Merle Sidener Gifted Academy

2424 Kessler Blvd E Dr
Indianapolis, IN 46220

300 Students

Middle School 2nd - 8th

School Overview

Merle Sidener Gifted Academy, located in the Meridian-Kessler neighborhood of Indianapolis, is a specialized magnet school within the Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) district. It is uniquely dedicated to serving students in grades 2 through 8 who have been identified as intellectually gifted. The school’s curriculum is specifically designed to meet the academic and social-emotional needs of high-ability learners, moving beyond a traditional classroom structure to provide a rigorous, fast-paced, and highly collaborative environment that challenges students to think critically and creatively.

Beyond academics, the school places a strong emphasis on the "whole child," recognizing that gifted students often require social and emotional support that aligns with their advanced cognitive development. The school fosters a close-knit community where students can interact with intellectual peers, encouraging them to pursue independent research projects and interdisciplinary studies. By providing a specialized atmosphere that promotes curiosity and academic depth, Merle Sidener Gifted Academy serves as a vital resource for families seeking an environment that intentionally nurtures high-achieving students.

300

Total Students

19.0

Full-Time Teachers

15.8

Student/Teacher Ratio

36.3%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Merle Sidener Gifted Academy
Demographic	Student Count
White	120
Hispanic	65
Black	83
Asian	6
Two or More	26

White
120 (40.0 %)
Black
83 (27.7 %)
Hispanic
65 (21.7 %)
Two or More
26 (8.7 %)
Asian
6 (2.0 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Middle School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Indianapolis Public Schools
Phone:	(317)226-4259
Grade Range:	2nd - 8th
Total Students:	300
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	19.0
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	15.8
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	101
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	8

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Grade 2 32

Grade 3 30

Grade 4 34

Grade 5 45

Grade 6 55

Grade 7 45

Grade 8 59