Dayton City

The Dayton City school district in Ohio encompasses 28 schools, including 16 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 8 high schools, and 1 alternative school. The district serves a diverse student population and faces systemic challenges in providing a high-quality education, as evidenced by its below-average performance on state assessments.

Two schools stand out as high-performing within the district: Stivers School For The Arts, a high school that consistently ranks among the top 300 in Ohio, and River's Edge Montessori Elementary School, which significantly outperforms the district and state on math and English language arts tests. These schools demonstrate that with the right approaches, Dayton students can achieve at high levels, providing a model for the rest of the district.

However, the district as a whole faces significant challenges, including a 4-year graduation rate of 68.6%, which is well below the state average, and a concerning 44.5% chronic absenteeism rate. Additionally, Dayton City schools lag the state average on nearly every academic metric, with proficiency rates as low as 23.6% in 8th grade science and 24.8% in Algebra I. These disparities suggest systemic issues that will require targeted, evidence-based strategies to address, such as equitable distribution of resources and a focus on improving attendance and engagement.