The Lilly Endowment, Inc., recently awarded $460 million across 34 Marion County schools. Two of the recipients — Herron High School and Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School — are using the funding to bolster their arts programming.
Awarded on Dec. 1, these grants are part of the third and final phase of the Lilly Endowment’s Marion County K-12 Public Schools Initiative and Marion County K-12 Private Schools Initiative. Launched in 2024, the initiatives aim to “support compelling large-scale, evidence-based efforts to improve students’ academic achievement and prospects for post-secondary success.” according to a press release.
“The Endowment is pleased to support a wide variety of schools in Marion County in their efforts to help students succeed,” Ted Maple, the Endowment’s vice president for education, said in a statement. “Schools engaged in thoughtful planning and proposed many compelling approaches to address challenges and opportunities under this highly competitive initiative. We believe those projects selected for funding will significantly benefit thousands of students across our city.”
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Herron High School, which is part of the Herron Classical Schools network, received $25 million from phase three to construct a new performing arts and sciences facility.
The school also received a $854,000 grant as part of phase two in May 2025.
The new facility hopes to address “urgent and well-documented needs” across the Herron Classical Schools network by allowing students to have access to “opportunities that drive long-term success” — including advanced coursework, hands-on science learning and out-of-school-time experiences.
“We are both thrilled and humbled by this generous gift,” Janet McNeal, President of Herron Classical Schools, said in a statement. “With this support from the Lilly Endowment, Herron Classical Schools is poised to lead the charge in reimagining what’s possible for Indiana’s future: one student, one school network, and one academic advancement opportunity at a time.”
The state-of-the-art science classrooms aim to be a physical and symbolic “center of excellence” with expanded access to Advanced Placement (AP), dual credit and interdisciplinary coursework in the HCS network.
The auditorium will be designed to host theatre and choir performances, in addition to lectures, family events, and community programs — extending its use beyond the school day and strengthening engagement outside of school hours.
“Our open-access policy for students wishing to engage in advanced coursework means demand has often outstripped our capacity,” McNeal said. “This grant, and the new facilities it supports, are a real game-changer for equitable access by removing structural barriers that keep capable students from realizing their potential.”
In May 2025, Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School received a $414,500 implementation grant through phase 2 of the Marion County K-12 Private School Initiative. Through phase 2, the school received a $12 million grant through the Lilly Endowment’s Marion County K-12 Private Schools Initiative, making it the largest grant in the school’s history.
The grant will fund the launch of new programming surrounding a Performing Arts Center and an Artificial Intelligence Innovation Lab, which will “enhance student learning, foster creativity, improve mental health and drive academic success,” according to a press release.
“We are thrilled for the opportunity to enhance Brebeuf Jesuit’s approach to the education of the whole person, through this Arts and Innovation Initiative,” Greg VanSlambrook, principal of Brebeuf Jesuit, said in a statement. “In the Jesuit educational tradition, we believe that a strong education in the arts, as well as a spirit of innovation, are impactful to all students’ academic achievement and post-secondary success.”
The construction of a performing arts center will provide students, faculty, and staff with the performance and rehearsal space they deserve, VanSlambrook said, while creating opportunities for “performance-based learning throughout the curriculum for all students.”
Additionally, the development of an AI Innovation Lab will help position Brebeuf Jesuit’s students, faculty and staff to develop new ways of teaching and learning while “staying at the forefront of new creative technologies that enhance student learning and engagement,” VanSlambrook said.
The latest round of grants is supporting efforts, such as arts and sciences programming, across more than 150 Marion County public and private schools — collectively serving more than 87,000 students.
Eligible school districts, charter schools, private schools and school networks were able to apply for grants under the competitive phase of the initiatives in funding amounts based on the number of students they serve.
For more information, or to view a completed list of recipients, visit lillyendowment.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/mc-k-12-schools-phase-3-grants-lists.pdf.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe has a bachelor's in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and has previously worked for Indy Maven, The Lantern, and CityScene Media Group. In her free time, Chloe enjoys live theatre, reading, baking and keeping her plants alive.
