Schools for Children

The South Bend-Mishawaka-Granger community offers many options for elementary and high school education, both public and private.

Generally speaking, public schools are free to all children between the ages of 5 and 18, though you may be required to pay a modest book and activity fee. Breakfast and lunch are served at school for an additional cost or you may qualify for financial assistance. Depending on where you live, your child may also take advantage of transportation provided by the school district to and from school and school-related activities. ESL instruction is usually available, though your children may be assigned to a particular school in order to participate.

For more Information about the area public schools, please see the following web-sites:
South Bend School Corporation
Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation
School City of Mishawaka

You may also choose to send your child to one of the many private schools in the community. There may be further requirements for enrollment, as well as, a significant increase in tuition and fees, though you may qualify for financial assistance based on economic need or academic merit. A complete listing can be found in the South Bend phone book under “Schools-Academic”.

Public School Enrollment for Children
Children entering school for the first time must be 5 years old before June 1st of the current year.

For first-time students, parents must furnish an official copy of the birth certificate and a record of immunizations (see following note)

Children attending any Indiana School must meet immunization requirements. A complete record includes the date (month, day, year) of each immunization, along with the name of the physician or clinic which administered each of the following:

  • 3 DPT (Diptheria, Pertussis, Tetanus) vaccines, the last after age 4
  • 3 Polio vaccines, the last after age 4
  • 1 MMR (Measles, Mumps Rubella) after the age of 15 months
  • 1 MMR Booster at least 30 days after the original MMR vaccination

If further immunizations or boosters are required, you may attend to this after your arrival by making an appointment with the Immunization Clinic of the St. Joseph Co. Health department, which offers immunizations either free or for a very small fee. If children have previously attended school, the above is required along with a transcript of grades or some other document indicating last grade completed.