Report: More than 40% of Eastern students are transfers

GREENTOWN — As a single mom working two jobs, getting her son to and from football practice can be tricky for Jennifer Wyant.

Luckily, she's found a supportive community through Greentown's youth sports leagues. There are plenty of other parents willing to help her out, whether that's pick up or drop off.

That goes for the coaches, too. When Wyant's car battery died, her son's coach replaced it after practice.

Wyant and her son Collin live on the northwest side of Kokomo.

They found their way to Greentown through its youth baseball league.

A friend of Wyant's had told her about the league. Coming off a bad experience with a coach in Kokomo, Wyant signed Collin up for the Greentown league.

It was a good fit, almost immediately.

"I think, for me, it was them accepting him with open arms," she said.

Wyant said the youth league focused on the same values that were instilled in her, qualities like discipline and sportsmanship.

"It wasn't just teaching them fundamentals," she said. "All the things I grew up with, it meant a lot to me. It's a huge family dynamic out here."

That dynamic led Wyant to pull Collin out of Kokomo School Corporation and send him to Eastern. He transferred last year as a sixth grader. He previously attended Boulevard and Wallace elementary schools in Kokomo.

Out-of-district transfer percentages for Howard County schools

This table lists the percentage of a school's population that consists of students who transfer from a different school district. Figures are based on 2023 fall enrollment totals.

Collin is a seventh grader at Eastern Middle School this year. He's among more than 40% of Eastern students who don't live within the school district's boundaries.

Eastern Howard School Corporation had a student enrollment of 1,597 last fall. Of those, 685 were transfers from another school district, according to enrollment data from the Indiana Department of Education. That's 43% of the student population.

It's also the highest rate in the county. Taylor Community Schools is second at 35%.

The number of families wanting to send their children to Eastern has steadily grown since 2008, when open enrollment (or school choice) was passed by the Indiana state legislature.

"I think it's just a reputation thing," said Superintendent Keith Richie.

There was a time, according to Richie, when Eastern had billboards and passed out free swag during the Howard County 4-H Fair to promote the school system.

"We don't do any of that stuff anymore," he said. "We don't have to shake the tree."

Amy Sappington lives in the Western school district with her husband. She sends her two kids Eli and Emmelyn to Eastern.

Her son, who is a junior, started school in Kokomo, but Sappington said he fell through the cracks. A teacher at Eli's school moved to Eastern. She helped them navigate the transfer process.

"As soon as we switched, my son took off," Sappington. "From the very beginning, they were right there and willing to work with him."

Today, Eli is in Advanced Placement classes, plays soccer, sings and participates in theater performances.

"All around, it feels like a better place for them," Sappington said. "It feels like more of a Christian school, even though it's not."

Wyant said her son, who is diagnosed with autism, ADHD and anxiety, had a similar experience after switching to the small school. He's a regular honor student now.

Collin has an individualized education program. Part of his IEP lets him ask his teachers to go over lessons again if he doesn't understand them.

Wyant said his teachers have went above and beyond, answering emails from Collin well after the school day has ended.

Eastern pulls students from every other Howard County school district, the most coming from Kokomo and Taylor schools. In all, students from 18 different school districts attend Eastern, according to IDOE data.

About 20% of Indiana students attend a school outside their home district, according to an analysis from WFYI. This is mainly due to students transferring from one public school to another. About two-thirds of Indiana school districts lost enrollment last school year.

Funding follows a student to their new school. The state allocates money to schools based on their enrollment. This is why most schools accept out-of-district transfers. Simply, more students equals more money, which is mostly spent on teacher salaries.

Bethany Sparling finished high school at Eastern after transferring from Tipton High School. She said teachers challenged her to take harder classes, leading her to earn an academic honors diploma. It's something she remembers to this day.

Sparling knew by the time she was pregnant with her daughter Brynlee she would send her to Eastern.

She started first grade this year. Sparling drops her off each morning, driving from the Sharpsville area.

"It's worth it to put the miles on my van, even with gas prices," she said.

Brynlee has severe anxiety, but her mother said school ended up being the easiest transition. Sparling said she likes the number of aides and helpers in the classroom. Teachers check in frequently, too.

"They would always keep me in the loop on every little thing," Sparling said.

Drop off in the morning was the biggest struggle for Brynlee, in regard to school last year. Those struggles are non-existent this year.

"There has not been any moment this year she's been nervous," Sparling said. "She's been totally fine."

Sparling plans to send her son to Eastern when the time comes.

Richie said Eastern has added teachers to every grade level because of transfer students. There were 207 transfer requests for the 2023-24 school year, which includes returning transfer students.

Kindergarten is the most open, in terms of accepting out-of-district kids. Other grades depend on class size and literal room in school buildings.

"We don't have the room," Richie said earlier this year. "Our elementary is full. Our middle school is full."

If an older sibling attends Eastern, younger transfer siblings are usually accepted, as well. Certain disciplinary issues are a no-go.

Registration opens in the summer. Families are notified when they can apply.

Wyant's family is in Ohio. She briefly considered moving back to the Cleveland area to be closer to them.

But she thought about what her son said when he found out he was going to Eastern.

"He told me that he felt like he had won the lottery," Wyant said.

Collin begged her to stay. They did.

"I can't see him being anywhere else," Wyant said.