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Paul L Dunbar Elementary School

Q: Is Paul L Dunbar Elementary School a good school?

Paul L Dunbar Elementary School ranks 1155 th of 1558 Ohio elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-8

1155^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,558 Ohio Elementary Schools

Better than 26% of Ohio elementary schools

Summary

Paul L Dunbar Elementary School is a public school serving grades PK-8 in the Cleveland Municipal School District, with 376 students located in the Tremont neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. Despite relatively small class sizes, the school has consistently struggled academically, ranking in the bottom quarter of Ohio elementary schools over the past decade and earning a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Paul L Dunbar faces significant challenges, including extremely high chronic absenteeism rates ranging from 46.8% to 56.1% in recent years, well above the district and state averages. Student performance on state assessments is also far below state and district levels, with only 15.2% of 5th graders proficient in science compared to 63.4% statewide. The school's African American and special education students perform better relative to their peers statewide, but Hispanic and white student subgroups perform particularly poorly.

The broader context suggests systemic challenges facing the Tremont neighborhood and Cleveland Municipal district, as other nearby elementary schools like Orchard School, Scranton School, and Joseph M Gallagher School also struggle academically. Addressing chronic absenteeism, improving performance across all subject areas and student subgroups, and ensuring effective utilization of resources will be critical to turning Paul L Dunbar around.

384

Students ?

16.6

Student/teacher ratio ?

$13,356

Per pupil spending ?

51.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

2159 West 29th
Cleveland, OH 44113

(216) 838-7400

District: Cleveland Municipal

Racial breakdown:

African American:

56.5%

Hispanic:

25.0%

White:

13.5%

See top rated Ohio elementary schools

Compare Paul L Dunbar Elementary School to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 10th percentile in 2015 → 26th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 16 percentile points since 2015

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Cleveland Municipal

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Ohio average (46% vs 59% meeting standards)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!Science scores 48 pts below the Ohio average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school46%

District avg29%

Ohio avg59%

Elementary school

1,155^th of 1,558

Ohio public elementary schools ?

Bottom 26%▲ up 16 pts since 2015

From bottom 10% (2015) to bottom 26% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Ohio Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

Middle school

553^rd of 1,036

Ohio public middle schools ?

Bottom 47%▲ up 25 pts since 2015

From bottom 22% (2015) to bottom 47% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Ohio Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

11^th of 52Elementary Schools in the Cleveland Municipal

675^th of 828Cleveland Municipal 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	26.8	1155 of 1558	25.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	27.7	1164 of 1577	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	29.5	1156 of 1596	27.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	27.2	1173 of 1588	26.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	11.3	1376 of 1610	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	40.7	1128 of 1676	32.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	35.9	1161 of 1636	29.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2017	24.1	1278 of 1651	22.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	9.9	1503 of 1678	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	10.4	1518 of 1684	9.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2014	3.7	1615 of 1687	4.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2013	3.7	1635 of 1701	3.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	20.1	1453 of 1709	15.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2011	6.8	1582 of 1686	6.2%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	5.2	1580 of 1662	4.9%	☆☆☆☆☆
2009	21.6	1357 of 1610	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	22.1	1334 of 1582	15.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	27.3	1324 of 1609	17.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	28.4	1231 of 1504	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2005	64.2	601 of 1501	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2004	33.5	1121 of 1471	23.8%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	48.5	285 of 615	53.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	48.4	269 of 603	55.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.2	183 of 610	70.0%	★★★★☆
2022	62.0	168 of 601	72.0%	★★★★☆
2021	32.9	321 of 533	39.8%	★★☆☆☆
2019	63.2	178 of 605	70.6%	★★★★☆
2018	55.4	252 of 598	57.9%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2022	46.0	395 of 824	52.1%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	28.2	1071 of 1452	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	28.9	1076 of 1466	26.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	30.4	1061 of 1483	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	25.0	1131 of 1488	24.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	10.8	1254 of 1467	14.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	37.8	1048 of 1502	30.2%	★★☆☆☆
2018	33.7	1109 of 1518	26.9%	★☆☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2022	34.0	140 of 216	35.2%	★★☆☆☆
2021	19.8	157 of 189	16.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	72.2	44 of 228	80.7%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	32.7	1054 of 1473	28.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	32.6	1073 of 1484	27.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	38.4	959 of 1447	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	35.3	969 of 1419	31.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	15.4	1162 of 1404	17.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	51.9	810 of 1465	44.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	44.4	948 of 1465	35.3%	★★☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	17.1	1216 of 1466	17.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	22.9	1159 of 1485	22.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	23.6	1153 of 1498	23.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	24.8	1137 of 1518	25.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	8.2	1337 of 1499	10.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	42.9	1012 of 1535	34.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	33.1	1116 of 1536	27.3%	★☆☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	49.2	383 of 935	59.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	33.9	580 of 900	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	41.0	477 of 856	44.3%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2023	27.0	984 of 1215	19.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Middle school ranking

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	51.2	553 of 1036	46.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.1	548 of 1046	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	28.9	746 of 1048	28.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	33.5	697 of 1017	31.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	10.7	906 of 1037	12.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	47.7	631 of 1050	39.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	51.7	568 of 1010	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2017	36.1	701 of 1038	32.5%	★★☆☆☆
2016	29.6	751 of 1050	28.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	22.9	808 of 1035	21.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2014	12.2	875 of 1008	13.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	6.9	930 of 1001	7.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2012	3.9	937 of 989	5.3%	☆☆☆☆☆
2011	16.4	796 of 925	13.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2010	14.3	786 of 895	12.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	11.6	768 of 858	10.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2008	15.5	735 of 835	12.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2007	27.8	670 of 837	20.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2006	30.0	599 of 732	18.2%	★☆☆☆☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	79.8	58 of 442	86.9%	★★★★☆
2024	68.6	99 of 429	76.9%	★★★★☆
2023	39.9	229 of 436	47.5%	★★☆☆☆
2022	53.7	147 of 413	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	28.0	262 of 385	31.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	50.8	181 of 405	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.7	118 of 384	69.3%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	52.7	489 of 938	47.9%	★★☆☆☆
2024	43.7	576 of 942	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	23.6	723 of 943	23.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	27.9	677 of 925	26.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	11.1	777 of 910	14.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	38.4	615 of 897	31.4%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	46.4	144 of 262	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	40.6	122 of 192	36.5%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	57.5	435 of 983	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	51.7	500 of 989	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.9	653 of 974	33.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	43.8	564 of 947	40.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	11.1	827 of 923	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	45.9	586 of 945	38.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	58.4	413 of 924	55.3%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	43.5	581 of 954	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	52.9	491 of 958	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	26.6	708 of 963	26.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	25.7	707 of 946	25.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	6.5	877 of 924	5.1%	☆☆☆☆☆
2019	37.7	641 of 933	31.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	54.4	461 of 916	49.7%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	83.8	37 of 572	93.5%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	35.6	543 of 777	30.1%	★★☆☆☆

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

Special Education (2025)59th percentile+33 vs school

African American (2025)54th percentile+28 vs school

Disabled (2022)52nd percentile+26 vs school

Hispanic (2022)35th percentile+9 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)28th percentile+3 vs school

Female (2025)26th percentile~ school

White (2023)19th percentile-9 vs school

Male (2025)17th percentile-9 vs school

Middle school

Special Education (2025)94th percentile+47 vs school

African American (2025)87th percentile+40 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)56th percentile+9 vs school

Female (2025)48th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)45th percentile~ school

Male (2025)39th percentile-8 vs school

White (2025)30th percentile-17 vs school

By subject vs Ohio (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics60%+4 vs state

English Language Arts41%-19 vs state

Science15%-48 vs state

★

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Schools Near Paul L Dunbar Elementary School

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 Biology (2025)	Ohio State Tests English II (2025)	Ohio State Tests Geometry (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 Biology End of Course	Ohio State Tests English II End of Course	Ohio State Tests Geometry End of Course	Ohio State Tests Algebra I End of Course	Total
Paul L Dunbar Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	2159 West 29th	Cleveland	44113	Cuyahoga County	Cleveland Municipal	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(216) 838-7400	384	23	16.6		52 (13.5%)	217 (56.5%)	96 (25.0%)	8 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.9%)	26.8	1155^th of 1558 public elementary schools	25.9%		27.7	1164^th of 1577 public elementary schools	26.2%	9	15.2	14.6	50.0	55.2	32.6	61.5	85.2	78.0	35.7	48.3	39.1	30.8	66.7	26.8					$13,356
Near West Intergenerational School	Public, Charter	K-8	3805 Terrett Ave	Cleveland	44113	Cuyahoga County	Near West Intergenerational School	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(216) 961-4308	215	12	17.9		78 (36.3%)	77 (35.8%)	49 (22.8%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (4.2%)								(n/a)
Orchard School	Public	PK, KG-8	4200 Bailey Ave	Cleveland	44113	Cuyahoga County	Cleveland Municipal	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(216) 838-7350	492	30	16.4		93 (18.9%)	255 (51.8%)	115 (23.4%)	3 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (5.3%)	5.1	1498^th of 1558 public elementary schools	3.9%		5.9	1495^th of 1577 public elementary schools	5.2%	3	11.4	41.9	14.3	8.7	15.9	11.5	25.9	34.3	20.4	13.0	27.3	23.1	31.0	39.5					$12,850
Scranton School	Public	PK, KG-8	1991 Barber Ave	Cleveland	44113	Cuyahoga County	Cleveland Municipal	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(216) 838-7450	495	24	20.6		57 (11.5%)	106 (21.4%)	316 (63.8%)	6 (1.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.0%)	21.7	1236^th of 1558 public elementary schools	20.7%		19.5	1259^th of 1577 public elementary schools	20.2%	23	44.2	52.1	35.7	42.9	51.9	26.1	20.4	54.2	28.6	42.9	48.1	19.6	18.4	31.3					$13,595
Joseph M Gallagher School	Public	PK, KG-8	4016 Woodbine Ave	Cleveland	44113	Cuyahoga County	Cleveland Municipal	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(216) 838-6400	591	40	14.7		82 (13.9%)	247 (41.8%)	226 (38.2%)	25 (4.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (1.9%)	22.3	1225^th of 1558 public elementary schools	21.4%		16.6	1301^st of 1577 public elementary schools	17.5%	76	34.5	51.7	50.0	49.1	26.3	32.1	26.1	43.1	48.3	40.4	33.3	33.9	50.7	37.7					$13,551
Walton School	Public	PK, KG-8	3409 Walton Ave	Cleveland	44113	Cuyahoga County	Cleveland Municipal	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(216) 838-7500	252	13	19.3		42 (16.7%)	74 (29.4%)	123 (48.8%)	2 (0.8%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.6%)	9.5	1419^th of 1558 public elementary schools	8.9%		6.7	1477^th of 1577 public elementary schools	6.3%	58	0.0	21.1	30.4	33.3	0.0	15.8	23.8	10.5	33.3	45.8	23.8	21.1	27.3	15.0					$14,995
Menlo Park Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	2149 W 53rd St	Cleveland	44102	Cuyahoga County	Menlo Park Academy	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(440) 925-6365	330	18	18.8		178 (53.9%)	60 (18.2%)	27 (8.2%)	33 (10.0%)	2 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (9.1%)	82.7	234^th of 1558 public elementary schools	85.0%		75	432^nd of 1577 public elementary schools	72.6%	198	89.7		81.1	92.7	56.0	72.2	50.0		89.5	84.1	87.2	71.0	82.9		97.4	86.8	100.0	74.0	$10,107
Buhrer	Public	PK, KG-8	1600 Buhrer Ave	Cleveland	44109	Cuyahoga County	Cleveland Municipal	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(216) 838-8350	424	23	18.4		31 (7.3%)	13 (3.1%)	377 (88.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.5%)	54.7	821^st of 1558 public elementary schools	47.3%		51.4	901^st of 1577 public elementary schools	42.9%	80	71.1	50.0	54.8	68.9	47.7	67.4	76.3	75.7	47.6	64.4	71.1	52.2	54.1	35.0					$13,123
Waverly Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-8	1805 W 57th St	Cleveland	44102	Cuyahoga County	Cleveland Municipal	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(216) 838-7550	281	17	16.5		40 (14.2%)	146 (52.0%)	66 (23.5%)	4 (1.4%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (8.5%)	5.2	1495^th of 1558 public elementary schools	4.0%		7.3	1465^th of 1577 public elementary schools	7.1%	30	12.5	21.7	27.6	17.6	6.3	8.3	12.5	4.3	37.9	17.6	25.0	0.0	8.3	4.3					$14,297
Lincoln Park Academy	Public, Charter	K-8	3185 W 41st St	Cleveland	44109	Cuyahoga County	Lincoln Park Academy	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(216) 263-7008	236	15	15.7		46 (19.5%)	90 (38.1%)	76 (32.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	24 (10.2%)	28.2	1139^th of 1558 public elementary schools	26.9%		17.4	1290^th of 1577 public elementary schools	18.2%	151	14.3	44.4	63.3	50.0	35.7	31.3	22.2	22.2	53.3	30.8	57.1	37.5	38.9	55.6					$11,836

Frequently Asked Questions about Paul L Dunbar Elementary School

What schools do graduates of Paul L Dunbar Elementary School attend?

Students who attend Paul L Dunbar Elementary School usually go on to attend:

High : Bard Early College Cleveland
High : Campus International High School
High : Cleveland Early College High
High : Cleveland High School for the Digital Arts
High : Cleveland School of Architecture & Design
High : Cleveland School of Science & Medicine
High : Cleveland School Of The Arts High School
High : Davis Aerospace & Maritime High School
High : John Marshall School of Business and Civic Leadership
High : John Marshall School of Information Technology
High : Lincoln West School Of Global Studies
High : Lincoln West School of Science & Health
High : MC^2 STEM High School
High : Rhodes School of Environmental Studies

Is Paul L Dunbar Elementary School a good school?

Paul L Dunbar Elementary School ranks 1155^th of 1558 Ohio elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Paul L Dunbar Elementary School?

Students at Paul L Dunbar Elementary School are 57% African American, 25% Hispanic, 14% White, 3% Two or more races, 2% Asian.

What district is Paul L Dunbar Elementary School in?

Cleveland Municipal

How many students attend Paul L Dunbar Elementary School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 384 students attended Paul L Dunbar Elementary School.

Rate Paul L Dunbar Elementary School!

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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.