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Dalton Middle School

Public Grades 5-8

71^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,046 Ohio Middle Schools

Better than 93% of Ohio middle schools

Summary

Dalton Middle School is a small public school serving 277 students in grades 5–8 in Dalton, Ohio, a village community in the Dalton Local district. In 2025–26 it ranked 71st of 1,046 Ohio middle schools — the 93rd percentile with 5 stars — its best showing in ten years of history and stronger than its own district, which sits in the 87th percentile statewide.

Test scores are the headline. In 2025–26, every tested subject and grade beat the state average by a wide margin: 8th-grade science reached 96.7% (state 61.2%), 8th-grade math 89.8% (state 52.0%), and Algebra I a perfect 100%. The main soft spot is 6th-grade English language arts at 66.7%, which trails Northwest Middle School (83.3%) and Manchester Middle School (75.3%) and has slipped from 79.7% the year before. Regionally, Dalton is essentially tied with Northwest Middle for first place among nearby schools; no other neighbor exceeds the 91st percentile.

What makes this school unusual is the combination of high poverty and high results. Roughly 76.5% of students come from low-income backgrounds — the highest rate among nearby schools — yet that subgroup ranks 39th of 996 schools (96th percentile, 5 stars), even above the school's overall standing. Chronic absenteeism is 6.4%, second-lowest among peers and below the district every year since 2022–23. Parents may want to watch the rising student-teacher ratio (10.0 to 20.2 over three years), the 6th-grade ELA slide, and the special education subgroup, which sits at the 66th percentile.

277

Students ?

20.2

Student/teacher ratio ?

$11,893

Per pupil spending ?

76.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

250 N Church St
Dalton, OH 44618-9400

(330) 828-2405

District: Dalton Local

Students who attend Dalton Middle School usually attend:

High:

Dalton High School

Feeder schools for Dalton Middle School:

Elementary:

Dalton Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

90.3%

Hispanic:

5.8%

Two or more races:

2.5%

See top rated Ohio middle schools

Compare Dalton Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 91st percentile in 2016 → 93rd in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Ohio average (86% vs 59% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 7% of Ohio middle schools

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school86%

District avg84%

Ohio avg59%

71^st of 1,046

Ohio public middle schools ?

Top 7%▲ up 2 pts since 2016

See the entire ranking list of Ohio Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

100^th of 773Dalton 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	87.9	71 of 1046	93.2%	★★★★★
2025	85.2	115 of 1036	88.9%	★★★★☆
2024	84.3	135 of 1046	87.1%	★★★★☆
2023	86.7	94 of 1048	91.0%	★★★★★
2022	88.3	82 of 1017	91.9%	★★★★★
2021	84.3	138 of 1037	86.7%	★★★★☆
2019	82.6	137 of 1050	87.0%	★★★★☆
2018	75.8	221 of 1010	78.1%	★★★★☆
2017	80.4	171 of 1038	83.5%	★★★★☆
2016	86.9	95 of 1050	91.0%	★★★★★
2015	86.8	76 of 1035	92.7%	★★★★★
2014	80.3	119 of 1008	88.2%	★★★★☆
2013	80.7	115 of 1001	88.5%	★★★★☆
2012	86.6	18 of 989	98.2%	★★★★★
2011	82.4	84 of 925	90.9%	★★★★★
2010	81.2	120 of 895	86.6%	★★★★☆
2009	77.7	166 of 858	80.7%	★★★★☆
2008	79.1	133 of 835	84.1%	★★★★☆
2007	78.8	145 of 837	82.7%	★★★★☆
2006	73.9	183 of 732	75.0%	★★★★☆
2005	87.7	31 of 692	95.5%	★★★★★
2004	93.5	2 of 400	99.5%	★★★★★

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2021	86.9	31 of 576	94.6%	★★★★★
2018	53.2	249 of 643	61.3%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	82.3	131 of 947	86.2%	★★★★☆
2025	83.7	121 of 938	87.1%	★★★★☆
2024	86.4	86 of 942	90.9%	★★★★★
2023	89.9	30 of 943	96.8%	★★★★★
2022	85.9	90 of 925	90.3%	★★★★★
2021	86.7	80 of 910	91.2%	★★★★★
2019	84.4	100 of 917	89.1%	★★★★☆
2018	76.0	190 of 897	78.8%	★★★★☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2021	71.4	42 of 274	84.7%	★★★★☆
2018	68.6	107 of 521	79.5%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	89.1	39 of 996	96.1%	★★★★★
2025	84.7	81 of 983	91.8%	★★★★★
2024	77.2	166 of 989	83.2%	★★★★☆
2023	85.1	65 of 974	93.3%	★★★★★
2022	94.1	18 of 947	98.1%	★★★★★
2019	80.0	123 of 945	87.0%	★★★★☆
2018	59.4	399 of 924	56.8%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	88.8	72 of 955	92.5%	★★★★★
2025	84.1	125 of 954	86.9%	★★★★☆
2024	79.7	171 of 958	82.2%	★★★★☆
2023	80.1	167 of 963	82.7%	★★★★☆
2022	87.5	83 of 946	91.2%	★★★★★
2021	79.3	164 of 924	82.3%	★★★★☆
2019	81.0	142 of 933	84.8%	★★★★☆
2018	71.4	242 of 916	73.6%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	53.1	194 of 572	66.1%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	83.4	105 of 790	86.7%	★★★★☆
2025	81.3	113 of 777	85.5%	★★★★☆
2024	82.8	115 of 795	85.5%	★★★★☆
2023	85.3	75 of 805	90.7%	★★★★★
2022	85.7	82 of 809	89.9%	★★★★☆
2021	79.3	137 of 781	82.5%	★★★★☆
2019	78.3	147 of 796	81.5%	★★★★☆
2018	72.7	179 of 781	77.1%	★★★★☆

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)

Low Socio Economic Status (2026)96th percentile+3 vs school

Disabled (2021)95th percentile+8 vs school

Male (2026)92nd percentile~ school

White (2026)87th percentile-7 vs school

Female (2026)86th percentile-7 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2021)85th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)66th percentile-23 vs school

By subject vs Ohio (2025-2026) ?

Algebra I100%+38 vs state

Science93%+31 vs state

Mathematics85%+31 vs state

English Language Arts79%+17 vs state

★

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Schools Near Dalton 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 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 Algebra I End of Course	Total
Dalton Middle School	Public	5-8	250 N Church St	Dalton	44618	Wayne County	Dalton Local	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(330) 828-2405	277	14	20.2	76.5%	250 (90.3%)	3 (1.1%)	16 (5.8%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.5%)	87.9	71^st of 1046 public middle schools	93.2%		85.2	115^th of 1036 public middle schools	88.9%	44	88.7	96.7		93.4	85.3	73.2	89.8		87.3	66.7	81.7	80.3	100.0	$11,893
Tuslaw Middle School	Public	5-8	1723 Manchester Ave NW	Massillon	44647	Stark County	Tuslaw Local	No	(n/a)	No	No	(330) 837-7807	432	18	24.0	30.3%	404 (93.5%)	5 (1.2%)	12 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (2.5%)	81.7	158^th of 1046 public middle schools	84.9%		86.4	91^st of 1036 public middle schools	91.2%	67	91.2	86.9		91.2	75.5	79.6	80.0		89.0	55.9	80.6	70.7	100.0	$10,382
Orrville Middle School	Public	5-8	801 Mineral Spring St	Orrville	44667	Wayne County	Orrville City	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(330) 682-1791	462	30	15.4	54.3%	338 (73.2%)	18 (3.9%)	58 (12.6%)	6 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (9.1%)	68	348^th of 1046 public middle schools	66.7%		71.3	306^th of 1036 public middle schools	70.5%	42	77.2	65.2		70.3	61.7	69.2	59.1		74.3	56.1	66.7	67.8	100.0	$13,390
Massillon Junior High School	Public	7-8	250 29th St NW	Massillon	44647	Stark County	Massillon City	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(330) 830-3902	607	37	16.5		374 (61.6%)	84 (13.8%)	55 (9.1%)	2 (0.3%)	1 (0.2%)	3 (0.5%)	88 (14.5%)	36	704^th of 1046 public middle schools	32.7%		35.1	690^th of 1036 public middle schools	33.4%	14		46.2				34.3	33.8				58.6	44.1	100.0	$19,762
Massillon Intermediate School	Public	4-6	250 29th St NW	Massillon	44647	Stark County	Massillon City	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(330) 830-3902	900	48	18.8		547 (60.8%)	134 (14.9%)	76 (8.4%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.2%)	139 (15.4%)								(n/a)	48.6		48.0	39.9	42.3			41.2	56.5	50.2				$2,288
Waynedale Middle School	Public	6-8	9052 Dover Rd	Apple Creek	44606	Wayne County	Waynedale Local	No	(n/a)	No	No	(330) 698-3151	0	11	.0		0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	0 ()	60.7	447^th of 1046 public middle schools	57.3%		56.2	496^th of 1036 public middle schools	52.1%	49		73.7			65.8	48.7	23.7			52.7	75.3	68.4	89.5	$14,858
Northwest Middle School	Public	6-8	8614 Erie Ave NW	Canal Fulton	44614	Stark County	Northwest Local	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(330) 854-3303	405	28	14.4	40.0%	377 (93.1%)	2 (0.5%)	8 (2.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (4.2%)	88.4	63^rd of 1046 public middle schools	94.0%		86.2	95^th of 1036 public middle schools	90.8%	32		89.9			82.0	74.3	68.0			83.3	87.2	87.1	100.0	$11,733
Fairless Middle School	Public	5-8	11836 Navarre Rd SW	Navarre	44662	Stark County	Fairless Local	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(330) 767-4293	293	21	14.2	49.8%	275 (93.9%)	1 (0.3%)	10 (3.4%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.0%)	59.8	457^th of 1046 public middle schools	56.3%		65.2	393^rd of 1036 public middle schools	62.1%	64		64.4			54.6	50.9	60.2			44.3	73.4	60.0	96.2	$13,643
Green Middle School	Public	6-8	200 Smithie Drive	Smithville	44677	Wayne County	Green Local	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(330) 669-3165	254	16	16.3		223 (87.8%)	1 (0.4%)	20 (7.9%)	2 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.1%)	71	321^st of 1046 public middle schools	69.3%		74	277^th of 1036 public middle schools	73.3%	44		78.2			58.3	53.7	79.0			59.1	64.2	71.8	100.0	$12,061
Manchester Middle School	Public	6-8	760 W Nimisila Rd	Akron	44319	Summit County	Manchester Local	No	(n/a)	No	No	(330) 882-3812	275	25	11.1	34.2%	262 (95.3%)	1 (0.4%)	3 (1.1%)	1 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.9%)	86.4	94^th of 1046 public middle schools	91.0%		85.2	113^th of 1036 public middle schools	89.1%	19		85.6			78.5	67.7	81.7			75.3	78.9	86.6	100.0	$18,250

Frequently Asked Questions about Dalton Middle School

What high school do graduates of Dalton Middle School attend?

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

Is Dalton Middle School a good school?

Yes. Dalton Middle School ranks in the top 6.8% of Ohio middle schools.

How many students attend Dalton Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 277 students attended Dalton Middle School.

What district is Dalton Middle School in?

Dalton Local

What is the racial makeup of Dalton Middle School?

Students at Dalton Middle School are 90% White, 6% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 1% African American.

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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.