Francis W. Parker Montessori School 56 is connected to the community. Located in the Hillside neighborhood of the Martindale-Brightwood subdivision of Indianapolis, Indiana. The Martindale area was established in the early 1870s by formerly enslaved Black Americans. This is a community with a 130-year tradition of educating children. 

The Indianapolis Public School district’s Rebuilding Stronger draft plan will close the IPS 56 building for school programming. The Montessori school will be squeezed into the already operating IPS 51 school building starting fall 2023. The plan fails to specifically mention how it will maintain the special ed program that has an autism concentration. 

Facility survey scores show that IPS 56 has been well maintained. There are 75 years between the construction of IPS 56 and IPS 51 but there are only 23 points difference in building scores.

Through the early 2000s there were four IPS schools operating in this subdivision, the draft plan will leave ONE operating free public school filled to capacity (IPS 51 has a capacity of 600 with a present enrollment of about 300, IPS 56 has enrollment of 271). 

Since 2010 the subdivision has had an increase in new residents. There are over 12,000 households in Martindale-Brightwood. Affordable and middle-class housing developments are happening right now, one block away from both school 56 and 51. 

*Cummins-Renew Development *Garden Townhomes *HE Homes  *Compendium Homes  *Habitat for Humanity

These actions by IPS suggest “urban removal” of a school that has served an ENTIRE COMMUNITY FOR 91 YEARS. Also, it shows no concern for families that need free public autism education.

Sign this petition to demand IPS respect this community:

• Keep Montessori and special ed (w/ autism) programming at present location 
• There is room for expansion, add a wing addition to IPS 56
• Preserve but renovate IPS 56 like IPS 70 and IPS 84 located in the wealthy Meridian-Kessler neighborhood
• Create an enrollment campaign to uplift the great programs at IPS 56 and IPS 51, captivate the new residents
• Obtain a historic marker designation for IPS 56 similar to IPS Shortridge High School, Arsenal Tech High School, and IPS 57

Email School Board Commissioners: 

hawkinse@myips.org    moorevj@myips.org   allenkenneth@myips.org

arnoldd@myips.org   slackt@myips.org   pritchardw@myips.org

collinss@myips.org

Please Tell Them this Message:

*Keep both IPS 56 & 51 Open

*Give IPS 56 & 51 a 2027 TRANSITION PERIOD to ENHANCE STABILITY as given to IPS 43

*New housing around IPS 56 & 51 let them enroll new students 

*More than 12,000 households in historic Martindale-Brightwood DO NOT CLOSE IPS 56