Adelante Schools began managing Emma Donnan Elementary and Middle School in August 2020, taking over for a previous operator. The school's new management provided a much-needed fresh start.

Four years into its tenure, Adelante Schools’ rigorous curriculum and teacher-driven approach have proven successful. As one proof point of this, nearly nine in 10 kindergarten students came into the school at the beginning of the 2023-24 academic year below grade level benchmark in reading, as measured by mClass DIBELS Assessment. At the end of the year, nearly nine in 10 were at benchmark.

Under changes that will be enacted in the 2024-25 school year, more students will be able to benefit from Adelante’s effective approach. Indianapolis Public Schools is rolling out new school zones, and students who live within those zones will be able to access transportation to designated schools.

For Adelante, which is an Innovation Network School that benefits from district resources while maintaining the freedom to make decisions that best meet the needs of students, this change will enable more students to receive free bus transportation to the school.

“For us, Innovation Network Schools create equity for families who deserve to leverage their property tax dollars to provide transportation for their children, similar to economies of scale in a district,” said Eddie Rangel, Adelante’s CEO. “IPS has been a gracious partner and allowed us to expand our transportation zone to serve families all across the southside of Indianapolis.”

While the district partnership provides Adelante with resources like transportation, its Innovation Network status also ensures – by signed contract – that Rangel and his team have the authority to make key decisions in the best interest of the students they know best.

That includes thinking creatively about transportation for students who live outside of their zone. The school’s operation team assists such families with navigating the city bus system, leveraging resources such as daycare buses, or coming up with a plan that involves riding a bike or walking.  

Carmen Tello, the parent of a rising 5th grader at Adelante, said this collaborative, flexible approach has supported her son’s growth.

“The staff is great,” she said. “Bryan seems to be advancing to me…when he’s at school, when I go to meet with the teachers, he’s a star.”