Lakota Local

Lakota Local is a small Ohio district of three schools sharing a single campus in Kansas, Ohio, serving about 953 students from prekindergarten through 12th grade. Lakota Elementary School serves PK–4 with 403 students, Lakota Middle School serves grades 5–8 with 288 students, and Lakota High School serves grades 9–12 with 262 students. The district as a whole is rated 2 stars and ranks 450th of 773 Ohio districts, the 42nd percentile.

The strongest academics sit in the middle grades. At Lakota Middle School, Algebra I proficiency reached 95.5% in 2025–26, far above the 61.6% state figure, and was nearly identical the year before. The middle school also topped the state in 5th grade science, 5th grade math, and 8th grade math. At Lakota Elementary School, the standout is 3rd grade English language arts at 77.0% versus 63.4% statewide, with 3rd grade math also above state. At Lakota High School, the clearest bright spot is a 98.2% graduation rate, matching the district figure.

Concerns concentrate at the middle and high school levels. Lakota Middle School 7th grade math has trailed the state both reported years by a double-digit margin, and its 8th grade ELA slipped from slightly above state in 2024–25 to roughly 13 points below in 2025–26. Lakota Elementary School saw 4th grade math fall sharply year over year. At Lakota High School, scores are below state in government, Algebra I, and Geometry, and chronic absenteeism is 18.5% — above the district's 13.2% and well above the elementary (11.7%) and middle school (11.3%). Rank trends have also slipped at the elementary and high schools, with the high school remaining at 2 stars.