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South High School

Q: Is South High School a good school?

South High School ranks 445 th of 795 Ohio high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

445^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 795 Ohio High Schools

Better than 44% of Ohio high schools

Summary

South High School is a 9–12 comprehensive high school in Willoughby, Ohio, serving 995 students as part of the Willoughby-Eastlake City district. In 2025–26 it ranked 445th of 795 Ohio high schools — the 44th percentile, with 2 stars — while the district ranked 416th of 773, also in the 46th percentile with 2 stars. Its 2025–26 graduation rate was 94.1%, above the district's 93.4%, but chronic absenteeism was 27.8%, higher than the district's 24.2%. Free/reduced lunch has risen from 33.67% in 2022–23 to 38.82% in 2023–24 and 42.11% in 2024–25, a sign of growing economic need. Historically, South sat around the 61st–67th percentile with 3 stars from 2015–16 through 2018–19; since 2020–21 it has mostly landed between the 44th and 58th percentiles, rebounding to 58th percentile and 3 stars in 2024–25 before slipping back in 2025–26.

Within its own district, South is clearly the stronger of the two comprehensive high schools. Compared with North High School, South ranks higher (445th vs. 561st), graduates more students (94.1% vs. 93.0%), has much lower chronic absenteeism (27.8% vs. 38.6%), fewer students from low-income families (42.11% vs. 53.61%), and smaller classes (17.9 vs. 20.8 students per teacher). Against lower-performing neighbors such as Brush High School, Euclid High School, Richmond Heights High School, and Flex High School Cleveland (absenteeism of 75.7% and a 30.0% graduation rate), South looks solid. Wickliffe Upper School is a close overall match with a different subject profile. However, Mayfield High School, Mentor High School, and Kirtland High School rank far higher, at the 90th, 85th, and 95th percentiles.

South's academic pattern is consistent: social studies and biology are strengths, while math and, newly, English are concerns. In 2025–26, American Government (84), American History (83), and Biology (71.8) were all above district and state averages. English II fell sharply from 73.2 to 51.4 in one year, dropping below both. Math is improving — Algebra I climbed from 30.2 in 2022–23 to 54.6, and Geometry from 21.8 to 40.4 — but both remain below state averages, and the gap with top-tier neighbors is large (English II: 51.4 vs. Mayfield's 81.8; Geometry: 40.4 vs. Mentor's 73.3). Chronic absenteeism improved from 36.0% to 27.8%. Low-income, special education, and gifted subgroups each ranked above the school's overall 44th percentile, though results vary by group year to year.

995

Students ?

17.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,832

Per pupil spending ?

42.1%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

4900 Shankland Rd
Willoughby, OH 44094-5637

(440) 975-3647

District: Willoughby-Eastlake City

Feeder schools for South High School:

Elementary:	Edison Elementary School
	Grant Elementary School
	Jefferson Elementary School
Middle:	Eastlake Middle School
	Willoughby Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

64.5%

African American:

23.1%

Two or more races:

6.7%

See top rated Ohio high schools

Compare South High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 61st percentile in 2016 → 44th in 2026

Strengths

✓94% graduate within 4 years

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 17 percentile points since 2016

!English II scores 11 pts below the Ohio average

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school64%

District avg63%

Ohio avg63%

445^th of 795

Ohio public high schools ?

Bottom 44%▼ down 17 pts since 2016

From top 39% (2016) to bottom 44% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Ohio High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

1^st of 2High Schools in the Willoughby-Eastlake City

416^th of 773Willoughby-Eastlake City 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)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	47.6	445 of 795	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	57.8	362 of 855	57.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	50.6	452 of 864	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2023	52.4	437 of 867	49.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	54.2	402 of 836	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	50.1	420 of 819	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	63.7	280 of 836	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2018	61.5	300 of 800	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2017	59.2	285 of 773	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2016	59.5	309 of 784	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2015	56.4	401 of 778	48.5%	★★☆☆☆
2014	66.8	266 of 769	65.4%	★★★☆☆
2013	64.3	311 of 767	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2012	69.9	236 of 832	71.6%	★★★★☆
2011	76.0	108 of 818	86.8%	★★★★☆
2010	72.6	180 of 819	78.0%	★★★★☆
2009	73.3	151 of 791	80.9%	★★★★☆
2008	70.3	201 of 767	73.8%	★★★★☆
2007	72.0	169 of 756	77.6%	★★★★☆
2006	68.9	205 of 696	70.5%	★★★★☆
2005	65.8	256 of 689	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2004	78.9	143 of 681	79.0%	★★★★☆

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	46.3	161 of 296	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2025	64.5	106 of 328	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	52.6	142 of 318	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	48.8	142 of 323	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.6	120 of 306	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	57.7	101 of 284	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	69.3	87 of 303	71.3%	★★★★☆
2018	68.5	75 of 279	73.1%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2023	59.5	47 of 86	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	66.3	34 of 87	60.9%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2022	58.9	157 of 606	74.1%	★★★★☆
2021	41.3	326 of 596	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	66.7	128 of 628	79.6%	★★★★☆
2018	61.9	132 of 550	76.0%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	54.0	414 of 763	45.7%	★★☆☆☆
2025	59.8	370 of 809	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	53.2	430 of 798	46.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	50.8	464 of 813	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	54.3	406 of 794	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	50.0	417 of 775	46.2%	★★☆☆☆
2019	72.7	183 of 781	76.6%	★★★★☆
2018	59.5	282 of 751	62.5%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	67.5	97 of 283	65.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	29.7	208 of 244	14.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	55.4	160 of 280	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	60.3	156 of 308	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2022	63.4	133 of 312	57.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	51.0	213 of 349	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2018	53.4	290 of 538	46.1%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2022	43.0	154 of 260	40.8%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	62.7	278 of 761	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	62.1	329 of 815	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	48.8	454 of 822	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	43.7	497 of 805	38.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	51.1	399 of 773	48.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	41.5	494 of 763	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	61.9	295 of 779	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	56.9	313 of 758	58.7%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	49.7	451 of 765	41.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	60.7	342 of 817	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	48.4	464 of 816	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2023	52.7	429 of 819	47.6%	★★☆☆☆
2022	52.8	409 of 808	49.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	48.2	423 of 778	45.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	64.8	293 of 792	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	55.8	307 of 763	59.8%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	50.7	124 of 240	48.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	57.8	118 of 254	53.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	52.6	120 of 242	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	77.6	43 of 239	82.0%	★★★★☆
2022	59.3	95 of 222	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.2	83 of 211	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	58.8	100 of 208	51.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	40.3	130 of 201	35.3%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	51.7	229 of 575	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	61.6	149 of 617	75.9%	★★★★☆
2024	36.9	349 of 598	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.8	253 of 614	58.8%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	60.8	287 of 709	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2025	62.3	303 of 748	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.5	374 of 754	50.4%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.0	341 of 756	54.9%	★★★☆☆
2022	61.3	295 of 749	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	51.3	360 of 727	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	73.5	168 of 739	77.3%	★★★★☆
2018	59.2	228 of 718	68.2%	★★★☆☆

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)

Disabled (2022)74th percentile+22 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2026)66th percentile+22 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)63rd percentile+19 vs school

Special Education (2026)60th percentile+16 vs school

White (2026)60th percentile+15 vs school

Multi-racial (2026)48th percentile+4 vs school

Female (2026)46th percentile~ school

African American (2026)46th percentile~ school

Asian (2023)45th percentile-4 vs school

Male (2026)41st percentile-3 vs school

Hispanic (2022)41st percentile-11 vs school

By subject vs Ohio (2025-2026) ?

American Government84%+12 vs state

American History83%+10 vs state

Biology72%+5 vs state

Algebra I55%-7 vs state

English II51%-11 vs state

Geometry40%-3 vs state

★

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Schools Near South High School

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2026)				Ranking (2025)				Ohio State Tests Science (2026)	Ohio State Tests American Government (2026)	Ohio State Tests American History (2026)	Ohio State Tests Mathematics (2026)		Ohio State Tests English Language Arts (2026)		Ohio State Tests Biology (2026)	Ohio State Tests English II (2026)	Ohio State Tests Geometry (2026)	Ohio State Tests Algebra I (2026)	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/reduced lunch (2024-25)	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2026)	Statewide Rank (2026)	State Percentile (2026)	SchoolDigger Rating (2026)	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	Rank Change from Previous Year	Ohio State Tests Science 8th Grade	Ohio State Tests American Government End of Course	Ohio State Tests American History End of Course	Ohio State Tests Mathematics 7th Grade	Ohio State Tests Mathematics 8th 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
South High School	Public	9-12	4900 Shankland Rd	Willoughby	44094	Lake County	Willoughby-Eastlake City	No	(n/a)	No	No	(440) 975-3647	995	56	17.9	42.1%	642 (64.5%)	230 (23.1%)	34 (3.4%)	22 (2.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	67 (6.7%)	47.6	445^th of 795 public high schools	44.0%		57.8	362^nd of 855 public high schools	57.7%	83		84.0	83.0					71.8	51.4	40.4	54.6	$12,832
Northern Career Institute	Public	11-12	34343 Euclid Ave	Willoughby	44094	Lake County	Willoughby-Eastlake City	No	(n/a)	No	No	(440) 946-7085	148	12	12.3	—	78 (52.7%)	51 (34.5%)	8 (5.4%)	8 (5.4%)	1 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.4%)								(n/a)
North High School	Public	9-12	34041 Stevens Blvd	Eastlake	44095	Lake County	Willoughby-Eastlake City	No	(n/a)	No	No	(440) 975-3666	1,231	59	20.8	53.6%	943 (76.6%)	116 (9.4%)	47 (3.8%)	10 (0.8%)	4 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	111 (9.0%)	35	561^st of 795 public high schools	29.4%		40.4	560^th of 855 public high schools	34.5%	1		61.0	72.1					66.1	61.2	21.5	65.4	$12,174
Wickliffe Upper School	Public	7-12	2255 Rockefeller Rd	Wickliffe	44092	Lake County	Wickliffe City	No	(n/a)	No	No	(440) 810-8001	586	31	18.9	55.5%	397 (67.7%)	97 (16.6%)	28 (4.8%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	62 (10.6%)	47	453^rd of 795 public high schools	43.0%		52.3	445^th of 855 public high schools	48.0%	8	48.6	84.5	74.2	27.2	24.6	55.6	47.4	71.0	65.3	33.3	54.3	$14,504
Kirtland High School	Public	9-12	9150 Chillicothe Rd	Kirtland	44094	Lake County	Kirtland Local	No	(n/a)	No	No	(440) 256-3366	335	19	17.6	9.3%	319 (95.2%)	1 (0.3%)	5 (1.5%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.7%)	84.3	37^th of 795 public high schools	95.3%		78.9	84^th of 855 public high schools	90.2%	47		97.6	93.8					91.3	93.8	81.4	80.0	$16,671
Euclid High School	Public	9-12	711 E 222nd St	Euclid	44123	Cuyahoga County	Euclid City	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(216) 797-7800	1,505	85	17.6	—	126 (8.4%)	1,224 (81.3%)	74 (4.9%)	8 (0.5%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	72 (4.8%)	22.7	641^st of 795 public high schools	19.4%		16.3	695^th of 855 public high schools	18.7%	54		72.2	70.5					44.8	41.1	26.0	27.4	$16,577
Richmond Heights High School	Public	9-12	447 Richmond Rd	Richmond Heights	44143	Cuyahoga County	Richmond Heights Local	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(216) 692-0094	271	19	14.2	65.7%	9 (3.3%)	232 (85.6%)	13 (4.8%)	8 (3.0%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.6%)	32.6	577^th of 795 public high schools	27.4%		40.9	557^th of 855 public high schools	34.9%	20		76.6	66.7					57.4	66.7	18.9	37.0	$14,554
Mayfield High School	Public	8-12	6116 Wilson Mills Rd	Cleveland	44143	Cuyahoga County	Mayfield City	No	(n/a)	No	No	(440) 995-6900	1,504	79	19.0	29.1%	879 (58.4%)	347 (23.1%)	93 (6.2%)	92 (6.1%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	92 (6.1%)	77.2	82^nd of 795 public high schools	89.7%		70.8	184^th of 855 public high schools	78.5%	102		84.4	91.5					84.7	81.8	71.1	86.8	$15,595
Mentor High School	Public	9-12	6477 Center St	Mentor	44060	Lake County	Mentor Exempted Village	No	(n/a)	No	No	(440) 974-5300	2,217	113	19.5	29.7%	1,793 (80.9%)	145 (6.5%)	103 (4.6%)	59 (2.7%)	4 (0.2%)	1 (0.0%)	112 (5.1%)	73.4	116^th of 795 public high schools	85.4%		74.4	133^rd of 855 public high schools	84.4%	17		84.5	87.6					86.6	81.3	73.3	72.1	$15,257
Flex High School Cleveland	Public, Charter	9-12	5222 Wilson Mills Rd	Richmond Heights	44143	Cuyahoga County	Flex High School Cleveland	Yes	(n/a)	No	No	(216) 625-3258	132	7	18.8	—	3 (2.3%)	123 (93.2%)	2 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (3.0%)								(n/a)												$12,370

Frequently Asked Questions about South High School

How many students attend South High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 995 students attended South High School.

What schools feed into South High School?

South High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Edison Elementary School
Elementary : Grant Elementary School
Elementary : Jefferson Elementary School
Middle : Eastlake Middle School
Middle : Willoughby Middle School

Is South High School a good school?

South High School ranks 445^th of 795 Ohio high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of South High School?

Students at South High School are 65% White, 23% African American, 7% Two or more races, 3% Hispanic, 2% Asian.

What district is South High School in?

Willoughby-Eastlake City

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Latest Ohio data All new data »

2017–18 through 2025–26 immunization ratesOct 19, 2026

2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 15, 2026

2025–26 Ohio State Tests scoresSep 15, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJan 6, 2026

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.