Fort Wayne: Education and Research

Fort Wayne: Education and Research

Elementary and Secondary Schools

Fort Wayne Community Schools is the second-largest district in the state of Indiana. The superintendent is selected by a seven-member, nonpartisan board of education.

The following is a summary of data regarding the Fort Wayne Community Schools as of the 2004–2005 school year.

Total enrollment: nearly 32,000

Number of facilities

elementary schools: 34

middle schools: 11

senior high schools: 6

other: 2

Student/teacher ratio: 17.5:1 (2002-2003)

Teacher salaries

average: $46,189

Funding per pupil: $8,892 (2002-2003)

Additionally, Fort Wayne's 39 parochial and private schools offer elementary, high school, and special education opportunities.

Public Schools Information: Fort Wayne Community Schools, 1200 S. Clinton St., Fort Wayne, IN; telephone (260)467-1000

Colleges and Universities

Enrolling nearly 12,000 students, Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne (IPFW) offers a complete range of undergraduate and graduate programs. The largest university in northeast Indiana, IPFW is a joint campus of two Big Ten schools, and grants both Indiana University and Purdue University degrees. The main campus of Purdue is in West Lafayette, IN, and that of Indiana University is in Bloomington. Long a commuter college, IPFW opened its first student housing in 2004.

Church-affiliated colleges include the University of Saint Francis, a Catholic liberal arts university; Taylor University-Fort Wayne, an interdenominational liberal arts college with campuses in Fort Wayne and Upland, IN; and Concordia Theological Seminary, dedicated to the preparation of Lutheran pastors. Fort Wayne is also home to Indiana Tech, a four-year college providing degree programs in business, engineering, computer science, and human services; International Business College, offering business, health care, and technology programs; and ITT Technical Institute, offering technology, drafting and design, and business programs. Post-secondary education and technical training are provided by two-year Ivy Tech State College. Other two-year colleges include Michiana College and Indiana Business College-Fort Wayne.

Libraries and Research Centers

The main facility of the Allen County Public Library houses extensive holdings—about 2.3 million books in addition to 10,100 periodical titles, records, tapes, films, slides, art reproductions, and compact discs—and special collections in such fields as local history, genealogy, heraldry, fine arts, business and technology, and federal and state documents. Its Genealogy Research Department, with more than 300,000 printed volumes and 314,000 items of microfilm and microfiche, is considered the most extensive public genealogy research library in the country. The library operates 13 branches. The main library is the 11th busiest library in the country, as measured by circulation. In 2001 county taxpayers approved bond financing of an $84 million library expansion project. Within four years two new branches opened and another was renovated. A massive renovation of the main library is scheduled for completion in 2006.

Area colleges maintain campus libraries. Specialized libraries include the Lincoln Museum Library, specializing in Lincolniana, as well as libraries affiliated with hospitals, corporations, and government agencies. The Community Research Institute is among the nine Centers of Excellence supported by Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne.

Public Library Information: Allen County Public Library, PO Box 2270, 200 E. Berry St., Fort Wayne, IN 46801-2270; telephone (260)421-1200