How Ohio school districts rate on state metrics: Report cards revealed

Overview of Ohio’s Annual School Report Cards

The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW) recently released its annual report cards, offering insight into the performance of the state's public schools. These report cards are based on data collected from over 600 public school districts across the state. The information is categorized into six key areas: achievement, progress, early literacy, gap closing, graduation rate, and readiness (which includes college, career, workforce, and military preparedness). Starting in 2022, the state transitioned from an A-F letter grade system to a star-based evaluation system.

This year marks the first time that the readiness category has been included in the report cards, even though it was introduced several years ago. The report card comes at a critical time for Ohio as the state continues to grapple with issues such as chronic absenteeism and the need to improve math and reading scores—both of which were significantly impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to a recent report by the National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. high schoolers achieved their lowest reading and math scores since 2005. This trend highlights the ongoing challenges faced by students and educators across the country.

Performance of Central Ohio Districts

Several districts in Franklin County received high ratings in this year's report cards. Bexley City Schools, Grandview Heights Schools, Upper Arlington City Schools, and New Albany-Plain Local Schools all earned five-star ratings. Dublin City Schools received a 4.5-star rating, while Hilliard, Worthington, Gahanna-Jefferson, and Canal Winchester each received four stars.

New Albany-Plain Superintendent Michael Sawyers expressed gratitude to the community for its continued support, emphasizing the district's commitment to high academic standards. "These results are just one benchmark that we will use to guide our improvement," he said.

In contrast, Columbus City Schools received a two-star rating, and Whitehall and Hamilton City Schools both earned 2.5 stars. Pickerington City Schools, which serves students in both Fairfield and Franklin counties, received four stars. Superintendent Charles Smialek credited the district's teachers, administrators, students, and families for the positive outcome. He also noted the district's focus on addressing early literacy and post-graduation readiness.

Pickerington Assistant Superintendent Alesia Gillison highlighted the district's efforts to refine early literacy goals and provide targeted reading interventions for students who need them. She also mentioned the importance of accurately reflecting student work, particularly for those taking College Credit Plus courses and participating in career technical education programs.

Other districts, such as Westerville City Schools and Groveport Madison Local Schools, earned 3.5 stars, while South-Western City Schools and Reynoldsburg City Schools received three stars. Reynoldsburg schools director Alyse Clark noted improvements in math and reading scores, as well as a 10 percentage point increase in high school readiness.

Chronic Absenteeism Remains a Challenge

Over 25% of Ohio students still face chronic absenteeism, defined as missing 10% or more of a school year for any reason. While the state average dropped slightly from 25.6% to 25.1%, the issue remains a significant concern. During the 2020-2021 school year, the absenteeism rate spiked above 30%.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has prioritized reducing chronic absenteeism, aiming to cut the rate in half over the next five years. Aaron Churchill, lead Ohio researcher for The Fordham Institute, acknowledged the slight improvement but emphasized the need for consistent student attendance.

Math and Reading Scores Show Mixed Results

State-level data shows that the percentage of Ohio students proficient in math increased from 53.5% to 55.3%. Chris Woolard, chief integration officer at ODEW, noted the importance of continuing to support schools and students in improving math scores.

However, the percentage of students proficient in reading declined slightly from 60.9% to 60.4%. Last year, the Ohio General Assembly mandated a phonics-based reading curriculum known as "the science of reading." Woolard explained that the impact of this new approach may take time to reflect in the data, as it is still in the early stages of implementation.

Accessing Your School’s Report Card

Parents and educators can find their school district's 2025 report card online. This resource provides detailed insights into the performance of local schools and helps communities understand how their students are faring in key educational metrics.