South Bend, Indiana - Education

Education

The South Bend area is home to several institutions of higher learning, the most famous of which is the University of Notre Dame. Located to the north of South Bend in Notre Dame, Indiana, the University of Notre Dame was founded in 1842 by Father Edward Sorin, a French priest, before South Bend was incorporated as a city in 1865. It has been an intrinsic part of the South Bend area with great effect on its culture and economy. Saint Mary's College and Holy Cross College are both located near Notre Dame, just north of South Bend.

Indiana University South Bend is the third largest campus in the Indiana University system. Enrollment in Fall 2008 was 7,712. Early reports for the Fall 2009 enrollment was estimated at over 8,200 students. Other universities with campuses in South Bend include Brown Mackie College, Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana, and Purdue University.

Public schools in South Bend are operated by the South Bend Community School Corporation. The corporation runs 17 primary centers (grades K-4), nine intermediate centers (grades 5-8), and four high schools, serving over 22,000 students as of 2006.

The Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend operates eleven private Catholic schools in South Bend.

South Bend is also home to Veritas Academy, Indiana's first charter school. A second charter school opened in Fall 2009, founded by the Indiana Schools of Excellence Foundation. Another charter school was slated to open in 2011.

There are also several private schools: Trinity School at Greenlawn, recipient of three Blue Ribbon Awards from the U.S. Department of Education, and Stanley Clark Elementary School, a recipient of one award.