Innovation Academy West

Innovation Academy West is a public charter elementary school serving 127 students in grades K-8 in Cleveland, Ohio. While the school has consistently ranked in the bottom quartile of Ohio elementary schools over the past decade, with a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger, it is not alone in its academic struggles, as nearby public schools also perform below state averages on many metrics.

Innovation Academy West faces significant challenges, including high chronic absenteeism rates ranging from 37.5% to 61.2% over the past few years, well above the state average and nearby schools. The school's performance on state assessments is also well below state averages across all grade levels and subject areas, with only 41.2% of 5th-grade students proficient or better in Science, compared to the state average of 63.4%, and 3rd-grade Math proficiency at 38.5%, compared to the state average of 64.4%. The school's performance is particularly low for certain student subgroups, such as female students and low socioeconomic status students.

Despite the school's academic challenges, Innovation Academy West spends more per student, at $11,225 in 2018-2019, than the nearby public schools, which range from $7,683 to $17,234 per student. This raises questions about the efficient allocation of resources and the potential need for a closer examination of how funds are being utilized to support student learning. Additionally, with only 127 students, Innovation Academy West is significantly smaller than the nearby public schools, which range from 151 to 646 students, and the school's ability to attract and retain students may be an area of concern and could impact its long-term viability.