News

Carmel High School’s Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program provides students with a head start through hands-on, real-world experience.

Carmel Clay Schools is proud to announce that Creekside Middle School has been named one of Indiana’s inaugural Blue Ribbon Schools by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE).

Carmel High School proudly announces that 219 students have earned the AP Capstone Diploma for the 2024-25 school year. This recognition reflects the school’s commitment to academic excellence and preparing students for success beyond high school.

Carmel High School is proud to announce that Henry Joliet, Class of 2025, has been named a 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholar, one of the nation’s highest honors for academic achievement, leadership, and service.

CHS students win national recognition for their documentary and a chance to work with Ken Burns.

Nearly a dozen participants in the Carmel Transitions Program bring their energy and dedication to school kitchens across four different buildings each week

Congratulations to these 54 Carmel High School seniors who achieved outstanding results on the National Merit Scholarship qualifying test.

Carmel High School is proud to rename Center Court in honor of CHS alum, tennis champion, and community supporter Rajeev Ram!

Carmel Clay Schools proudly celebrates William Keith Turner, Carmel High School teacher and Planetarium Director, for being named the recipient of the 2025 Thomas J. Brennan Award from the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP).

Carmel High School is proud to announce that 52 students have been named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists in the 71st annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

Carmel High School is proud to celebrate the achievements of its students who earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognition Program.

Carmel Clay Schools is proud to announce that Craig Harper, Carmel High School’s Biomedical Science teacher and the district’s 2025 Teacher of the Year, has been named one of seven finalists for the prestigious Indiana Teacher of the Year (INTOY) award.

Carmel Clay Schools is thrilled to share our outstanding IREAD results, reflecting the incredible growth, resilience, and determination of our students.

At Carmel Clay Schools, we believe language is more than a subject—it's a bridge to understanding and global citizenship.

This morning, Superintendent Dr. Thomas Oestreich appeared on WISH-TV to help kick off the 2025–26 school year, and true to form, he made sure the spotlight was shared with the real stars of Carmel Clay Schools: our teachers and students.

As part of the immersive experience, students participated in workshops led by Disney professionals, including a theatrical performance clinic, a design challenge to create their own theme park, and a leadership seminar focused on collaboration and communication.

Mrs. Meg Welch has been named the next principal of Forest Dale Elementary School, effective for the 2025–26 school year.

Carmel Clay Schools is pleased to announce the recommendation to the Board of Trustees of Sara Inskeep as the new Director of Human Resources, effective for the 2025-2026 school year.

Thirty-one students were honored on stage, with eight earning the coveted title of international champion in their events.

Carmel High School's Science Olympiad team had an outstanding season, capping off months of dedication and competition with a first-place finish at the Indiana State Tournament.

Carmel Clay Schools (CCS) has been named the #2 public school district in Indiana and ranks #84 out of more than 10,000 districts nationwide. CCS is also the top-ranked district in the Indianapolis area and #1 in Hamilton County.

The Carmel High School Media Center thrives as a dynamic hub for learning, creativity, and community.

The Alumni Hall of Fame Award recognizes graduates of Carmel High School who have made a significant contribution in their chosen professions and through service to the community.

On update on the current proposed state legislative bills that could significantly impact public education in Indiana.

As "Grandma Manners," retired teacher Ina Van Duyn brings warmth, wisdom, and kindness back to the classroom, visiting students regularly at Mohawk Trails Elementary.

The results are in! Review the data collected that will help guide deeper discussions for the 2025-2028 Strategic Plan.

The report outlines the total number of students supported by state tuition or participating in the Choice Scholarship program. These figures offer valuable insights into student enrollment patterns and help the community better understand the educational landscape within Carmel.

Carmel High School proudly announces the renaming of its basketball court to “Bill Shepherd Court” in honor of William "Bill" Shepherd, whose impact on Carmel athletics is woven into the school’s rich history.

Steven Pelych, who leads Creekside Middle School, has been named the 2024 State Middle School Principal of the Year by the Indiana Association of School Principals (IASP).

To keep our community informed, we’re pleased to share a snapshot of this year’s data, along with historical numbers, to help demonstrate the overall enrollment landscape of our district.

Carmel High School celebrates its students' recognition as National Merit Semifinalists and Commended Students, showcasing their dedication and academic excellence.

Carmel High School is proud to announce that 211 of our students have earned the prestigious AP Capstone Diploma, a significant achievement that highlights their academic dedication and excellence.

This year, the facility has attracted significant interest from various agencies and organizations eager to learn from our innovative approach to staff wellbeing.

Dr. Beresford has served our school community with dedication and distinction for six years, leaving an indelible mark on the lives of countless students, families, and staff members.

Carmel Clay Schools is thrilled to announce that Dr. Jennifer Greene and Mr. Steven Pelych have been named the District V Principals of the Year by the Indiana Association of School Principals (IASP).

Mrs. Katie Overbeck and Ms. ShaDe' Watson named as Carmel High School Assistant Principals 

A middle school sports team, along with their parents, helped district staff conduct a reunification drill to ensure emergency preparedness. 

The shift towards digital learning platforms has not only made science more engaging and accessible but has also prepared students for a tech-driven world.

Reading research tells us that students develop literacy skills most effectively in the context of coherent, rigorous, and content-rich texts.  

Carmel Clay Schools is proud to announce the appointment of Katie Blake as the new Towne Meadow Elementary Assistant Principal, starting in the 2024-2025 school year.

Carmel Clay Schools is proud to announce that senior Claire He has been named a U.S. Presidential Scholar for the class of 2024.

Carmel High School's Mock Trial teams have once again proven their excellence on the statewide stage, with all three teams making it to the Mock Trial State Finals

April 10, 2024
5 pm - 7 pm
Educational Services Center

Review the details and schedule for Spring 2024 ACE and P&I.

Senior Kevin Qu, is a Software Engineering & Cybersecurity Apprentice at Brightworks, a leading technology consulting firm in Carmel.

More than 50 Carmel High School seniors were awarded as 2024 National Merit Finalists.

Special Education Instructional Assistants provide essential support for the students and staff of Carmel Clay Schools. 

Through the CHS Work-Based Learning Program, senior Jairo Ojeda Cortes, serves as a tax intern at Katz, Sapper & Miller (KSM).

Middle school students participated in Project Synthesis, a "Shark Tank" style competition.

Carmel, IN is in the direct path of the Solar Eclipse on Monday, April 8, 2024. The city is expecting thousands of visitors throughout the weekend. With schools closed, we are offering reserved parking at participating buildings with all proceeds benefiting our local PTOs.

Jasper Zhu wins the 2023 Congressional App Challenge.

CHS senior Isaac Hammett is a Project Engineer Intern with Skillman Corporation. His experience and skills have secured him college scholarships and a job offer. 

Each of our 15 schools has been awarded the prestigious Purple Star Designation by the Indiana Department of Education.

Carmel Clay Schools is elated to announce the successful passage of the Operating Referendum and extends sincere thanks to Carmel voters for their support.

Our newest teacher, Ellie Fuller, didn’t need a tour or a complete staff introduction on her first day at Clay Middle School.

Congratulations to the following 47 Carmel High School seniors for their outstanding performance on the qualifying National Merit Scholarship test.

The Wellness Center is proud to celebrate its 10th anniversary, marking a decade of promoting comprehensive services for Carmel Clay Schools’ employees and families.

Culinary Arts, part of the CHS Polytechnic Department, offers students an exciting avenue to explore their passion for cooking and develop invaluable life skills.

Skills for Success are the identified tools and developmental tasks required for continued advancement in academics and in life.

Congratulations to the following 55 Carmel High School seniors named 2024 National Merit Semifinalists.

Carmel City Council announced its full support of the Carmel Clay Schools' upcoming Operating Referendum, demonstrating a united commitment to maintaining and enhancing the outstanding educational system that has helped establish Carmel as a premier destination city.

Our team would like to invite all students and parents to participate in welcome week! These events are a wonderful opportunity for everyone to get to know the building, learn more about what it’s like to be a Greyhound, and how we work together to help students succeed.

The Indiana Department of Education has released the Spring 2023 ILEARN test results, and Carmel Clay Schools is pleased to announce its exceptional performance.

Carmel Clay Schools and the Carmel Police Department are proud to announce that they have been recognized as safety leaders at the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) Conference, held in Indianapolis

Jasmine Klopstad interned with Splenda as part of the Work-Based Learning program at Carmel High School.

Riley's desire to return to her hometown to teach is a shining example of the teacher pipeline in action. 

College Wood Elementary’s Math Pentathlon Team is the 2023 National Mathematics Pentathlon Team Champions!

Through the CHS Work-Based Learning (WBL) Program, Clare Ehnes is able to grow her experience and apply her skills in the real world as a marketing intern with the City of Carmel. 

Carmel Clay Schools is pleased to announce Brooke Lawson as the new Director of Mental Health. Mrs. Lawson will oversee all services and programs provided by the district to support the mental and emotional wellbeing of students and staff. 

Carmel Clay Schools is proud to announce that two of our graduating seniors have been named as part of the 59th class of U.S. Presidential Scholars for the 2023 academic year.

The Creekside Middle School TechCats had the opportunity to take two qualifying teams to the World Championship in Dallas, Texas. 

Carmel Esports celebrated the inaugural year as a CHS varsity sport, rather than a club, with six state championship titles.

Carmel High School student, Cole Vreeman, is working at Reynolds Farm Equipment as an automotive services intern.

Carmel Clay Schools is among the 2023 U.S. Department of Education Green Ribbon School District Sustainability Awardees.

Through a now-viral TikTok, millions of people have been wowed by the tremendous facilities available at Carmel High School. What may have gone unnoticed or under-appreciated, however, is the success and purpose of the video's creator, Carmel DECA.

Parents and guardians are invited on March 20 to the Math Materials Review Open House. 

Our Clay Center Elementary Comets are going "nuts" for their One Book, One School event. 

Clay Middle School teachers Steve Sturgis and Derek Dial were awarded a scholarship from Indiana’s Space Grant Consortium to attend the 2023 SEEC Conference at Space Center Houston.

More than 50 Carmel High School seniors were named 2023 National Merit Finalists.

Through the Community Connections Series, we want to engage with residents who are looking to learn more about Carmel Clay Schools, whether you have students in the district or not. 

The research clearly states handwriting should be systematically and explicitly taught, beginning in kindergarten.

Professional development grows skills, resources, and confidence for classroom teaching. Carmel Clay Schools is committed to professional development for our educators to best serve the students of our district. 

Beginning the 2023-2024 school year, several departments emphasizing hands-on learning and experiential education will now be within Polytechnic's programming framework.

Mr. Phil Lamie is retiring after 22 years of bringing art and culture to the students and community of Towne Meadow Elementary.

Congratulations to Carmel High School Bands Director Chris Kreke, who was selected to join Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters' Fraternity Gamma Chapter.

The goal of our Strategic Plan is to provide the community with a blueprint to ensure all students are prepared for a successful future in this ever-changing world.

Congratulations to Creekside's Steven Pelych and Jessica Tubbs for this month's recognition.

CyberPatriot is a school-sponsored club open to all students. Many of the graduating seniors from last year's successful team went on to major in Cybersecurity in college. 

Did you know that the brain is not wired to learn how to read? In recent years, what we know about how the brain acquires the skill of reading has evolved.

Changes in year-to-year enrollment over the next 10 years will primarily be due to smaller cohorts entering and moving through the school system in conjunction with larger cohorts leaving the system.   

Congratulations to 2008 Carmel High School graduate Dr. Harrison Hines, who was named a 2022-2023 White House Fellow.

Parental involvement has always been paramount to CCS students’ academic and extracurricular achievements.

Dr. Beresford was selected by his peers for his professionalism, communications, community involvement, and leadership demonstrated over the past year. 

Carmel Clay Schools is an A-rated, high-performing school district that is consistently ranked in the top three school systems in the state.

As part of the curriculum adoption cycle, the secondary World Language program evaluation and recommendations are now available to review. 

For years, the annual playhouse decorating and auction have been a favorite homecoming tradition. This year, however, there was a fun and educational twist. 

Smoky Row music teacher, Mr. Southard, is the newest Carmel Clay Schools bus driver! He is finishing his first week in his expanded role and is enjoying the new opportunity to further connect with his students.

Congratulations to the following 53 Carmel High School seniors for their outstanding performance on the qualifying National Merit Scholarship test. Their scores ranked them in the top 50,0000 highest scorers in the nation. 

Congratulations to the following 56 Carmel High School seniors named 2023 National Merit Semifinalists.

Carmel High School started a local chapter of the Computer Science Honor Society three years ago and has seen enrollment grow yearly to more than 75 students this year!

Over Labor Day, more than 180 Carmel Middle School 8th graders had the opportunity to visit the nation's capital for the annual Washington D.C. class trip.

Sixth-grade teacher, Brian McGuckin, was awarded the Lilly Teacher Creativity Fellowship and spent three weeks traveling Iceland. He encourages all teachers and educators to apply!

The team approach with students and teachers allows for enhanced learning opportunities and academic support.

Congratulations to the 20 Carmel High School students who were selected as College Board National Recognition Program awardees.

Carmel Education Foundation is partnering with Junior Achievement (JA) of Central Indiana to send all Carmel Clay Schools (CCS) fifth-grade students to JA BizTown through the newly announced ACHIEVE initiative.

Thanks to the quick action and life-saving equipment and training provided, Mr. Kevin Vogt and Mr. Darren Monke saved a man's life last week at the Carmel Middle School football game. 

The variety of tasks and responsibilities makes the day go by quickly, according to Tre. He has worked with almost every grade level and fills in as needed throughout the building in various role

The Carmel High School Engineering & Technology department offers a hands-on approach to career-specific exploration while providing students authentic, real-world experiences.

By providing an update on our staffing successes and challenges with the community, our families can better understand how national headlines correlate to what is happening in our schools. 

The Carmel Clay Schools' “Skills for Success” are the tools necessary to achieve academic and personal success in today’s ever-changing and global society.

Congratulations to Carmel Clay Schools' Teacher of the Year, Katie Overbeck, who was named a Top 25 Finalist for Indiana Teacher of the Year.

CHS Welcome Week
August 1 - 5, 2022

Lilly has raised an astonishing $160,000 for the Arthritis Foundation and Peyton Manning Children's Hospital.

Carmel Clay Schools is proud to announce CHS Associate Principal Karen McDaniel was named to the National Association of School Resource Officer (NASRO) Governing Board.

The HOSA International Conference hosted more than 10,500 competitors. Carmel High School had nine students place in the top 10, including a champion!

Teachers, instructional assistants, speech-language pathologists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists work together to provide holistic and creative opportunities to best serve the students in our Life Skills and Functional Academic Program. 

Technology expands our paradigm of what is meant by student-centered learning. It challenges us to consider the ways teaching and learning are transformed in a digital learning landscape. 

Our safety plan includes limited building access, a strong relationship with the Carmel Police Department, and each member of the CCS community. 

Learn more about Curriculum Mapping and take a look at the process as CCS staff plans for middle school Social Studies.  

Carmel Clay Schools is pleased to announce Steven Pelych as the new Creekside Middle School principal for the 2022-2023 school year. 

CCS offers a variety of vocational training options for students earning a certificate of completion. Whether in the classroom, school environment, or in the community, each opportunity allows students to gain experience and learn employability skills.

Carmel High School senior, Kevin Wang, was selected as a 2022 U.S. Presidential Scholar.

Meet Max, the new Smoky Row Elementary therapy dog! Smoky Row principal Lila Jay knew her family pet would be a great asset in the school environment. 

You may have heard of Snap Chat or TikTok but what about Omegle? Or KiK? Internet apps and trends shift quickly and that means parents need to keep up! Carmel Clay Schools is lucky to have the best team of School Resource Officers who love to educate the public in a fun and helpful manner. 

Carmel High School English teacher, Katie Overbeck, was announced as the 2022 Stephen A. Backer Teacher of the Year for Carmel Clay Schools at the CCS Teacher of the Year Banquet held on May 5th. 

Congratulations to the following CHS students who won the top spots at the national 2022 Intercollegiate Broadcasting System Awards. 

Carmel High School seniors, Claire Qu and Megan Shaffer, won 1st place at the 2022 Atlanta International Career Development Conference. 

The Carmel Clay School Board and district administration recognize the following exemplary employees for their years of service and dedication.

Carmel High School is proud to announce Shrithan Sandadi and Kevin Wang as semifinalists for the U.S. Presidential Scholarship 2022 program.

Select CCS administration, instructional coaches, social workers, counselors, and psychologists recently completed an eight-day Cognitive Coaching Seminar. 

The “Who Are We” professional development series was born from a desire to understand diversity at CHS at its core. Carmel High School is made up of thousands of unique individuals whose identities enrich our community every day.

The following students placed in the top 4 in their individual events at the 2022 Indiana State DECA State Development Conference and qualified for the 2022 Atlanta International Career Development Conference. 

To further the district’s dedication to digital safety, Carmel Clay Schools is proud to announce the creation of a new leadership position in our Technology & Data Solutions department overseeing Digital Security & Privacy. 

Congratulations to the following award winners from Carmel High Schools. We recognized these impressive students and their achievements at the June 28th school board meeting. 

Thank you to these dedicated and hard-working CCS employees. Recognized at 5-year markers, we congratulate these amazing employees for their years of service!

Thank you to all the dedicated and loyal Carmel Clay School employees retiring this year. We appreciate all of your hard work and wish you the best in retirement!

Congratulations to all of the 2021 CEF Scholarship Winners!

Carmel Clay Schools is proud to congratulate the following Carmel High School DECA members as they were awarded WORLD AWARDS last night at the 2021 International Career Development Conference. 

Congratulations to the CHS Science Olympiad team who competed in the Indiana State Tournament on Saturday, March 20.

Carmel Clay Schools is proud to recognize 61 students named as National Merit Scholarship Finalists.

Congratulations to the Firecracker Club from CHS who took the top spot at the Mock Trial State Championships!