Pymatuning Valley High School

Pymatuning Valley High School is a 9–12 public school in Andover, in rural Ashtabula County, Ohio, serving 357 students as part of the Pymatuning Valley Local School District. In 2025–2026 it ranked 519th of 795 Ohio high schools — about the 35th percentile, with 2 stars — while the district placed 480th of 773. Over the past decade the school has stayed between the 30th and 41st percentile every year, a remarkably steady position rather than a rising or falling trend.

Subject results are uneven. The school meets or beats the state average in science and social studies — Biology 71.6% vs. 67.0% statewide, American History 74.0% vs. 73.2% — and sits essentially level with the state in Geometry (43.0% vs. 43.3%). English II (57.3% vs. 62.7%) and especially Algebra I (30.4% vs. 61.6%) are the trouble spots. Against Grand Valley High School, the closest peer, the school wins on Biology, History and Geometry but loses badly on Algebra I and English II. It also spends more per student ($12,626) than Jefferson Area Senior High School, Maplewood High School and Badger High School, yet ranks below all three.

Operationally, two numbers stand out. The graduation rate is 91.0%, the lowest among nearby traditional high schools, and chronic absenteeism has climbed to 37.7% from 32.8% and 30.1% — 11 points above the district's 26.6%. Absenteeism and graduation should be read as one story. A real bright spot: low-income students rank in the 46th percentile, above the school's overall 35th. Families should weigh strong science and social studies teaching and genuine momentum in Geometry against concentrated math-and-reading gaps and a worsening attendance trend.