Summary
Deca Prep is a K–8 school in Dayton, OH, serving 950 students—the largest enrollment among its nearby comparison schools—and it operates as its own district in the state data.
In 2025–26, the school ranked 1064th of 1560 Ohio schools (32nd percentile, 2 stars), and its district ranked 575th of 773 districts (26th percentile, 1 star). That is still in the bottom third of the state, but it is the highest rank among the nearby schools listed, ahead of Emerson Academy (26th percentile), River's Edge Montessori Elementary School (21st), Ruskin Elementary School (19th), and others. Chronic absenteeism has improved from 35.4% in 2021–22 to 23.9% in 2025–26, the second-lowest rate in this local group, and much better than many nearby schools, which range from about 27% to nearly 57%.
Academically, the school has standout results in Algebra I: 100% proficient in 2025–26 versus 61.6% statewide, with recent years at 89.5–100%. Grade 7 math (54.6% vs. 48.6% state) and grade 3 ELA (67% vs. 63.4% state) also recently exceeded state averages. Most other subjects and grades remain below state averages, especially grade 5 and grade 8 science and grade 6 math and ELA. Results vary across student groups: the school ranks in the top quartile for one subgroup but only the 19th percentile for special education students, a decline from 33rd and 30th in prior years. Enrollment is large, the student–teacher ratio has risen to 17.3, and per-student spending was $8,144 in 2018–19—lower than many nearby schools. Overall, it is a locally competitive option with strong advanced math and improving attendance, but it still has clear gaps to address in science, grade 6, and special education.
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