Summary:
Ridgewood Local is a three-school, PK–12 district in West Lafayette, Ohio, serving 1,246 students across an elementary (PK–3), a middle school (4–7), and a high school (8–12), with enrollment split almost evenly among the three buildings. The district is rated 278th of 773 Ohio districts — roughly the 64th percentile, or 3 stars — and all three schools carry that same rating.
Within the district, Ridgewood Middle School stands out: 7 of its 9 tested subjects beat the Ohio average, it has the district's lowest chronic absenteeism at 8.7%, and its state rank has risen three years running (53rd to 63rd percentile). Its 5th grade science results — 83.5% and 83.7% proficient in consecutive years, roughly 20 points above the state — are the district's steadiest strength. Ridgewood High School posts the largest average gap over the state (+8.6 points) and a 97.6% graduation rate, but also the highest absenteeism at 18.3%, more than double the middle school's rate. Ridgewood Elementary School is the academic weak spot: every one of its tested cells falls below the state average, though 3rd grade ELA jumped 15 points in a single year.
A few patterns are worth watching. Every tested cell in grades 3 and 4 sits below the state average, while nearly all cells in grade 5 and above sit above it — a clear turning point as students enter the middle school. Math is the most volatile subject, producing both the biggest gains (8th grade +21.8, 6th grade +18.7) and the biggest drops (7th grade –14.2, Algebra I –10.1). For parents, the practical takeaway is that this district performs better than its 3-star rating in grades 5–12, and its clearest risk factor is high school attendance.
Thank you for your feedback!