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Highland Middle School

Q: Is Highland Middle School a good school?

Highland Middle School ranks 437 th of 1046 Ohio middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

437^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,046 Ohio Middle Schools

Better than 58% of Ohio middle schools

Summary

Highland Middle School is the only grades 6–8 school in the Highland Local district, serving 389 students in Marengo, Ohio, a rural community roughly 25 miles north of Columbus. In 2025–26 it ranked 437th of 1,046 Ohio middle schools (58th percentile, 3 stars), placing it slightly above its own district (371st of 773, 52nd percentile). The school's defining trait is consistency: it has earned 3 stars every year for a decade and has never ranked above the 66th percentile or below the 57th.

In mathematics, results split sharply by grade. Sixth grade (68.6% vs. 56.2% statewide) and eighth grade (69.1% vs. 52.0%) are well above the state average, and eighth grade math ranks 4th of 10 nearby schools. Seventh grade is the opposite: 34.8% vs. 48.6% statewide, below the state average four years running and 9th of 10 peers, ahead of only Mt Gilead Middle School. Cohort tracking confirms the dip is real — one class scored 62.3% in math as 6th graders, then 34.8% the next year, a 27.5-point drop, while the prior class rebounded 26.8 points as 8th graders. In English language arts, 6th and 7th grades match the state average, but 8th grade (53.3% vs. 58.3%) ranks 9th of 10 peers. Accelerated math is a bright spot, with 100% Geometry proficiency four years in a row.

Chronic absenteeism is the clearest warning sign. At 16.9%, Highland is above its district (15.1%) and second-highest among the ten nearby schools, behind only Mt Gilead Middle School; stronger local performers are far lower, including Berkshire Middle School at 7.5%. About 40.4% of students are economically disadvantaged. Subgroups are moving in opposite directions: gifted and talented students climbed from the 29th to the 63rd percentile over two years, while low-income students fell from the 57th to the 47th. Overall, Highland performs solidly for its poverty level compared with rural neighbors, but Johnstown Middle School — with lower poverty and a 93rd-percentile rank — shows how much further the ceiling goes.

389

Students ?

16.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,045

Per pupil spending ?

40.4%

Free/discounted lunch ?

6506 State Route 229
Marengo, OH 43334-9738

(419) 768-2781

District: Highland Local

Students who attend Highland Middle School usually attend:

High:

Highland High School

Feeder schools for Highland Middle School:

Elementary:

Highland Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

94.6%

Two or more races:

2.3%

Hispanic:

2.1%

See top rated Ohio middle schools

Compare Highland Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 64th percentile in 2016 → 58th in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Ohio average (68% vs 56% meeting standards)

✓Above the Ohio median (58th percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 6 percentile points since 2016

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school68%

District avg57%

Ohio avg56%

437^th of 1,046

Ohio public middle schools ?

Top 42%▼ down 6 pts since 2016

From top 36% (2016) to top 42% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Ohio Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

371^st of 773Highland Local 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	61.4	437 of 1046	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2025	65.0	394 of 1036	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.8	445 of 1046	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	64.7	403 of 1048	61.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	68.1	343 of 1017	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	61.8	436 of 1037	58.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	66.7	386 of 1050	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	64.3	404 of 1010	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2017	63.7	441 of 1038	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2016	67.1	376 of 1050	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2015	64.8	402 of 1035	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2014	68.2	385 of 1008	61.8%	★★★☆☆
2013	72.8	301 of 1001	69.9%	★★★★☆
2012	74.8	254 of 989	74.3%	★★★★☆
2011	72.7	279 of 925	69.8%	★★★★☆
2010	73.9	244 of 895	72.7%	★★★★☆
2009	68.0	336 of 858	60.8%	★★★☆☆
2008	72.3	248 of 835	70.3%	★★★★☆
2007	66.2	335 of 837	60.0%	★★★☆☆
2006	58.1	389 of 732	46.9%	★★☆☆☆
2005	52.6	392 of 692	43.4%	★★☆☆☆
2004	42.9	278 of 400	30.5%	★★☆☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2022	37.5	341 of 565	39.6%	★★☆☆☆
2021	39.7	309 of 576	46.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	36.8	436 of 658	33.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	26.6	525 of 643	18.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	59.2	429 of 947	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2025	59.8	412 of 938	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	60.5	403 of 942	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.7	401 of 943	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	70.6	277 of 925	70.1%	★★★★☆
2021	59.1	414 of 910	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	69.9	313 of 917	65.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	66.4	313 of 897	65.1%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	61.3	68 of 186	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	49.9	132 of 194	32.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	45.8	140 of 196	28.6%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	66.7	51 of 173	70.5%	★★★★☆
2022	63.2	95 of 241	60.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.5	197 of 521	62.2%	★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	51.6	528 of 996	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	58.3	426 of 983	56.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.0	453 of 989	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	50.9	498 of 974	48.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	67.8	255 of 947	73.1%	★★★★☆
2021	55.6	405 of 923	56.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	64.1	336 of 945	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	59.9	385 of 924	58.3%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	59.6	402 of 955	57.9%	★★★☆☆
2025	63.5	370 of 954	61.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	55.8	460 of 958	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	62.6	383 of 963	60.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	60.5	376 of 946	60.3%	★★★☆☆
2021	56.3	429 of 924	53.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	60.2	407 of 933	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	53.5	474 of 916	48.3%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	34.1	353 of 579	39.0%	★★☆☆☆
2025	39.3	314 of 572	45.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	29.8	409 of 563	27.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	33.1	390 of 590	33.9%	★★☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	44.0	464 of 790	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2025	48.0	435 of 777	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	44.8	473 of 795	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	51.1	421 of 805	47.7%	★★☆☆☆
2022	53.1	391 of 809	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	44.9	463 of 781	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	55.3	388 of 796	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	48.3	422 of 781	46.0%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Gifted and Talented (2026)63rd percentile+5 vs school

Male (2026)58th percentile~ school

Female (2026)55th percentile-4 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)47th percentile-11 vs school

White (2026)41st percentile-17 vs school

Disabled (2022)40th percentile-27 vs school

Special Education (2026)39th percentile-19 vs school

By subject vs Ohio (2025-2026) ?

Geometry100%+57 vs state

Algebra I97%+36 vs state

Science73%+12 vs state

English Language Arts58%~ state avg

Mathematics57%+5 vs state

★

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Schools Near Highland Middle 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 Mathematics (2026)					Ohio State Tests English Language Arts (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/Discounted Lunch Recipients (2025)	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 5th Grade	Ohio State Tests Science 8th 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 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 Geometry End of Course	Ohio State Tests Algebra I End of Course	Total
Highland Middle School	Public	6-8	6506 State Route 229	Marengo	43334	Morrow County	Highland Local	No	(n/a)	No	No	(419) 768-2781	389	24	16.2	40.4%	368 (94.6%)	3 (0.8%)	8 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.3%)	61.4	437^th of 1046 public middle schools	58.2%		65	394^th of 1036 public middle schools	62.0%	43		73.1			68.6	34.8	69.1			56.8	62.6	53.3	100.0	97.3	$12,045
Centerburg Middle School	Public	6-8	3782 Columbus Rd	Centerburg	43011	Knox County	Centerburg Local	No	(n/a)	No	No	(740) 625-6055	243	10	24.3		231 (95.1%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.2%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.9%)	69.5	335^th of 1046 public middle schools	68.0%		66.7	365^th of 1036 public middle schools	64.8%	30		76.2			76.6	74.0	53.6			51.6	67.5	60.7		96.2	$6,154
Fredericktown Middle School	Public	6-8	111 Stadium Dr	Fredericktown	43019	Knox County	Fredericktown Local	No	(n/a)	No	No	(740) 694-2726	280	18	15.5		262 (93.6%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (3.2%)	70.1	330^th of 1046 public middle schools	68.5%		78.5	209^th of 1036 public middle schools	79.8%	121		66.7			76.1	52.0	65.3			70.4	66.0	60.9		100.0	$10,763
Cardington-Lincoln Middle School	Public	5-8	349 Chesterville Ave	Cardington	43315	Morrow County	Cardington-Lincoln Local	No	(n/a)	No	No	(419) 864-2691	283	19	14.8		269 (95.1%)	1 (0.4%)	3 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (3.5%)	43.3	640^th of 1046 public middle schools	38.8%		40.4	654^th of 1036 public middle schools	36.9%	14	65.7	46.6		45.7	43.3	40.0	60.9		71.4	30.0	67.8	45.2		100.0	$11,867
Mount Vernon Middle School	Public	6-8	302 Yellow Jacket Drive	Mount Vernon	43050	Knox County	Mount Vernon City	No	(n/a)	No	No	(740) 392-6867	787	54	14.5		691 (87.8%)	14 (1.8%)	29 (3.7%)	11 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (5.3%)	76	237^th of 1046 public middle schools	77.3%		78.1	215^th of 1036 public middle schools	79.2%	22		77.5			70.2	61.7	74.9			64.2	69.7	68.4		100.0	$11,057
Mt Gilead Middle School	Public	6-8	324 W Park Ave	Mount Gilead	43338	Morrow County	Mount Gilead Exempted Village	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(419) 947-9517	226	18	12.6	48.7%	201 (88.9%)	5 (2.2%)	9 (4.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (4.4%)	50.8	561^st of 1046 public middle schools	46.4%		49.1	575^th of 1036 public middle schools	44.5%	14		76.9			44.9	34.4	57.3			52.2	48.6	55.1		93.8	$13,186
Big Walnut Middle School	Public	5-8	555 S Old 3c Rd	Sunbury	43074	Delaware County	Big Walnut Local	No	(n/a)	No	No	(740) 965-3006	973	58	16.8	20.3%	834 (85.7%)	14 (1.4%)	48 (4.9%)	21 (2.2%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	54 (5.5%)	85.3	109^th of 1046 public middle schools	89.6%		85.4	107^th of 1036 public middle schools	89.7%	2		79.9			81.7	68.2	68.1			81.7	84.6	80.8		98.6	$11,512
Big Walnut Intermediate School	Public	4-6	777 Cheshire Rd	Sunbury	43074	Delaware County	Big Walnut Local	No	(n/a)	No	No	(740) 965-7800	663	32	20.7	21.4%	578 (87.2%)	7 (1.1%)	41 (6.2%)	10 (1.5%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	26 (3.9%)								(n/a)	74.7		78.3	74.8				74.2	82.2						$11,412
Northridge Middle School	Public	6-8	6066 Johnstown Utica Rd	Johnstown	43031	Licking County	Northridge Local	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(740) 967-6671	270	24	11.3	93.0%	244 (90.4%)	3 (1.1%)	6 (2.2%)	5 (1.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.4%)	58.4	476^th of 1046 public middle schools	54.5%		63.3	419^th of 1036 public middle schools	59.6%	57		67.9			50.6	40.3	67.5			58.0	52.2	65.3		100.0	$14,333
Berkshire Middle School	Public	6-8	2869 S. Three B's & K Road	Galena	43021	Delaware County	Olentangy Local	No	(n/a)	No	No	(740) 657-5200	883	51	17.2	11.0%	598 (67.7%)	57 (6.5%)	37 (4.2%)	126 (14.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	65 (7.4%)	89.7	51^st of 1046 public middle schools	95.1%		91.6	35^th of 1036 public middle schools	96.6%	16		89.1			82.9	83.0	73.9			79.4	91.0	81.8	100.0	100.0	$15,201

Frequently Asked Questions about Highland Middle School

What district is Highland Middle School in?

Highland Local

What is the racial makeup of Highland Middle School?

Students at Highland Middle School are 95% White, 2% Two or more races, 2% Hispanic.

What high school do graduates of Highland Middle School attend?

Students who attend Highland Middle School usually go on to attend Highland High School

Is Highland Middle School a good school?

Highland Middle School ranks 437^th of 1046 Ohio middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend Highland Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 389 students attended Highland Middle School.

Rate Highland Middle School!

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Latest Ohio data All new data »

2025–26 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 15, 2026

2025–26 Ohio State Tests scoresSep 15, 2026

2024–25 school spending dataJan 6, 2026

2024–25 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 17, 2025

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.