’s “Best Elementary Schools”: Northpoint #1 Prairie Vista #2 Horizon #37 Mary Frank #39 Bittersweet #94 Elm Road ...

As part of Elm Road Elementary’s ongoing STEM Community Partners Program, kindergarten students recently participated in “The Wiggling Worms” presentation—an engaging, hands-on lesson all about soil health and decomposers. A representative from the St. Joseph County Soil & Water Conservation District led the session, helping students discover the important role that earthworms play in keeping our soil healthy. Students observed live worms up close and ...

P-H-M’s ENL Department is hosting their annual Community Connections Fair on Saturday, November 1st. Join us for activities, arts & crafts, food, performances, and to learn about resources in our community. It is completely FREE and all P-H-M families are invited to attend. Click here to see photos on Facebook of past Fairs. For any families that want to sign up to perform, please click ...

October is National Principals Month! To celebrate, we’re sharing short Q&As with each of our principals—giving you a glimpse into their leadership style, favorite parts of school life, and what drives their #PHMExcellence every day. If you could swap places with a student for one day, what class or activity would you be most excited to participate in — and why? I would love to ...

 P-H-M hosted a districtwide drug awareness parent and community meeting on Tuesday October, 21, 2025 to help educate P-H-M families and the greater community about the current drug trends attracting teenagers. This valuable information is something all adults should be aware of, click the image above to watch the recorded video of the presentation. It will only be available until Friday, November 21st. The ...

Attention P-H-M families and community members! Mark your calendars for the annual Homecoming Celebration on Friday, September 26, 2025. Penn High School students, don't forget the Homecoming Dance is THE WEEK BEFORE on Saturday, September 20, 2025. Click HERE for dance tickets. Saturday, September 20th, 2025 - Homecoming Dance for Penn Students "Lights, Camera, HOCO!" Homecoming Dance For Penn Students only •Time: 7:30 p.m. - ...

P-H-M’s Annual Community Tailgate is a long-standing tradition that brings families, students, staff, and community members together to show their Penn pride. The event is held before the Penn Football home opener and is a chance for everyone across the district to connect, celebrate, and support the Kingsmen. This year's home opener will be "The Backyard Brawl" against Mishawaka on Friday, August 29th, 2025. Click ...

Penn-Harris-Madison invites students, families, alumni, and community members to celebrate Homecoming 2025 on Friday, September 26, 2025 courtesy of the PHM Education Foundation. The annual celebration includes the Homecoming Parade on Bittersweet Road in front of Penn High School, showcasing student groups, athletic teams, school clubs, and community organizations, followed by the Penn Kingsmen football game against South Bend Adams at Everwise Freed Field. This ...

Elm Road’s third graders posted an 84.4% IREAD pass rate in 2025, rising from 77.3% in 2024. This steady 7.1-point gain reflects the hard work of our students, the dedication of our staff, and strong family support. “Our students put into practice the literacy foundations taught by P-H-M’s dedicated teachers, and their families reinforced that learning at home. I also thank our principals, administrators, and ...