The Penn High School Orchestra Halloween-themed concert, Symphony of Nightmares, on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. is sold out.

It is being performed at the EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating Systems) – Tania Bengtsson Center for Performing Arts.

Orchestra students from Discovery, Grissom and Schmucker Middle Schools will also be performing in the concert.

The concert will feature a variety of Halloween-inspired music, including selections from popular movies such as Ghostbusters, The Nightmare Before Christmas and Young Frankenstein.

The concert is open to the public.

The performance promises an entertaining evening of spooky sounds and familiar movie favorites as Penn’s talented student musicians celebrate the Halloween season.

The EOS – Tania Bengtsson Center for Performing Arts is located at Penn High School, 56100 Bittersweet Road, Mishawaka, IN 46545.

Tickets are $6 in advance through Hometown Ticketing or $8 at the door.

Penn High School’s Homecoming weekend (October 2–3) was one for the record books! With approximately 12,000 families and community members joining Friday’s festivities and more than 2,000 students attending Saturday’s Homecoming Dance, the celebration raised a record-breaking $152,000 for the P-H-M Education Foundation (PHMEF).

What began as a traditional high school celebration has grown into a community-wide event bringing together students, families, alumni and supporters from across all 15 Penn-Harris-Madison schools.

Friday’s festivities kicked off with a parade featuring Penn’s Homecoming Court, student clubs, the Kingsmen Marching Band and representatives from all 11 elementary and three middle schools. Sponsored by Culver’s, the parade followed a new route this year.

Click here to see the full photo gallery.

The popular Fun Zone, sponsored by P-H-M Board of School Trustees Member Gary Fox and his wife Tammy, offered more family-friendly activities than ever before, while the Community Expo featured three times as many vendors as previous years.

The excitement continued with Penn’s 44–0 football victory over Elkhart, followed by a spectacular fireworks display sponsored by Laidig Systems.

Saturday’s Homecoming Dance also set an attendance record, welcoming 400 more students than ever before.

Fundraising records were shattered as well. The Foundation’s Silent Auction generated more than $25,000 alone, contributing to the weekend’s historic fundraising total, which surpassed previous Homecoming totals of $110,000–$120,000.

The record-breaking success reflects the generosity of sponsors, volunteers, families and community partners whose support helps PHMEF expand educational opportunities for P-H-M students.

All of the proceeds Benet the PHM Education Foundation whose mission is to support excellence in education in all 15 P-H-M schools.

The Indiana School Boards Association (ISBA) has named Larry Beehler, a member of the Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation Board of School Trustees, as the recipient of the 2026 Indiana Outstanding Board Service Award.

A longtime advocate for public education, Larry Beehler has dedicated 40 years of service to the Penn-Harris-Madison Board of School Trustees, helping guide one of Indiana’s highest-performing school corporations through decades of growth, innovation, and student success. 

“Larry Beehler has set an extraordinary example of what it means to be a dedicated public servant. For 40 years, he has led with integrity, wisdom, and an unwavering commitment to doing what is best for students,” said P-H-M School Board President Chris Riley who has served alongside Mr. Beehler for nearly 16 years. “His thoughtful approach to governance and his ability to keep student success at the center of every decision have helped shape the Board’s culture of collaboration and accountability. This statewide recognition is a fitting tribute to Larry’s remarkable legacy of leadership and service.”

During School Board Trustee Beehler’s tenure, including 22 years in board leadership positions, Mr. Beehler has championed the School Board’s governance model, strategic planning, and initiatives that have helped generations of students thrive.

The ISBA recognized Mr. Beehler at the annual ISBA/IAPSS Fall Conference held October 5th and 6th in Indianapolis. Unfortunately, Mr. Beehler was unable to attend this year’s conference. 

“What truly distinguishes Larry most is not simply the extraordinary length of service, but his integrity, humility, thoughtful judgment, and genuine care,” said fellow Penn-Harris-Madison School Board member Gary Fox accepting the award on Trustee Beehler’s behalf. 

Mr. Beehler has played a key role in shaping the district’s governance practices, helping develop Penn-Harris-Madison’s School Board compact based on the John Carver Board Governance Model. He has served on the Board’s negotiation team, the district’s Wellness Committee, and as the corporation’s representative on the local Redevelopment Commission. Mr. Beehler has also helped oversee major construction projects and capital improvements, while supporting innovative initiatives such as naming-rights partnerships that generate additional revenue for the district.

Student success is at the heart of his service. Mr. Beehler served on the Smaller Learning Communities Achievement Design Committee for Penn High School, which helped establish smaller learning communities and achievement academies at the high school. This approach has  personalized instruction and improved student outcomes. Over the years, Penn High School’s graduation rate has risen from 79 percent to 98 percent.

“Generations of P-H-M students have benefited from Larry Beehler’s vision, dedication, and steadfast belief in the power of public education,” said Superintendent Dr. Heather Short. “Larry understands that academic excellence doesn’t happen by chance. It requires strong leadership, strategic planning, and a long-term commitment to providing students with exceptional educational opportunities. His 40 years of service have helped build the foundation for P-H-M’s continued success, and we are incredibly proud to see him receive this well-deserved statewide honor.”

Beyond policy and planning, School Board Member Beehler has maintained a personal connection to the schools he serves. Each year during the first week of school, he joins the Superintendent on building visits. He loves catching up with teachers and staff members and meeting new students. He especially enjoys visiting Madison Elementary School, located in Madison Township, the community he represents on the School Board.

Trustee Beehler is a graduate and valedictorian of former Madison Township High School (the building now serves as P-H-M’s Madison Elementary School). He has remained deeply committed to the school community that helped shape his life, establishing the “Larry Beehler Scholarship” which is awarded annually to a graduating senior who attended Madison Elementary School. For his decades of service and leadership, the P-H-M board room is being renamed the Larry and Judy Beehler School Board Room in honor of Larry and his wife. In 2017, the ticket center at Penn High School’s football stadium was named after Larry Beehler. Both were done through the PHM Education Foundation naming rights campaign.

The Indiana Outstanding Board Service Award is conferred annually by the ISBA to one school board member out of the 1,686 school board members in Indiana. The award honors exceptional school board service, leadership, and dedication to public education and is chosen by fellow school board members.

“Larry Beehler exemplifies what it means to be a dedicated School Board member,” said ISBA Executive Director Terry Spradlin. “Larry’s service stands as a remarkable example of the difference thoughtful, servant-minded leadership can make in a community.” 

Larry Beehler officially received his awards at the October 12 P-H-M Board of School Trustees Meeting presenting him with the ISBA 2026 Indiana Outstanding Board Service Award.

Members of the Penn High School Class of 2027 were recently honored by Principal Rachel Fry for earning status as Commended Students in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Penn’s Commended Scholars include:

• James Casper
• Johnson Chen
• Sobrin Fitwi
• Mia Helm
• Landen Hendricks
• Brady Higginbotham
• Ava Hurley
• Anton Kozelichki
• Cathlyn Kulba
• Ava Lightburn
• Addison Singleton
• Allison Sommers
• Haley Steinway
• Noah Teeple
• Claire Woolman
• Aaron Yoon
• Kaiyi Zhao

Commended Students are recognized by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for their exceptional academic promise.

Approximately 34,000 high school seniors nationwide are receiving Letters of Commendation through the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program. These students are among the top 50,000 scorers from more than 1.2 million students who entered the competition by taking the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT).

Although Commended Students do not continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships, their outstanding performance represents a significant academic achievement and places them among the highest-performing students in the nation.

Fry and the Penn High School community congratulate our commended scholars on earning this prestigious national recognition.

Their achievement reflects their dedication to academic excellence and the support of their families, teachers and the Penn-Harris-Madison educational community.

Penn High School Principal Rachel Fry announced that 15 members of the Class of 2027 have been named Semifinalists in the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program, earning recognition among the nation’s highest-achieving high school students.

Penn’s National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists are:

• Sonya Cheng

• Danielle Ciliberti

• Rayna Doland

• Michael Holmes

• Trey Johnson

• Leena Khan

• Lee Lehtomaki

• Alexis Luebke

• Riley Miles

• Benedict Putman

• Ethan Schafer

• Anthony Scott

• Leah Wagner

• Calvin Warzon

• Alice Zhang

The 15 Penn seniors are among more than 16,000 students nationwide selected as Semifinalists in the 72nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Semifinalists represent less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors.

“Congratulations to our 15 Class of 2027 National Merit Semifinalists!” Fry said. “This incredible achievement places these students among the brightest young minds in the country and stands as a proud moment for our entire Penn community.

“Academic excellence of this caliber is built over time; it reflects years of student dedication paired with the effort of our educators from elementary through high school. We celebrate our semifinalists, and remain deeply proud of what this says about the high standard of learning at Penn.”

More than 1.2 million juniors from approximately 20,000 high schools entered the 2027 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2025 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as the initial screening for program entrants.

Semifinalists now have the opportunity to advance to Finalist status and compete for approximately 6,700 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $24 million. More than 15,000 of this year’s Semifinalists are expected to advance to the Finalist level, with those students scheduled to be notified in February.

Three types of National Merit Scholarships will be awarded in the spring of 2027: National Merit $2,500 Scholarships, corporate-sponsored scholarships and college-sponsored scholarships. Scholarship winners will be announced nationally beginning in April and continuing through July 2027.

Penn-Harris-Madison School Corporation (P-H-M) proudly shares the outstanding performance of its students on the Spring 2026 ILEARN assessment, as released by the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE). P-H-M students outperformed the state average again by 21.5 percentage points in English Language Arts (ELA) and 18.2 points in Mathematics. This achievement places P-H-M in the top 5% of public school corporations passing both ELA and math across Indiana (click here to see the charts below of scores broken down by grade).

Penn High School PSAT Performance

Beginning in spring 2022, Indiana junior high school students are required to take the SAT for graduation. Among high schools testing over 500 students, Penn High School’s pass percentage ranks #8 in the state. For the first time since the IDOE began tracking SAT scores, Penn High School’s pass percentage was 20% above the state average.

P-H-M students are consistently outperforming statewide peers across grade levels and subject areas. District Grade 8 ELA pass rate is 71% in 2026, while the state is 44%. That puts P-H-M 27 points above the state. Grade 8 math remains exceptionally strong as well: 58% passed versus 34% statewide, a 24-point advantage. 

2026 ILEARN High School Biology

Indiana High school students take the ILEARN Biology End-of-Course Assessment (ECA) during the semester or trimester they finish their high school biology course, regardless of their grade level. P-H-M high school students outperform the state average by 24 percentage points.

Penn-Harris-Madison Elementary & Middle School ILEARN Performance

Performing at these high levels is a testament to the district’s commitment to academic excellence and the strategies that drive student success. Out of Indiana public schools that passed both ELA and Math, Northpoint and Prairie Vista Elementary Schools are in the Top 10; and Discovery Middle School is #2.

P-H-M has double-digit advantages over the state across all tested subjects, ELA, Math and Science. In 2026, P-H-M’s variance over the state are the following:

• +27 Grade 8 ELA

• +24 Grade 8 math

• +24 Biology

• +23 Grade 5 ELA

• +22 Grade 6 ELA 

• +21 Grade 7 ELA

• +20 Grade 6 Science 

“These results reflect our teachers’ and students’ commitment to academic excellence. I am incredibly proud that our students outperformed the state across every grade and tested subject,” said P-H-M Superintendent Dr. Heather Short. “While the 2026 scores establish a new baseline, we are also seeing significant growth across P-H-M. That combination of high achievement and continued growth demonstrates how we are building on a culture of excellence.”

The district’s Free and Reduced Lunch (F/R) student population, which now exceeds 34%, continues to demonstrate notable progress. Among Indiana’s largest public school districts testing over 5,000 students, P-H-M ranks #1 in the state for the percentage of F/R students passing both ELA and Math.

“At P-H-M, we’re focused on quality instruction and quality learning,” said Assistant Superintendent Dr. Lavon Dean-Null. “Our educators are engaging students in intentional learning every day. Teachers continually review student data to refine instruction, identify where additional support is needed and ensure students are appropriately challenged. The strong gains we’re seeing, particularly in middle school ELA and Math, reflect the impact of effective instruction and the collaboration of our teachers across grade levels.” 

2026 ILEARN Math Scores

2026 ILEARN ELA Scores

2026 ILEARN Science Scores

2026 ILEARN Social Studies Scores

The 2026 ILEARN results represent the first year that all students in grades 3–8 participated in Indiana’s new through-year assessment model (ILEARN Checkpoints), which focuses on a streamlined set of prioritized standards. As a result, these scores establish a new baseline for Indiana and the IDOE is not comparing the results to previous years. 

Schedule 

4:15 PM Tri-Central Jr/Sr High School
4:30 PM Bremen High School
4:45 PM LaVille Jr/Sr High School
5:00 PM La Porte High School
5:15 PM John Adams High School
5:30 PM Lafayette Jefferson H.S.
5:45 PM AWARDS / Dinner Break

7:00 PM Plymouth High School
7:15 PM Munster High School
7:30 PM Northridge High School
7:45 PM Goshen High School
8:00 PM Concord High School
8:15 PM Portage High School
8:30 PM Elkhart High School
8:45 PM Penn High School (Exhibition Performance)
9:00 PM AWARDS

Parking:

• Parking is available for free at Schmucker Middle School, which is directly across the road from Penn High School

Mishawaka Mayor Dave Wood announced that 13 Penn students have been named to the Mayor David Wood Youth Advisory Council.

• Addison Compton
• Stephen Haughee
• Abhijay Masetty
• Nicholas Matzke
• Maddox McClain
• Malika Mosley
• Harsh Patel
• Akshathaa Raman
• Andrew Rimelspach
• Sophia Scott
• Rebecca Wagman
• Hayden Walters
• Daniel Zartman