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Best Public Preschools in Lake County (2026)
Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Lake County Public Preschools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 36 public preschools serving 17,984 students in Lake County, IN.
The top-ranked public preschools in Lake County, IN are Frank H Hammond Elementary School, George Bibich Elementary School and James H Watson Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Lake County, IN public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 39% (versus the Indiana public pre school average of 45%), and reading proficiency score of 34% (versus the 39% statewide average). Pre schools in Lake County have an average ranking of 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of Indiana public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 66% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Indiana public preschool average of 36% (majority Hispanic).

Best Public Preschools in Lake County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Frank H Hammond Elementary School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1301 Fran-lin Pky
Munster, IN 46321
(219) 838-2060
Gr: PK-5 | 620 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #22.
George Bibich Elementary School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
14600 W 81st St
Dyer, IN 46311
(219) 322-1185
Gr: PK-4 | 547 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #33.
James H Watson Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
333 W 77th St
Schererville, IN 46375
(219) 322-1365
Gr: PK-4 | 660 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #44.
Douglas Macarthur Elementary School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
12900 Fairbanks
Cedar Lake, IN 46303
(219) 662-3600
Gr: PK-5 | 466 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #55.
Kolling Elementary School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
8801 Wicker Ave
Saint John, IN 46373
(219) 365-8577
Gr: PK-4 | 529 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #66.
Dwight D Eisenhower Elementary School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1450 S Main St
Crown Point, IN 46307
(219) 663-8800
Gr: PK-5 | 494 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #77.
Timothy Ball Elementary School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
720 W Summit St
Crown Point, IN 46307
(219) 663-0047
Gr: PK-5 | 638 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #88.
Homan Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
210 E Joliet
Schererville, IN 46375
(219) 322-4451
Gr: PK-4 | 472 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #99.
Protsman Elementary School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1121 Harrison
Dyer, IN 46311
(219) 322-2040
Gr: PK-4 | 614 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #1010.
Jane Ball Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49% )
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
13313 Parrish St
Cedar Lake, IN 46303
(219) 374-3700
Gr: PK-2 | 356 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 21%
Rank: #1111.
Peifer Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1824 S Cline
Schererville, IN 46375
(219) 322-5335
Gr: PK-4 | 420 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #1212.
Judith Morton Johnston Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
8220 Fifth St
Highland, IN 46322
(219) 923-2428
Gr: PK-5 | 383 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #1313.
Nathan Hale Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1831 Oliver St
Whiting, IN 46394
(219) 659-0738
Gr: PK-5 | 396 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #1414.
Jonas E Salk Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
3001 W 77th Ave
Merrillville, IN 46410
(219) 650-5304
Gr: PK-4 | 565 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #1515.
Beiriger Elementary School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
601 N Lillian St
Griffith, IN 46319
(219) 924-4030
Gr: PK-5 | 426 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #1616.
John Wood Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
6100 E 73rd Ave
Merrillville, IN 46410
(219) 650-5305
Gr: PK-4 | 227 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #1717.
Elsie Wadsworth Elementary School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 37% )
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
600 N Jay St
Griffith, IN 46319
(219) 923-4488
Gr: PK-2 | 477 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #1818.
Henry S Evans Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2915 E 35th Ave
Lake Station, IN 46405
(219) 962-1608
Gr: PK-5 | 400 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #1919.
Homer Iddings Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
7249 Vanburen St
Merrillville, IN 46410
(219) 650-5302
Gr: PK-4 | 535 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #2020.
Warren G Harding Elementary School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 23%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
3211 165th St
Hammond, IN 46323
(219) 989-7351
Gr: PK-6 | 755 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 86%
Rank: #2121.
Edgar L Miller Elementary School
(Math: 25-29% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
5901 Waite St
Merrillville, IN 46410
(219) 650-5303
Gr: PK-4 | 330 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #2222.
Thomas Jefferson Elementary School
(Math: 18% | Reading: 22%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
6940 Northcote Ave
Hammond, IN 46324
(219) 989-7353
Gr: PK-6 | 570 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #2323.
Joseph Hess Elementary School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 19%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
3640 Orchard Dr
Hammond, IN 46323
(219) 989-7355
Gr: PK-6 | 611 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #2424.
Henry P Fieler Elementary School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
407 W 61st Ave
Merrillville, IN 46410
(219) 650-5301
Gr: PK-4 | 466 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #2525.
Abraham Lincoln Elementary School
(Math: 18% | Reading: 19%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
4221 Towle Ave
Hammond, IN 46327
(219) 933-2475
Gr: PK-6 | 565 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #2626.
Thomas A Edison Elementary School
(Math: 20% | Reading: 16%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
7025 Madison Ave
Hammond, IN 46324
(219) 933-2464
Gr: PK-6 | 705 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: #2727.
Benjamin Franklin Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1000 116th St
Whiting, IN 46394
(219) 659-1241
Gr: PK-6
Rank: #2828.
Frank O'bannon Elementary School
(Math: 14% | Reading: 18%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1317 173rd St
Hammond, IN 46324
(219) 989-7360
Gr: PK-6 | 557 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 90%
Rank: #2929.
Carrie Gosch Pk Center
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 35-39% )
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
4001 Indianapolis Blvd
East Chicago, IN 46312
(219) 391-4172
Gr: PK | 113 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #3030.
Annie Burns-hicks Elementary School
(Math: 10% | Reading: 13%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1001 165th St
Hammond, IN 46324
(219) 933-2477
Gr: PK-6 | 622 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #3131.
Washington Irving Elementary School
(Math: 9% | Reading: 14%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
4727 Pine Ave
Hammond, IN 46327
(219) 933-2467
Gr: PK-6 | 754 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #3232.
Frankie Woods Mccullough Academy
(Math: 8% | Reading: 10-14%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1110 W 21st Ave
Gary, IN 46407
(219) 944-7301
Gr: PK-5 | 472 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #3333.
Charter School Of The Dunes
Charter School
(Math: 6% | Reading: 7%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
7300 East Melton Rd
Gary, IN 46403
(219) 939-9690
Gr: PK-8 | 836 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: n/an/a
Early Learning Center-george Earle
400 N Wilson St
Hobart, IN 46342
(219) 942-7263
Gr: PK-K | 264 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: n/an/a
Mary M Bethune Early Child Dev Center
2367 E 21st Ave
Gary, IN 46407
(219) 886-6542
Gr: PK-K | 231 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 99%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public preschools in Lake County, IN?
The top-ranked public preschools in Lake County, IN include Frank H Hammond Elementary School, George Bibich Elementary School and James H Watson Elementary School.
How many public preschools are located in Lake County?
37 public preschools are located in Lake County.
What is the racial composition of students in Lake County?
Lake County public preschools minority enrollment is 66% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the Indiana public preschools average of 36% (majority Hispanic).
Which public preschools in Lake County are often viewed compared to one another?

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