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Northwestern High School

Q: Is Northwestern High School a good school?

Northwestern High School ranks 230 th of 795 Ohio high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

230^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 795 Ohio High Schools

Better than 71% of Ohio high schools

Summary

Northwestern High School is a 9–12 school serving 327 students in West Salem, Ohio, and is the only high school in the Northwestern Local district. After a slump that bottomed out at the 42nd percentile (2 stars) in 2024–2025 — its lowest mark in a decade — the school rebounded to the 71st percentile (4 stars) in 2025–2026, a jump of 268 rank positions and 29 percentile points, its best showing since 2015–2016.

In 2025–2026, proficiency beat the state in every tested subject: American History 86.6%, Biology 81.3%, American Government 78.8%, English II 78.0%, Algebra I 69.5%, and Geometry 51.9%. Averaged across the six subjects, that works out to roughly 74% proficient versus about 63% statewide. Among nearby comprehensive high schools, only Norwayne High School (about 81%) scores higher; Northwestern edges out Hillsdale 7-12, Mapleton High School, Triway High School, Wooster High School, Ashland High School, and Black River High School. Math is the soft spot — Algebra I and Geometry are the only subjects where the school trails its own district, and Geometry is the lowest-proficiency subject overall.

Chronic absenteeism is the clearest weakness: 22.8% in 2025–2026, well above the district's 14.9% and far above Norwayne (10.0%), Hillsdale (13.8%), Ashland (14.6%), and Black River (14.7%). Graduation is a strength at 99.0%, up 5.8 points and the best in the school's five-year record. Worth noting: 52.0% of students are economically disadvantaged, more than every comparable neighbor, yet the low-income student subgroup ranked in the 83rd percentile — above the school's overall standing. The open question is whether this strong year is a durable turnaround or one upswing in a historically volatile pattern.

327

Students ?

13.7

Student/teacher ratio ?

$17,826

Per pupil spending ?

52.0%

Free/reduced lunch eligible (2024-25) ?

7473 N Elyria Rd
West Salem, OH 44287-9790

(419) 846-3833

District: Northwestern Local

Feeder schools for Northwestern High School:

Elementary:	Northwestern Elementary School
Middle:	Northwestern Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

94.8%

Hispanic:

2.8%

Two or more races:

2.1%

See top rated Ohio high schools

Compare Northwestern High School to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Rebounding — 42nd percentile in 2025 → 71st in 2026

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Ohio average (74% vs 63% meeting standards)

✓99% graduate within 4 years

✓Ranking is rebounding — up to 71st (2026) from a 42nd-percentile low (2025)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2025-2026) ?

This school74%

District avg76%

Ohio avg63%

230^th of 795

Ohio public high schools ?

Top 29%▼ down 8 pts since 2016

From top 21% (2016) to top 29% (2026)

See the entire ranking list of Ohio High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

159^th of 773Northwestern 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	63.9	230 of 795	71.1%	★★★★☆
2025	47.6	498 of 855	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	59.6	336 of 864	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	60.6	332 of 867	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	61.4	295 of 836	64.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	62.9	251 of 819	69.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	57.8	369 of 836	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.3	283 of 800	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2017	57.1	314 of 773	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2016	69.0	164 of 784	79.1%	★★★★☆
2015	69.7	158 of 778	79.7%	★★★★☆
2014	66.6	272 of 769	64.6%	★★★☆☆
2013	61.6	368 of 767	52.0%	★★★☆☆
2012	66.4	324 of 832	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2011	63.7	372 of 818	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2010	62.1	388 of 819	52.6%	★★★☆☆
2009	67.7	265 of 791	66.5%	★★★☆☆
2008	63.9	311 of 767	59.5%	★★★☆☆
2007	70.0	193 of 756	74.5%	★★★★☆
2006	77.6	103 of 696	85.2%	★★★★☆
2005	76.1	138 of 689	80.0%	★★★★☆
2004	83.3	101 of 681	85.2%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2021	29.8	432 of 596	27.5%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	68.3	241 of 763	68.4%	★★★☆☆
2025	52.0	464 of 809	42.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	68.3	254 of 798	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	61.9	340 of 813	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	59.8	343 of 794	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2021	61.1	299 of 775	61.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	48.9	510 of 781	34.7%	★★☆☆☆
2018	62.6	243 of 751	67.6%	★★★☆☆

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2025	63.7	111 of 244	54.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	69.9	82 of 280	70.7%	★★★★☆
2023	69.3	81 of 308	73.7%	★★★★☆
2021	47.6	236 of 349	32.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	41.8	204 of 272	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	71.9	74 of 538	86.2%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	73.5	130 of 761	82.9%	★★★★☆
2025	44.3	525 of 815	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	54.6	388 of 822	52.8%	★★★☆☆
2023	58.0	340 of 805	57.8%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.3	270 of 773	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	79.1	66 of 763	91.3%	★★★★★
2019	60.1	320 of 779	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2018	53.5	350 of 758	53.8%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	71.1	203 of 765	73.5%	★★★★☆
2025	37.5	572 of 817	30.0%	★★☆☆☆
2024	54.8	412 of 816	49.5%	★★☆☆☆
2023	61.7	333 of 819	59.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.1	274 of 808	66.1%	★★★☆☆
2021	66.5	226 of 778	71.0%	★★★★☆
2019	51.2	453 of 792	42.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	47.5	400 of 763	47.6%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2023	46.5	280 of 614	54.4%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Ohio percentile	Rating
2026	63.4	262 of 709	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2025	39.2	520 of 748	30.5%	★★☆☆☆
2024	55.3	376 of 754	50.1%	★★★☆☆
2023	56.7	348 of 756	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2022	57.8	323 of 749	56.9%	★★★☆☆
2021	60.5	266 of 727	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	52.6	400 of 739	45.9%	★★☆☆☆
2018	49.1	335 of 718	53.3%	★★★☆☆

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)83rd percentile+12 vs school

Male (2026)73rd percentile~ school

Female (2026)68th percentile-3 vs school

White (2026)63rd percentile-8 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2025)55th percentile+13 vs school

Special Education (2023)54th percentile-7 vs school

Disabled (2021)28th percentile-42 vs school

By subject vs Ohio (2025-2026) ?

American History87%+13 vs state

Biology81%+14 vs state

American Government79%+7 vs state

English II78%+15 vs state

Algebra I70%+8 vs state

Geometry52%+9 vs state

★

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Schools Near Northwestern 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 Integrated Math I (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 Integrated Math I End of Course	Ohio State Tests Algebra I End of Course	Total
Northwestern High School	Public	9-12	7473 N Elyria Rd	West Salem	44287	Wayne County	Northwestern Local	No	(n/a)	No	No	(419) 846-3833	327	24	13.7	52.0%	310 (94.8%)	1 (0.3%)	9 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.1%)	63.9	230^th of 795 public high schools	71.1%		47.6	498^th of 855 public high schools	41.8%	268		78.8	86.6					81.3	78.0	51.9		69.5	$17,826
Wooster High School	Public	8-12	515 Oldman Rd	Wooster	44691	Wayne County	Wooster City	No	(n/a)	No	No	(330) 345-4000	1,182	68	17.3	45.8%	985 (83.3%)	37 (3.1%)	67 (5.7%)	9 (0.8%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	83 (7.0%)	57.7	324^th of 795 public high schools	59.2%		54	409^th of 855 public high schools	52.2%	85	70.3	78.1	76.8		51.2		56.3	76.6	71.1	49.5		74.8	$16,664
Hillsdale 7-12	Public	7-12	479 Township Road 1902	Jeromesville	44840	Ashland County	Hillsdale Local	No	(n/a)	No	No	(419) 368-6841	360	31	11.7	36.1%	340 (94.4%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.8%)	58.9	305^th of 795 public high schools	61.6%		60.6	324^th of 855 public high schools	62.1%	19	68.9	62.9	90.5	51.1	70.0	78.3	67.6	82.1	68.4	49.4		82.8	$12,994
Heartland Technical Education Center	Public	7-12	1783 State Route 60	Ashland	44805	Ashland County	Heartland Technical Education Center	No	(n/a)	No	No	(419) 289-3313	440	37	11.8	59.3%	415 (94.3%)	3 (0.7%)	6 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (3.4%)								(n/a)
Mapleton High School	Public	9-12	1 Mountie Dr	Ashland	44805	Ashland County	Mapleton Local	No	(n/a)	No	No	(419) 945-2188	202	17	11.8	—	194 (96.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.0%)	54.6	364^th of 795 public high schools	54.2%		44.1	523^rd of 855 public high schools	38.8%	159		72.5	85.1					76.5	72.1	38.1	16.0	94.4	$12,354
Ashland County Community Academy	Public, Charter	7-12	716 Union St	Ashland	44805	Ashland County	Ashland County Community Academy	Yes	(n/a)	No	Yes	(419) 903-0295	61	5	12.2	—	59 (96.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (3.3%)								(n/a)													$18,459
Triway High School	Public	9-12	3205 Shreve Rd	Wooster	44691	Wayne County	Triway Local	No	(n/a)	No	No	(330) 264-8685	355	28	12.6	—	333 (93.8%)	2 (0.6%)	10 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (2.8%)	59.7	291^st of 795 public high schools	63.4%		76	112^th of 855 public high schools	86.9%	179		76.7	79.4					82.5	77.4	49.1		67.9	$15,317
Ashland High School	Public	9-12	1440 King Rd	Ashland	44805	Ashland County	Ashland City	No	(n/a)	No	No	(419) 289-7968	910	52	17.6	39.6%	807 (88.7%)	7 (0.8%)	34 (3.7%)	18 (2.0%)	2 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (4.6%)	56.1	350^th of 795 public high schools	56.0%		66.4	241^st of 855 public high schools	71.8%	109		79.7	77.9					78.7	64.5	56.8		63.5	$12,823
Norwayne High School	Public	9-12	350 S Main St	Creston	44217	Wayne County	Norwayne Local	No	(n/a)	No	No	(330) 435-6384	415	22	19.1	48.9%	390 (94.0%)	2 (0.5%)	10 (2.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (3.1%)	73.3	119^th of 795 public high schools	85.0%		71.4	174^th of 855 public high schools	79.6%	55		93.0	85.4					78.7	87.4	62.9		75.9	$12,089
Black River High School	Public	7-12	233 County Road 40	Sullivan	44880	Ashland County	Black River Local	No	(n/a)	No	No	(419) 736-3303	339	20	16.9	44.8%	316 (93.2%)	4 (1.2%)	11 (3.2%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (2.1%)	53	382^nd of 795 public high schools	51.9%		68.5	210^th of 855 public high schools	75.4%	172		82.8	82.7					56.3	72.0	48.6		64.6	$15,021

Frequently Asked Questions about Northwestern High School

Is Northwestern High School a good school?

Northwestern High School ranks 230^th of 795 Ohio high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Northwestern High School?

Students at Northwestern High School are 95% White, 3% Hispanic, 2% Two or more races.

What district is Northwestern High School in?

Northwestern Local

What schools feed into Northwestern High School?

Northwestern High School is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Northwestern Elementary School
Middle : Northwestern Middle School

How many students attend Northwestern High School?

In the 2024-25 school year, 327 students attended Northwestern High School.

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Latest Ohio data All new data »

2017–18 through 2025–26 immunization ratesNewOct 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.