Our School

Our School

Who We Are:

Elm Road Elementary School is a high-performing public elementary school in Mishawaka, Indiana, serving grades K–5 as part of the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation, one of northern Indiana’s top-ranked school districts.

P-H-M ranks in the Top 4% of ILEARN student performance and Penn High School’s graduation rate is 97.3%.

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. Click here for more information on P-H-M’s overall 2025 IREAD district success.

Elm Road has also earned the distinction of being ranked Indiana’s #172 for Public Elementary Schools by U.S. News & World Report (Data is based on the 2021–2022, 2022–2023 and 2023–2024 school years) Click here to learn more.

We provide a positive learning environment in which students develop their potential as life-long learners and responsible citizens. Our school culture is captured in our  Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) plan and school motto, which is Putting Dreams Into Flight. We affectionately refer to ourselves as the Eagles, proudly sporting the school colors of green, white and gold.

Elm Road was named a STEM Certified School in early May 2020 and was renewed in 2025. STEM is a major focus of the Excellence in Education that we provide to our students. Click here to learn more about our certification.

Our staff of compassionate and engaged teachers receive ongoing professional development. Students are connected to each other and the greater school community so they realize the are part of the Elm Road family. 

P-H-M is a 1:1 Technology district, which means that every student at Elm Road, as well as every student in the P-H-M school district, has access to their own Chromebook that they use every day in the classroom (kindergartners use iPads). At Elm Road, we just don’t use our Chromebooks for instruction; we also using them as opportunities to teach the students about hardware repair. With the school’s Chromebook Club (click to see activities offered at Elm Road), students in grades 4 and 5 during lunch learn how to repair student and staff Chromebooks.  Having Chromebook carts for every first through fifth grade classroom has freed up the school’s computer lab areas. At Elm Road, that space is now being used as a “Maker Space” area where students use “STEM Bins” to create and build using STEM materials. Teachers also have the ability to check out additional materials to use in their classrooms.

History

Elm Road School was built in 1953.  It was completely renovated in 1987 when Boner and Fulmer Elementary Schools were closed and students were consolidated at the present facility. 

Elm Road is a Title I school. Click to read the Parents Right to Know letter.

Grades: K-5

Click for most recent IDOE performance report.

Elm Road students will attend Grissom Middle School and Penn High School.

Special Facilities/Resources:

  • PennPALS Preschool Program
  • Kids Club (before and after school care)
  • Chromebook carts providing 1:1 Technology for every student
  • Four Extended Learning Areas
  • School Community Garden
  • Television broadcast studio
  • Sensory Room
  • Literacy room
  • Speech and hearing room
  • Outdoor environmental lab

School Activities:

  • Student Council 
  • Art Smart
  • After-school Enrichment/Tutorial programs
  • First Lego League
  • Chromebook Club
  • Girls Coding Club
  • Elm Road Jumpers
  • Academic competitions
  • Circle the State
  • S.O.A.R. Program
  • Music programs
  • Intramural sports
  • Sled riding hill for recess
  • Recycling teams
  • PTO events