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Latest News

  • P-H-M Students Learn, Reflect and Remember 25 Years After 9/11
  • P-H-M and Penn High School in the National Spotlight
  • P-H-M Homecoming 2026 Details
  • Bittersweet Students Achieve 95.9% Pass Rate on 2026 IREAD
  • 2026 Kindergarten Kickoff Huge Success
More News

Home » Students

P-H-M and Penn High School in the National Spotlight

Our first Kindergarten Kickoff, held on Friday, August 21, 2026, had a terrific turnout and tremendous community response.

The event was so touching it even garnered the attention of national network news!

A brief feature about our inaugural event was featured on NBC Nightly News on Saturday, September 5 at the end of the newscast as part of “There’s Good News Tonight” segment. Our portion was one of three stories highlighted as good news from across the country.

Click the link below watch our story …

 

2026 Kindergarten Kickoff Huge Success

Before the Penn football team kicked off their football season under the Friday Night Lights, another type of kickoff happened under the lights that brought both tears and cheers! Click here to see a full photo gallery.

On Friday, August 21, 2026 we held our first-ever Kindergarten Kickoff. It was a sight to behold and warmed our hearts–approximately 175 kindergartners and 100 seniors walking towards each other on the football field meeting at the 50 yard line. The goal was for the Class of 2027 students to welcome into the P-H-M Family the Class of 2039 students giving them gold and black pom-poms. To say the Future Kingsmen were excited was an understatement; and the seniors were pretty pumped to welcome them into the P-H-M Family. 

Click to watch the video below …

This new tradition will be added moving forward as part of the festivities of Penn High School’s Home Opener boy’s tackle football game and the Community Tailgate, which has been a longstanding tradition.

P-H-M Students Continue Strong Literacy Performance with 94.7% IREAD-3 Pass Rate

MISHAWAKA, IN —With the Indiana Department of Education’s release Tuesday, August 11 of 2026 IREAD-3 results, Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation Superintendent Dr. Heather Short is proud to share that 94.7% of P-H-M students passed IREAD.

P-H-M’s corporation-wide pass rate increased over last school year (2025-2026) and is 6 percentage points higher than this year’s statewide overall passing rate of 88.7%.

Five P-H-M elementary schools achieved an outstanding 95% or higher passing rate, including one Title I school.

  • Prairie Vista Elementary: 98.8% pass rate
  • Horizon Elementary: 97.7% pass rate
  • Northpoint Elementary: 96.9% pass rate
  • Elsie Rogers Elementary: 96.4% pass rate (Title I school)
  • Bittersweet Elementary: 95.9% pass rate

Statewide, results show that 88.7% of Indiana’s third grade students demonstrated proficient reading skills on the IREAD assessment. This is an improvement of nearly 1.5 percentage points over results for the 2024-2025 school year, the second-largest single-year increase since the assessment began (click here for more information on state results in today’s IDOE news release).

Five other P-H-M elementary schools had pass rates above the State average, with four of those scoring 90% or higher, including three of P-H-M’s Title I schools: 

  • Moran Elementary: 94.8% pass rate (Title I school)
  • Walt Disney: 94.4% pass rate (Title I school)
  • Elm Road Elementary: 93.1% pass rate (Title I school)
  • Madison Elementary: 90.5% pass rate
  • Mary Frank: 88.9% pass rate

“These results are a reflection of the incredible dedication of our teachers, the hard work of our students, and the partnership of our families,” said Superintendent Dr. Heather Short. “I am especially proud of the growth we are seeing across our schools, including our Title I schools that have achieved a 90% or higher passing rate. These accomplishments demonstrate what is possible when we maintain high expectations and provide students with the support they need.”

P-H-M continues to prioritize research-based literacy instruction aligned with the Science of Reading, providing educators with professional learning, instructional resources, and opportunities to collaborate around student data and effective instructional practices.

The 2026 IREAD-3 results reflect the district’s ongoing commitment to building on a culture of academic excellence and ensuring every student develops the foundational literacy skills necessary for continued academic growth.

“We are proud of these results, but our work does not stop here,” Dr. Short added. “We will continue to use student data to identify opportunities for growth, strengthen instruction, and make sure every child has the opportunity to become a confident and capable reader.”

By the Numbers

  • 94.7% — P-H-M corporation-wide IREAD-3 passing rate
  • 6 percentage points — P-H-M performance above the state passing rate
  • 5 schools — Achieved a 95% or higher passing rate
  • 1 Title I school — Achieved a 95% or higher passing rate
  • 3 schools — Increased their passing rates by 6–8 percentage points compared to 2025
  • Year-over-year growth — P-H-M’s overall passing percentage has continued to increase since 2024
Name of Elementary School 2025 IREAD Pass Rate 2026 IREAD Pass Rate
Bittersweet 95.9% 95.9%

Elm Road

(Title I school)

84.4% 93.1%

Elsie Rogers

(Title I school)

94.6% 96.4% 
Horizon 100% 97.7%
Madison 84.2% 90.5%
Mary Frank 98.2% 88.9%

Meadow’s Edge

(Title I school)

89.0%  86.0%

Moran

(Title I school)

93.9% 94.8%
Northpoint 97.1% 96.9%
Prairie Vista 98.9% 98.8%

Walt Disney

(Title I school)

86.2% 94.4%


All second grade students participate in the IREAD assessment – a tactic that has already proven successful at providing educators and families an early indicator of whether a student is on-track to read by the end of third grade.
 

P-H-M’s second grade results were an impressive 72.1% of students passing in 2026.

Kicking off the Inaugural “Kindergarten Kickoff”

This school year Penn High School will launch a new tradition celebrating the connection between Penn’s incoming Senior Class of 2027 and the Kindergarten Class of 2039.

At Penn’s first home football game on Friday, August 21 after the Community Tailgate (click here for more details on this event) and before the Penn-Valpo game, incoming kindergartners will be welcomed to the P-H-M family during our inaugural Kindergarten Kickoff celebration.

As part of this special event, Penn seniors will meet the kindergartners at the 50-yard line and pass them black and gold pom-poms, symbolizing the beginning of their journey as future Kingsmen and Lady Kingsmen.

This simple but meaningful moment represents the tradition, pride, and community that make Penn High School and P-H-M special. 


Info for Kindergarten Families

Click here to register your kindergartner to participate.

 

Show your Penn Pride by ordering your student an official Future Kingsmen t-shirt by clicking this link.

 

Three young girls holding pom poms, standing on a street next to a car and a truck.Event Details:

  • Gates open at 5:30 p.m. You must have a ticket to the football game to enter. 
  • Kindergarten and younger siblings are FREE and do NOT need a ticket!
    Purchase older student and adult tickets online for $7.00 ($8.00 at the gate) by clicking here.
  • Community Tailgate is 5:30-7:00 p.m. You can feed each member of your family for just $6.00! 
  • Check in for Kindergarten Kickoff at the PHM Education Foundation Table by 6:00 p.m.
  • Pick up your child’s t-shirt (if purchased)
  • Enjoy the festivities and connect with other P-H-M families
  • One adult should stay with their child until they walk onto the field and will remain in the end zone to meet them afterwards
  • Get your cell phones ready to take pictures of your student participating in the Kindergarten Kickoff!

Stay for the game:

After the Community Tailgate and the Kindergarten Kickoff event, families are encouraged to stay and cheer on the Kingsmen as they take on Valparaiso in their home opener.


Info for Penn Seniors Class of 2027

High school students in cap and gown walking near and waving to younger students

Seniors, click here to sign up.

Space may be limited, so we encourage you to register early.

  • Gates open at 5:30 p.m. You must have a ticket to the football game to enter. 
  • Make sure you purchase your football ticket online for $7.00 ($8.00 at the gate).
  • Community Tailgate is 5:30-7:00 p.m. Hang out with your friends & eat for just $6.00! 
  • Check in for Kindergarten Kickoff at the PHM Education Foundation Table by 6:00 p.m.
  • Enjoy the festivities with your friends
  • Have your friends ready to take pictures of you participating in the first-ever Kindergarten Kickoff!

Boys Basketball Futures League for Grades 1-8

Penn High School Boys Basketball is offering Futures Leagues for Boys in Grades 1-through-8.

There are four leagues – Grades 1-2, Grades 3-4, Grades 5-6, Grades 7-8.

Times/complete information are in the PDFs below.

The Leagues are on Sundays from Sept. 20-Oct. 18.

Register for Grades 1-2 League

Register for Grades 3-4 League

Register for Grades 5-6 League

Register for Grades 7-8 League

Boys Basketball 2026 Fall 1st-4th Basketball League

Boys Basketball 2026 5th-8th Fall League Info

 

 

Penn hosts Robotics Tournament March 7-8

📍 Penn High School | 🗓 March 7–8, 2026
🎟 Admission: Free

Penn High School will host a FIRST Indiana Robotics District Competition on Saturday, March 7, and Sunday, March 8, 2026. The competition will take place in the Main Arena and feature more than 40 teams from across Indiana.

Click here to see a photo gallery of last year’s competition.


📅 Event Schedule

Saturday, March 7

  • 10:30 a.m. – Opening Ceremonies

  • All Day – Qualification Matches

  • @7:00 p.m. – Competition concludes

Sunday, March 8

  • 9:30 a.m. – Opening Ceremonies

  • 2:00–5:00 p.m. – Playoff Matches & Awards


🤖 About the Competition

  • Theme: FIRST AGE (Archaeology)

  • Game: REBUILT

  • This event serves as a qualifier for the FIRST Indiana Robotics Championship
    (April 17–19 at the Indiana State Fairgrounds)

  • Top teams may advance to the FIRST Robotics World Championships

👉 Click here for more information on the REBUILT game


🚗 Parking & Entry

  • Parking: Penn High School parking lots: Main, Softball, Soccer; and across the street at Schmucker Middle School

  • Spectator Entrance: Door D (northwest corner of the school)


🍔 Food & Amenities

  • Food trucks available both days

  • Spectator-friendly event for all ages


Come cheer on Indiana’s best student engineers and experience innovation, teamwork, and problem-solving in action!

This Friday, Aug. 29, 2025: P-H-M Community Tailgate Party

P-H-M’s Annual Community Tailgate is a long-standing tradition that brings families, students, staff, and community members together to show their Penn pride. The event is held before the Penn Football home opener and is a chance for everyone across the district to connect, celebrate, and support the Kingsmen.

This year’s home opener will be “The Backyard Brawl” against Mishawaka on Friday, August 29th, 2025. Click here for game ticket info.

Gates open at 5:00 p.m. You must have a ticket to the football game to enter. Once inside the stadium head down to the white tents in the south end zone at the Yeoman Family Plaza.

This Friday, Aug. 29, 2025: P-H-M Community Tailgate Party

Friday night marks the 67th meeting between Penn and Mishawaka. Penn leads the all-time series 49-16-1. 

Bittersweet Sees 10.9-Point IREAD Surge

Bittersweet’s third graders posted a 95.9% IREAD pass rate in 2025, up from 85.0% in 2024—a double-digit gain of 10.9 points. This impressive improvement is the result of determination, strong teaching, and family support.

“Our students put into practice the literacy foundations taught by P-H-M’s dedicated teachers, and their families reinforced that learning at home. I also thank our principals, administrators, and support staff who worked tirelessly to provide the best and safest learning environments so our students could excel.” — Superintendent Dr. Heather Short

District-wide, P-H-M achieved 93.7% proficiency, marking the highest growth in IREAD history for the district.

Click here for more information on P-H-M’s overall 2025 IREAD district success.

Bittersweet is buzzing with excitement for the year ahead.

P-H-M Students Excel on Spring 2025 ILEARN

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation (P-H-M) proudly shares the outstanding performance of its students on the Spring 2025 ILEARN assessment, as released by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). P-H-M students once again outperformed the state average by an impressive 20 percentage points in the percentage of students passing both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics.

This achievement places P-H-M in the top 4% of public school corporations across Indiana.

“These results reflect the exceptional work of our teachers, students, and staff. We remain deeply committed to ensuring every child reaches their full potential, and this data shows that our efforts are paying off.”

— Superintendent Dr. Heather Short

P-H-M has maintained its Top 4% ranking for a second consecutive year, a testament to the district’s commitment to academic excellence and the strategies that drive student success.

Out of Indiana public schools that passed both ELA and Math, Northpoint and Prairie Vista Elementary Schools are in the Top 10, and Discovery Middle School is #3 in the state.

Strong Gains Across Grade Levels

A closer analysis of the data shows strong gains across grade levels and student groups. Middle school students, in particular, demonstrated significant improvement in math based on the state’s 2021 benchmark. P-H-M 8th grade Math performance is up 24% since the benchmark year, and the variance over the state average is now 28%.

The district’s Free and Reduced Lunch (F/R) student population, which now exceeds 30%, continues to demonstrate notable progress. Among Indiana’s largest public school districts testing close to 5,000 students, P-H-M ranks #1 in the state for the percentage of F/R students passing both ELA and Math.

“These achievements are not by accident. They are the result of intentional investments in teacher professional development and the implementation of evidence-based instructional practices. We are fortunate to have educators and staff who are deeply committed to supporting every learner.”

— Superintendent Dr. Heather Short

SAT Results

Indiana junior high school students are now required to take the SAT for graduation. The IDOE also released SAT results. Among public high schools in pass percentage, Penn High School moved up from #27 last year to #15 this year.

Assessment Data

ILEARN Mathematics

ILEARN Math Passing Rates: P-H-M vs. State Average, Grades 3–8
Table Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8
P-H-M 71% 65% 65% 52% 57% 63%
State 52% 50% 42% 40% 36% 35%
Variance +19% +15% +23% +12% +21% +28%

ILEARN English Language Arts

ILEARN ELA Passing Rates: P-H-M vs. State Average, Grades 3–8
Table Grade 3 Grade 4 Grade 5 Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8
P-H-M 60% 55% 64% 57% 56% 64%
State 41% 42% 41% 41% 38% 43%
Variance +19% +13% +23% +16% +18% +21%

Results from the Spring 2025 IREAD assessment are expected to be released in early fall, and P-H-M looks forward to sharing those outcomes as well.

 

 

Superintendent Dr. Jerry Thacker Receives Several Honors Upon Retirement

In March, Superintendent of Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation Dr. Jerry Thacker announced his retirement after 19 years. Under Dr. Thacker’s leadership, P-H-M has achieved extraordinary milestones, including raising the graduation rate from 79% to 98%, ranking in the top 4% of the state academically, and helping students earn more than $200 million in scholarships. He also prioritized school safety, leading P-H-M to be ranked sixth in the nation for school safety initiatives. Click here to read more about P-H-M student success achieved during Dr. Thacker’s tenure.

Dr. Thacker has had a remarkable 53-year career in education working in leadership roles across Indiana and Michigan. As the school year wrapped up and in gratitude for his many contributions to the field of education, Dr. Thacker has received several honors.

These five prestigious awards were conferred upon Dr. Thacker:

  • May 4, named IAPSS – District II Superintendent of the Year
  • May 9
    Honorary Degree from Ivy Tech
    Ivy Tech Community College presented him with an Honorary Degree in College and Community Service at their Commencement
  • May 9, Head Start Consortium gave him the “Making a Difference” award for his loyal dedication, unwavering commitment, and his indispensable support of Head Start’s mission at Head Start’s 60th Anniversary Celebration and Board Meeting
  • May 21
    Key to Mishawaka
    Mishawaka Mayor Dave Wood presented him with a Key to the City and a proclamation declaring May 21st “Dr. Jerry Thacker Day”
  • May 30
    Circle of Corydon award
    State Senator Linda Rogers presented him with the Circle of Corydon award on behalf of herself and Governor Mike Braun. The award honors Hoosiers who have made remarkable contributions that have bettered Indiana, and who have demonstrated the qualities exemplified by our state’s greatest citizens

Internally, P-H-M school principals, teachers, and students also wanted to thank Dr. Thacker for his years of service and dedication to the district. Several came up with meaningful ways to express their appreciation:

  • May 1, Penn High School Bands recognized him for his “caring leadership and service” at the Spring Concert
  • May 16
    Grissom send-off
    Grissom Middle School students and staff lined the hallways to applaud him as he walked through the school’s hallways
  • May 16
    Golden Hammer
    Penn High School Building Trades program presented him with a Golden Hammer for recognition of his Outstanding Support and Service 
  • May 22
    Bittersweet Send-off
    Bittersweet Elementary School students and staff lined the hallways to applaud him as he walked through the school’s hallways
  • May 27
    Walt Disney award
    Walt Disney Elementary School establishes the “Dr. Jerry Thacker Achievement Award” to recognize students who exemplify persistence, good citizenship, and positive competitiveness
  • May 30
    Schmucker Middle School Award
    Schmucker Middle School principal presented him with an Elevation Award for 53 years of service in education to students, teachers, and parents
  • June 2
    Prairie Vista Triangle of Success
    Prairie Vista retirement gift
    Prairie Vista Elementary students performed a “We are your Triangle of Success” presentation and gave him a planter with all the thumbprints of students (grades K-5) and staff to illustrate the impact he’s had on their lives
  • June 3
    Penn Band
    Retiring Penn Band Director Glenn Northern, leads the Symphonic Winds section of the Kingsmen Marching Band in the Penn High School Fight song outside Dr. Thacker’s office at the Educational Services Center. Click here to see the video on Facebook.

Before the end of the 2024-2025 school year came to a close, Dr. Thacker shared the video message below with P-H-M students, teachers, and families.

P-H-M Schools
  • Bittersweet Elementary School
  • Elm Road Elementary School
  • Elsie Rogers Elementary School
  • Horizon Elementary School
  • Madison Elementary School
  • Mary Frank Elementary School
  • Meadow's Edge Elementary School
  • Moran Elementary School
  • Northpoint Elementary School
  • Prairie Vista Elementary School
  • Walt Disney Elementary School
  • Discovery Middle School
  • Grissom Middle School
  • Schmucker Middle School
  • Penn High School
P-H-M Logo
55860 Bittersweet Rd, Mishawaka, IN 46545
(574) 259-6341

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