Irwin Stem Magnet School - About Us

As a STEM Magnet School, Irwin serves students from kindergarten through fifth grade. In 2015-16, Irwin placed in the top 30 percent of all schools in the state of Indiana (1,767 schools) in overall test scores with Math proficiency achievement between 65-69 percent (state average is 55 percent according to Public School Review).

Irwin became Fort Wayne Community School’s math and science magnet school in the fall of 1989. As a magnet school, Irwin attracts children of various socio-economic backgrounds, race and academic achievement levels. Irwin is free and open to anyone through the annual lottery system and provides a solid academic foundation for students through comprehensive curriculum focused on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. In addition to academics, Irwin is dedicated to helping students develop character, citizenship, communication, critical thinking, collaboration and creativity. Irwin students feed into Portage Middle School and Wayne High School and is located in the Board of School Trustees District 4.

Irwin Elementary School was built in 1927 with Miss May Griffith serving as the first principal. Its name honors John S. Irwin, who served as superintendent of Fort Wayne Community Schools from 1875-1896. His first career was as a doctor at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh. When his health failed, he became a bookkeeper for the private banking firm of Allen Hamilton in Fort Wayne. He stayed in banking for about 20 years until his health, again, forced him to resign. In 1865, when he was still a banker, he was appointed to the city school board. Ten years later, when Superintendent Dr. James Smart was elected state superintendent of public instruction (and later president of Purdue University), Dr. Irwin was elected superintendent of the city schools.