Place to Call Home
Chesterton is a great community to call home for a multitude of reasons. The town provides a safe location to put down roots and has maintained an atmosphere that is family-friendly. In fact, the Duneland School Corporation (DSC) has continued to achieve success academically, athletically, and by teaching students the importance of giving back to their community. Also located in the region are several charter and private educational institutions devoted to fostering lifelong learners.
In 2010, Chesterton High School experienced a graduation rate of 91.1%. At the elementary level, the Indiana Department of Education named Jackson and Bailey Elementary of the DSC, 4 Star schools for their dedication to academic excellence during the (2009-2010) school year. In addition to the corporation's academic success, the community has also made tremendous athletic achievements at the state level in swimming, gymnastics, cross country, track and field, and golf just to name a few. Most important to the community's success, the DSC has been triumphant at instilling the importance of giving back.
For instance, Chesterton High School’s student run program, Interact Club, has participated in fundraising activities in order to support the fight against cystic fibrosis, and donated their time to volunteer at the Porter County Animal Shelter, the Waters of Duneland nursing facility, and elsewhere. Chesterton High School principal, James Goetz, has set high standards for the students of Chesterton High School and according to him they have not let him down, “Chesterton High School students are very solid people. They know the right thing to do and they do it. There's a saying that goes, 'Character is what you do when nobody is looking.' Chesterton High School students and alumni do the right thing. They are good people.”
"I am truly thankful for all that the DSC has taught me, and for all of the opportunities it has made available. During my time as a student in the DSC, I learned valuable skills and lessons that I will undoubtedly use later in life," 2011 Chesterton High School graduate, Nathan Schuster, added. "The supportive, constructive environment provided by the DSC was instrumental in allowing me to grow not only intellectually, but as a person." Schuster graduated at the top of his class and will be studying engineering at Purdue University.