THOMAS CARR HOWE COMM HIGH SCHOOL

Thomas Carr Howe Comm High School is a Title I public high school with about 488 students offering grade levels from 7th Grade to 12th Grade. A Title I school provides supplemental financial assistance to school districts for children from low-income families. Its purpose is to provide all children significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education. With about 29 teachers, Thomas Carr Howe Comm High School has a student/teacher ratio of about 16:1. The national average for public schools is about 15:1. A lower student/teacher ratio is a key factor that determines how much a teacher can devote his/her time to each individual student thus improving, or reducing (in the event of a higher student/teacher ratio) the attention each student is given for their educational needs.

Thomas Carr Howe Community High School, located at 4900 Julian Avenue on the near-east side of Indianapolis, has a long and complex history within the Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) system. Originally established in the 1930s, the school serves as a significant historical anchor for the Irvington neighborhood. Over the past decade, the school has undergone major organizational transitions, moving from a traditional IPS-run high school to being part of a transformation model that involved partnerships with external charter operators, such as Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) and Project Excellence, in an effort to improve academic outcomes and campus stability.

In its current iteration, the facility functions as a hub for community-centered education. The school is known for its distinctive architecture and its role in the local neighborhood’s identity. While the school has faced periods of academic challenges and varying administrative structures, it remains a focal point for the surrounding community. Today, the campus continues to navigate the evolving educational landscape of Indianapolis, focusing on providing secondary education opportunities while balancing its legacy as a historic landmark with the modern requirements of urban school reform.

For more information, contact Thomas Carr Howe Comm High School at (317) 217-1980 or visit the school personally to speak with a faculty or administrative member about any specific questions you may have.