Do Our Local Schools Make The Grade?
Vol. III, No. 111 - The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce puts out their annual School Report Cards and the results are mixed across the county
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Earlier this week, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce put out their annual report card of every school district in the State of Ohio. While most people simply look at the star rating and performance index, the report card is actually a complex snapshot bubbling with data demonstrating achievement, improvement, and persistent challenges.
If these numbers are a mirror, Miami County’s districts this year reflect both undeniable progress at the top and a stubborn gap between the best and those still striving to catch up. The annual assessment, spanning from early elementary English Language Arts all the way to high school advanced mathematics, reveals nuanced stories of how our school districts are performing in a number of ways.
Tipp City remains near the summit, posting an outstanding performance index score of 99.4 out of a possible 109.8 for the 2024-2025 school year, according to the state’s new accountability system. That’s not just impressive—it’s a continuation of a trend: Tipp City scored 98.6 last year and 98.2 the year before, so the district’s trajectory points upward. Newton and Miami East, also rated five stars across key achievement components and maintained nearly equivalent results, with Newton registering 99.7 and Miami East coming in at 99.1 on the index.
These three districts not only outperform most of their peers, but also show genuine stability—they haven’t only reached the summit, they've learned how to stay there, in a climate where state benchmarks keep edging upward and peer competition tightens.
But performance isn’t simply about the top. The improvement stories matter, too. Troy, for example, demonstrated meaningful gains in its overall performance index, climbing from 90.7 two years ago to 91.1 last year and now achieving 93.7. Underneath these scores is a subtle but substantial growth in proficiency, where Troy’s 3rd grade math percent proficient rose this year, with 82.7% of students meeting or exceeding expectations—well above both the district’s similar peers and the state average of 64.4%. There is evidence of increased accomplishment and advanced scores among Troy’s older students as well, with high school subjects showing a steady increase in students reaching advanced and accomplished levels. Covington scools also moved the needle, growing its performance index from 89.3 to 90.0, matching or beating similar districts in several subject areas and demonstrating consistent gains in math and science proficiency.
The middle tier sees mixed results. Milton-Union’s performance index essentially flattened, rising only slightly to 84.3 from 84.0 last year, although this district did see stabilization in its rates of students marked proficient or accomplished. Bethel Local’s index dropped slightly to 87.0, from 89.7 a year ago, underscoring the need to look beyond aggregate scores toward the movement in individual achievement categories. Students marked proficient or above make up a healthy core of Bethel’s population, although percentages for advanced and accomplished lag behind the county’s leaders.
Less encouraging is the picture in Piqua and Bradford. Piqua, while raising its performance index incrementally to 82.2 from 81.5, continues to trail state averages in several subject areas, particularly in upper elementary and middle school math, where proficiency slipped against peer benchmarks. The district retains a significant proportion of students in the limited and basic achievement levels, with fewer progressing into accomplished and advanced categories. Bradford experienced a small rebound, moving up from 77.9 to 78.8, but remains the lowest performer among all county districts. The share of students in the basic and limited strata is notably high in both districts, presenting a challenge that local leaders and educators will need to confront with renewed strategies and resources.
A county-wide review of proficiency rates and achievement levels shows a steady increase in students reaching advanced and accomplished benchmarks in the top districts. Tipp City and Newton, in particular, push nearly 60% of their students beyond the proficient mark, with large proportions progressing into advanced categories—a testament not just to stability, but a culture of excellence that ripples through classrooms and course offerings. The percent of students not tested remains low across the board, suggesting districts ensure near-complete participation in assessment cycles, a crucial factor in the reliability of statewide reports.
Miami County’s schools display clear stratification, yet ripple effects of improvement can be seen within the numbers. Top-performing districts raise the bar, while mid-tier and lower-performing schools track upward—sometimes slowly, sometimes in fits and starts.
For families, educators, and civic leaders, these results are more than just another round of accountability—they are both call to action and source of local pride, grounding conversations about equity, investment, and the shape of future opportunity across every classroom. The journey from good to great takes time, but this year's data lays out a path—with progress visible, if not yet universal, and with the promise that local leadership and community capacity can continue to propel our schools, and our students, higher.
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