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Northwestern Middle School

Q: Is Northwestern Middle School a good school?

Northwestern Middle School ranks 343 rd of 1036 Ohio middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

343^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 1,036 Ohio Middle Schools

Better than 67% of Ohio middle schools

Summary

Northwestern Middle School is a public middle school located in West Salem, Ohio, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 289 students. The school is part of the Northwestern Local District, which is ranked 294 out of 828 districts in Ohio and has a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Northwestern Middle School consistently performs above the state average in Ohio State Tests across various subjects and grade levels. For example, in 2024-2025, the school had 69.8% proficiency in 8th grade Science, compared to the state average of 63%. The school's performance is particularly strong in Mathematics, with 68.3% proficiency in 6th grade and 58.8% in 7th grade, compared to the state averages of 51.9% and 50%, respectively. Northwestern Middle School also excels in English Language Arts, with 83% proficiency in 7th grade, significantly higher than the state average of 62.9%. Additionally, the school's Algebra I end-of-course proficiency rate is 100%, much higher than the state average of 59.4%.

While Northwestern Middle School has a relatively high percentage of free and reduced-lunch recipients, around 40% in recent years, the school's academic performance remains strong, suggesting effective strategies in supporting students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Compared to nearby schools, such as Orrville Middle School and Rittman Middle School, which have lower proficiency rates in core subjects, Northwestern Middle School stands out as a high-performing institution. However, Norwayne Middle School, located about 12 miles away, also demonstrates exceptional performance, ranking 34 out of 1,036 Ohio middle schools in 2024-2025 and earning a 5-star rating from SchoolDigger.

284

Students ?

15.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$12,962

Per pupil spending ?

45.8%

Free/discounted lunch ?

7569 N Elyria Rd
West Salem, OH 44287-9707

(419) 846-3974

District: Northwestern Local

Students who attend Northwestern Middle School usually attend:

High:

Northwestern High School

Feeder schools for Northwestern Middle School:

Elementary:

Northwestern Elementary School

Racial breakdown:

White:

93.3%

Hispanic:

3.2%

Two or more races:

2.8%

See top rated Ohio middle schools

Compare Northwestern Middle School to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 55th percentile in 2015 → 67th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Ohio average (68% vs 55% meeting standards)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 12 percentile points since 2015

✓Above the Ohio median (67th percentile)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school68%

District avg63%

Ohio avg55%

343^rd of 1,036

Ohio public middle schools ?

Top 33%▲ up 12 pts since 2015

From top 45% (2015) to top 33% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Ohio Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

294^th of 828Northwestern 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
2025	69.4	343 of 1036	66.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	72.0	291 of 1046	72.2%	★★★★☆
2023	63.8	421 of 1048	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.2	375 of 1017	63.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	65.5	384 of 1037	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2019	68.5	357 of 1050	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	69.1	342 of 1010	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2017	70.8	314 of 1038	69.7%	★★★☆☆
2016	64.2	422 of 1050	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2015	61.2	466 of 1035	55.0%	★★★☆☆
2014	72.2	300 of 1008	70.2%	★★★★☆
2013	72.5	312 of 1001	68.8%	★★★☆☆
2012	74.9	251 of 989	74.6%	★★★★☆
2011	69.9	340 of 925	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2010	74.8	223 of 895	75.1%	★★★★☆
2009	69.0	322 of 858	62.5%	★★★☆☆
2008	69.7	291 of 835	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2007	73.4	236 of 837	71.8%	★★★★☆
2006	80.1	101 of 732	86.2%	★★★★☆
2005	69.6	218 of 692	68.5%	★★★☆☆
2004	76.2	87 of 400	78.3%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2022	66.0	101 of 565	82.1%	★★★★☆
2021	47.6	246 of 576	57.3%	★★★☆☆
2019	45.6	337 of 658	48.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	62.0	162 of 643	74.8%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	68.0	316 of 938	66.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	66.0	336 of 942	64.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	68.2	308 of 943	67.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.2	338 of 925	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	64.2	345 of 910	62.1%	★★★☆☆
2019	61.5	421 of 917	54.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.2	375 of 897	58.2%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	70.1	34 of 194	82.5%	★★★★☆
2021	75.6	13 of 274	95.3%	★★★★★
2018	71.1	71 of 521	86.4%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	65.7	328 of 983	66.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	67.7	306 of 989	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	57.9	424 of 974	56.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.6	363 of 947	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	60.1	349 of 923	62.2%	★★★☆☆
2019	63.0	359 of 945	62.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	70.5	235 of 924	74.6%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	65.3	342 of 954	64.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	71.5	260 of 958	72.9%	★★★★☆
2023	51.9	503 of 963	47.8%	★★☆☆☆
2022	59.0	391 of 946	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	60.0	382 of 924	58.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	71.9	266 of 933	71.5%	★★★★☆
2018	70.1	266 of 916	71.0%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	60.0	151 of 572	73.6%	★★★★☆
2024	61.2	133 of 563	76.4%	★★★★☆
2023	49.4	234 of 590	60.3%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	56.1	358 of 777	53.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	59.1	332 of 795	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	49.1	440 of 805	45.3%	★★☆☆☆
2022	50.3	410 of 809	49.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	51.8	406 of 781	48.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	56.8	372 of 796	53.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	57.9	330 of 781	57.7%	★★★☆☆

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 (2025)82nd percentile+16 vs school

Disabled (2022)82nd percentile+19 vs school

Special Education (2025)74th percentile+7 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)67th percentile~ school

Female (2025)66th percentile~ school

Male (2025)64th percentile-3 vs school

White (2025)54th percentile-13 vs school

By subject vs Ohio (2024-2025) ?

Algebra I100%+41 vs state

Science70%+7 vs state

English Language Arts69%+12 vs state

Mathematics57%+7 vs state

★

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Schools Near Northwestern 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 (2025)				Ranking (2024)				Ohio State Tests Science (2025)		Ohio State Tests Mathematics (2025)				Ohio State Tests English Language Arts (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 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 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
Northwestern Middle School	Public	6-8	7569 N Elyria Rd	West Salem	44287	Wayne County	Northwestern Local	No	(n/a)	No	No	(419) 846-3974	284	19	15.0	45.8%	265 (93.3%)	2 (0.7%)	9 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.8%)	69.4	343^rd of 1036 public middle schools	66.9%		72	291^st of 1046 public middle schools	72.2%	52		69.8		68.3	58.8	43.1		72.0	83.0	52.3		100.0	$12,962
Edgewood Middle School	Public	5-7	2695 Graustark Path	Wooster	44691	Wayne County	Wooster City	No	(n/a)	No	No	(330) 345-6475	704	43	16.4	51.3%	601 (85.4%)	17 (2.4%)	28 (4.0%)	8 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	50 (7.1%)	67.6	357^th of 1036 public middle schools	65.5%		58.9	483^rd of 1046 public middle schools	53.8%	126	66.4		45.7	60.8	61.0		63.3	58.8	66.8				$14,838
Mapleton Middle School	Public	6-8	635 County Road 801	Ashland	44805	Ashland County	Mapleton Local	No	(n/a)	No	No	(419) 945-2188	172	9	19.1		169 (98.3%)	1 (0.6%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	71.5	302^nd of 1036 public middle schools	70.8%		67.5	373^rd of 1046 public middle schools	64.3%	71		77.6		55.1	60.7	53.1		55.1	83.6	70.7			$11,491
Triway Middle School	Public	6-8	3205 Shreve Rd	Wooster	44691	Wayne County	Triway Local	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(330) 264-8685	364	16	22.7		342 (94.0%)	2 (0.5%)	14 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (1.6%)	80.2	180^th of 1036 public middle schools	82.6%		79.3	202^nd of 1046 public middle schools	80.7%	22		87.0		60.7	69.4	71.1		63.7	76.9	75.7		100.0	$10,730
Ashland Middle School	Public	6-8	1520 King Rd	Ashland	44805	Ashland County	Ashland City	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(419) 289-7966	694	44	15.7	49.6%	632 (91.1%)	12 (1.7%)	17 (2.4%)	3 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	30 (4.3%)	77	234^th of 1036 public middle schools	77.4%		70.3	321^st of 1046 public middle schools	69.3%	87		74.2		63.0	68.8	70.0		61.5	78.8	67.5		100.0	$11,917
Norwayne Middle School	Public	5-8	350 S Main St	Creston	44217	Wayne County	Norwayne Local	No	(n/a)	No	No	(330) 435-1195	310	19	16.2		291 (93.9%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (2.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	10 (3.2%)	91.7	34^th of 1036 public middle schools	96.7%		87.1	94^th of 1046 public middle schools	91.0%	60		93.5		87.4	91.2	82.6		72.7	89.1	82.6		100.0	$11,858
Black River Education Center Middle School	Public	6-8	257 County Road 40	Sullivan	44880	Ashland County	Black River Local	No	(n/a)	No	Yes	(419) 736-3304	153	14	10.9	98.0%	137 (89.5%)	1 (0.7%)	9 (5.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.9%)	66.4	371^st of 1036 public middle schools	64.2%		75.9	243^rd of 1046 public middle schools	76.8%	128				45.5	66.2			53.5	81.9				$20,976
Cloverleaf Middle School	Public	6-8	7540 Buffham Rd	Seville	44273	Medina County	Cloverleaf Local	No	(n/a)	No	No	(330) 302-0206	588	32	18.4		545 (92.7%)	5 (0.9%)	13 (2.2%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (3.6%)	82.2	151^st of 1036 public middle schools	85.4%		81.3	168^th of 1046 public middle schools	83.9%	17		79.7		67.3	85.1	65.4		65.9	82.1	73.3	100.0	100.0	$12,427
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%)	74	277^th of 1036 public middle schools	73.3%		68.7	351^st of 1046 public middle schools	66.4%	74		86.8		54.3	60.0	77.0		51.1	74.7	71.1		100.0	$12,061
Rittman Middle School	Public	6-8	50 Saurer St	Rittman	44270	Wayne County	Rittman Exempted Village	No	(n/a)	No	No	(330) 927-7100	190	18	10.3		179 (94.2%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (4.7%)	69	346^th of 1036 public middle schools	66.6%		67.1	380^th of 1046 public middle schools	63.7%	34		83.1		44.2	58.9	64.1		50.0	74.6	70.4		100.0	$12,279

Frequently Asked Questions about Northwestern Middle School

How many students attend Northwestern Middle School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 284 students attended Northwestern Middle School.

What is the racial makeup of Northwestern Middle School?

Students at Northwestern Middle School are 93% White, 3% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

What district is Northwestern Middle School in?

Northwestern Local

What high school do graduates of Northwestern Middle School attend?

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

Is Northwestern Middle School a good school?

Northwestern Middle School ranks 343^rd of 1036 Ohio middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Rate Northwestern Middle School!

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Latest Ohio data All new data »

2024–25 school spending dataJan 6, 2026

2024–25 attendance data & graduation ratesSep 17, 2025

2024–25 Ohio State Tests scoresSep 17, 2025

2023–24 school spending dataDec 2, 2024

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.