Summary:
Northwestern Local is a small Ohio district serving about 1,681 students in two schools: Northwestern Elementary School (PK–6, 950 students) and Northwestern Junior/Senior High School (grades 7–12, 731 students), with no middle or alternative schools listed. The district overall holds 2 stars and ranks 432 of 773 schools (44th percentile) in 2025–2026.
The junior/senior high school is the clear standout: 3 stars, ranked 341 of 795 schools (57th percentile), with a steady rank history near the 56th–57th percentile across three years and a 95.3% graduation rate. It outperformed the state in 8 of 11 tested areas, including Geometry (53.8% proficient vs. 43.3% statewide), English II (71.3% vs. 62.7%), Algebra I (70.2% vs. 61.6%), American Government (80.0% vs. 71.6%), 8th Grade Science (69.3% vs. 61.2%), and Biology (74.8% vs. 67.0%). By comparison, the elementary school is 2 stars, ranked 921 of 1560 (41st percentile), and has slipped from the 50th percentile in 2024–2025 and the 47th in 2023–2024. It is above the state in 3rd Grade Math, 3rd Grade ELA, 5th Grade Math, and 6th Grade Math, but below in 4th Grade Math, 5th Grade ELA, 6th Grade ELA, and 5th Grade Science.
The most urgent weaknesses are 7th Grade Math (31.7% proficient vs. 48.6% statewide, down from 36.8%) and 8th Grade ELA (49.6% vs. 58.3%), plus sharp upper-elementary literacy declines — 6th Grade ELA fell 18.2 points to 45.6% and 5th Grade ELA fell 15.6 points to 55.1%. Chronic absenteeism is somewhat higher at the high school (18.5%) than the elementary school (16.7%) and districtwide (17.2%). The elementary school serves more students from lower-income households (44.21% free/reduced lunch vs. 38.99%) and has larger classes (22:1 vs. 20.3:1). In short, the high school is a relative bright spot while the elementary school needs the most attention.
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