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Emerson Academy

Public, Charter Grades K-8

1345^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,558 Ohio Elementary Schools

Better than 14% of Ohio elementary schools

Summary

Emerson Academy is a public charter elementary school serving 667 students in grades K-8 in Dayton, Ohio. Despite its larger size, the school has consistently ranked in the bottom 20% of Ohio elementary schools over the past 10 years, earning a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Emerson Academy has struggled with several key challenges. The school has high chronic absenteeism rates, ranging from 28.2% to 54.8% over the past 5 years, which is significantly higher than the state average and most nearby schools. Academically, Emerson Academy students perform well below state averages on Ohio state assessments across all grade levels and subjects. For example, in 2024-2025, only 22.4% of 5th graders were proficient in science compared to the state average of 63.4%. The school's student subgroups, such as African American, multi-racial, special education, and low socioeconomic status students, all rank in the bottom 30-40% of Ohio schools in their respective categories, indicating significant achievement gaps.

While Emerson Academy's performance is poor overall, it still outperforms some nearby charter schools like Horizon Science Academy Dayton Downtown and City Day Community School on many metrics. However, it lags behind higher-performing public schools like Harman Elementary in the Oakwood City district. As a public charter school, Emerson Academy may have more flexibility to implement innovative strategies to improve student outcomes, and examining the practices of higher-performing nearby schools could provide insights for the school.

674

Students ?

17.3

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,982

Per pupil spending ?

100%

Free/discounted lunch ?

501 Hickory St
Dayton, OH 45410-1232

(937) 223-2889

District: Emerson Academy

Racial breakdown:

African American:

58.6%

Two or more races:

21.4%

White:

15.4%

See top rated Ohio elementary schools

Compare Emerson Academy to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 23rd percentile in 2015 → 14th in 2025

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Ohio average (30% vs 59% meeting standards)

!In the lower quartile statewide (14th percentile)

!Ranking has slipped — down 9 percentile points since 2015

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school30%

Ohio avg59%

Elementary school

1,345^th of 1,558

Ohio public elementary schools ?

Bottom 14%▼ down 10 pts since 2015

From bottom 23% (2015) to bottom 14% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Ohio Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

827^th of 1,036

Ohio public middle schools ?

Bottom 20%▼ down 5 pts since 2015

From bottom 25% (2015) to bottom 20% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Ohio Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

686^th of 828Emerson Academy among Ohio districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Elementary school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	13.6	1345 of 1558	13.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.8	1230 of 1577	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.0	1232 of 1596	22.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	27.3	1170 of 1588	26.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	22.8	1195 of 1610	25.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	23.8	1316 of 1676	21.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	12.7	1433 of 1636	12.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	13.8	1420 of 1651	14.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	21.9	1322 of 1678	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	28.2	1290 of 1684	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	39.1	1217 of 1687	27.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	49.5	1106 of 1701	35.0%	★★☆☆☆
2012	38.4	1263 of 1709	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	24.5	1377 of 1686	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	28.5	1321 of 1662	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	29.2	1284 of 1610	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	34.3	1197 of 1582	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	25.8	1339 of 1609	16.8%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	27.9	471 of 615	23.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	43.1	305 of 603	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.9	311 of 610	49.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	53.4	230 of 601	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.7	196 of 533	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	50.9	283 of 605	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	32.6	428 of 598	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2022	37.7	491 of 824	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	16.6	716 of 765	6.4%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	24.5	777 of 956	18.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	44.2	542 of 1021	46.9%	★★☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	9.9	1311 of 1452	9.7%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	17.2	1214 of 1466	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	19.0	1187 of 1483	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	22.8	1158 of 1488	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	19.6	1122 of 1467	23.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	20.8	1222 of 1502	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	12.5	1341 of 1518	11.7%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	15.7	1274 of 1473	13.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.4	1121 of 1484	24.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	30.1	1068 of 1447	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	37.1	949 of 1419	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2021	29.5	983 of 1404	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	33.2	1085 of 1465	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	17.8	1282 of 1465	12.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	15.0	1247 of 1466	14.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.2	1141 of 1485	23.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	21.9	1172 of 1498	21.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	24.9	1133 of 1518	25.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	15.4	1194 of 1499	20.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	22.4	1246 of 1535	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	10.8	1384 of 1536	9.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	10.8	205 of 218	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	22.6	160 of 202	20.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	17.0	865 of 935	7.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	30.6	629 of 900	30.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	23.6	710 of 856	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	15.7	1052 of 1175	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	17.1	1058 of 1190	11.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	17.4	1067 of 1215	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	15.6	1111 of 1242	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	8.9	1137 of 1249	9.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	9.3	1197 of 1271	5.8%	☆☆☆☆☆
2018	3.4	1284 of 1309	1.9%	☆☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	17.8	827 of 1036	20.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.9	751 of 1046	28.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	36.3	689 of 1048	34.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.5	625 of 1017	38.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	27.1	732 of 1037	29.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	23.5	791 of 1050	24.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	12.3	866 of 1010	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	21.8	786 of 1038	24.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	26.7	771 of 1050	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	27.3	774 of 1035	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	43.9	701 of 1008	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2013	61.0	542 of 1001	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2012	40.2	719 of 989	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	43.4	669 of 925	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	32.7	702 of 895	21.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	33.6	663 of 858	22.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	30.7	664 of 835	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	26.6	681 of 837	18.6%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	40.5	232 of 442	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	45.5	189 of 429	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2023	64.5	111 of 436	74.5%	★★★★☆
2022	69.5	88 of 413	78.7%	★★★★☆
2021	55.1	129 of 385	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	42.2	226 of 405	44.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	25.0	303 of 384	21.1%	★☆☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2022	24.1	471 of 565	16.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	19.1	547 of 576	5.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	68.9	109 of 658	83.4%	★★★★☆
2018	50.5	270 of 643	58.0%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	14.0	793 of 938	15.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	18.8	742 of 942	21.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.6	679 of 943	28.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	38.0	612 of 925	33.8%	★★☆☆☆
2021	26.9	658 of 910	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	25.5	705 of 917	23.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	12.9	773 of 897	13.8%	★☆☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	18.9	798 of 983	18.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	30.6	695 of 989	29.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	46.2	543 of 974	44.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	56.0	404 of 947	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	34.3	621 of 923	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	31.4	700 of 945	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	15.3	804 of 924	13.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	17.0	779 of 954	18.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	25.3	708 of 958	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	34.9	650 of 963	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	37.3	616 of 946	34.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	16.2	731 of 924	20.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	16.0	782 of 933	16.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	7.9	846 of 916	7.6%	☆☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	28.8	426 of 572	25.5%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	7.2	730 of 777	6.0%	☆☆☆☆☆
2024	19.3	678 of 795	14.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	27.0	640 of 805	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	40.1	522 of 809	35.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	14.0	695 of 781	11.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	17.1	695 of 796	12.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	10.1	723 of 781	7.4%	☆☆☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Elementary school

Disabled (2022)40th percentile+14 vs school

African American (2025)23rd percentile+10 vs school

Male (2025)15th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)14th percentile~ school

White (2025)10th percentile-3 vs school

Female (2025)10th percentile-4 vs school

Special Education (2025)7th percentile-6 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)6th percentile-8 vs school

Middle school

African American (2025)48th percentile+27 vs school

Special Education (2025)26th percentile+5 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)19th percentile~ school

Male (2025)18th percentile~ school

Disabled (2022)17th percentile-22 vs school

Female (2025)15th percentile-5 vs school

White (2025)6th percentile-14 vs school

By subject vs Ohio (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics31%-25 vs state

English Language Arts29%-31 vs state

Science25%-38 vs state

4.0

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What people are saying

by a parent
Thursday, April 14, 2011

The teachers are focused on helping the children learn and to reach their maximum potential. The staff are always ready and willing to help resolve any issues and the building is kept clean. Close Quote

Schools Near Emerson Academy

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				Ohio State Tests Science (2025)		Ohio State Tests Mathematics (2025)						Ohio State Tests English Language Arts (2025)						Ohio State Tests Algebra I (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2025)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Ohio State Tests Science 5th Grade	Ohio State Tests Science 8th Grade	Ohio State Tests Mathematics 3rd Grade	Ohio State Tests Mathematics 4th Grade	Ohio State Tests Mathematics 5th Grade	Ohio State Tests Mathematics 6th Grade	Ohio State Tests Mathematics 7th Grade	Ohio State Tests Mathematics 8th Grade	Ohio State Tests English Language Arts 3rd Grade	Ohio State Tests English Language Arts 4th Grade	Ohio State Tests English Language Arts 5th Grade	Ohio State Tests English Language Arts 6th Grade	Ohio State Tests English Language Arts 7th Grade	Ohio State Tests English Language Arts 8th Grade	Ohio State Tests Algebra I End of Course	Total
Emerson Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	501 Hickory St	Dayton	45410	Montgomery County	Emerson Academy	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(937) 223-2889	674	39	17.3		104 (15.4%)	395 (58.6%)	31 (4.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	144 (21.4%)	13.6	1345^th of 1558 public elementary schools	13.7%		22.8	1230^th of 1577 public elementary schools	22.0%	115	22.4	27.6	50.0	24.1	35.6	17.8	29.0	31.7	31.4	22.8	39.0	23.6	41.4	16.9		$13,982
Dayton SMART Elementary School	Public, Charter	K-6	601 S Keowee St	Dayton	45410	Montgomery County	Dayton SMART Elementary School	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(937) 222-2812	94	6	15.6		7 (7.4%)	36 (38.3%)	39 (41.5%)	1 (1.1%)	1 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (10.6%)	23.3	1210^th of 1558 public elementary schools	22.3%		20.1	1256^th of 1577 public elementary schools	20.4%	46	0.0		70.0	21.4	10.0				80.0	21.4	20.0					$13,883
City Day Community School	Public, Charter	K-8	320 S Main St	Dayton	45402	Montgomery County	City Day Community School	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(937) 223-8130	170	7	24.2		1 (0.6%)	152 (89.4%)	2 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (8.8%)	6	1480^th of 1558 public elementary schools	5.0%		3.4	1546^th of 1577 public elementary schools	2.0%	66	6.7	16.0	0.0	6.3	0.0	22.2	10.0	16.0	11.8	31.3	20.0	27.8	30.0	36.0		$12,601
Ruskin Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	407 Ambrose Ct	Dayton	45410	Montgomery County	Dayton City	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(937) 542-5680	553	28	19.7		172 (31.1%)	121 (21.9%)	223 (40.3%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	35 (6.3%)	15.6	1318^th of 1558 public elementary schools	15.4%		21.7	1240^th of 1577 public elementary schools	21.4%	78	14.1		44.3	57.1	4.7	15.7			37.1	46.0	34.4	21.4				$13,834
River's Edge Montessori Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	108 Linwood St	Dayton	45405	Montgomery County	Dayton City	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(937) 542-4640	552	29	19.0		137 (24.8%)	346 (62.7%)	23 (4.2%)	3 (0.5%)	2 (0.4%)	2 (0.4%)	39 (7.1%)	33.8	1079^th of 1558 public elementary schools	30.7%		34.1	1094^th of 1577 public elementary schools	30.6%	15	37.5		55.1	45.8	27.1	42.1			62.3	52.5	54.2	42.1				$15,538
Horizon Science Academy Dayton Downtown	Public, Charter	K-8	121 S Monmouth St	Dayton	45403	Montgomery County	Horizon Science Academy Dayton Downtown	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(937) 281-1980	188	11	17.0		71 (37.8%)	89 (47.3%)	9 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (9.6%)	9.7	1415^th of 1558 public elementary schools	9.2%		8.1	1448^th of 1577 public elementary schools	8.2%	33	26.7	13.5	25.0	9.5	26.7	11.8	5.0	10.8	37.5	23.8	26.7	29.4	35.0	16.2		$13,284
Cleveland Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	1102 Pursell Ave	Dayton	45420	Montgomery County	Dayton City	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(937) 542-4340	404	22	18.3		141 (34.9%)	123 (30.4%)	93 (23.0%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	43 (10.6%)	17.6	1288^th of 1558 public elementary schools	17.3%		20.4	1254^th of 1577 public elementary schools	20.5%	34	26.2		27.1	34.2	23.8	37.5			27.1	35.1	28.6	52.5				$15,189
Edison Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-6	228 N Broadway St	Dayton	45402	Montgomery County	Dayton City	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(937) 542-4540	357	20	17.8		16 (4.5%)	311 (87.1%)	17 (4.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.6%)	7.3	1460^th of 1558 public elementary schools	6.3%		8.4	1442^nd of 1577 public elementary schools	8.6%	18	15.8		0.0	12.8	18.4	18.6			12.5	25.6	23.7	32.6				$16,198
Harman Elementary School	Public	1-6	735 Harman Ave	Dayton	45419	Montgomery County	Oakwood City	No	(n/a)	No	No	(937) 297-5338	403	25	16.1	3.7%	331 (82.1%)	3 (0.7%)	16 (4.0%)	18 (4.5%)	3 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	32 (7.9%)	92.3	23^rd of 1558 public elementary schools	98.5%		90.5	44^th of 1577 public elementary schools	97.2%	21	92.1		86.9	98.3	93.3	86.7			95.2	89.8	96.6	84.4				$16,736
Deca Prep	Public, Charter	K-8	200 Homewood Ave	Dayton	45405	Montgomery County	Deca Prep	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(937) 610-0110	950	55	17.3		7 (0.7%)	896 (94.3%)	16 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	29 (3.1%)	31	1109^th of 1558 public elementary schools	28.8%		37.8	1060^th of 1577 public elementary schools	32.8%	49	46.4	33.7	63.3	39.8	26.8	31.1	61.4	14.5	60.9	46.3	54.6	31.1	61.4	38.9	89.5	$13,710

Frequently Asked Questions about Emerson Academy

How many students attend Emerson Academy?

In the 2024-25 school year, 674 students attended Emerson Academy.

What is the racial makeup of Emerson Academy?

Students at Emerson Academy are 59% African American, 21% Two or more races, 15% White, 5% Hispanic.

Is Emerson Academy a good school?

Emerson Academy ranks in the bottom 13.7% of Ohio elementary schools.

What district is Emerson Academy in?

Emerson Academy

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Ohio Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.