Best Middle Schools in Zip Code 44256

The 44256 zip code area is home to a diverse set of 5 middle schools, serving grades 6-8, with a mix of high-performing and more average academic outcomes. The top schools in the area are Highland Middle School and A.I. Root Middle School, which consistently achieve exceptional test scores and low chronic absenteeism rates. In contrast, the Claggett Middle School and the Buckeye Intermediate School and Buckeye Junior High School lag behind in academic performance, with proficiency rates closer to or below state averages.

The top-performing schools, Highland and A.I. Root, stand out with 5-star ratings from SchoolDigger and rankings in the top 100 middle schools in Ohio. Highland Middle School, in particular, is ranked 37th out of 1,036 Ohio middle schools and boasts an impressive 80%+ proficiency rates in math and ELA across grade levels. These high-achieving schools also have relatively low free/reduced lunch rates and chronic absenteeism, suggesting a potential correlation between student demographics and academic outcomes.

Interestingly, per-student spending and resources do not necessarily translate directly to academic performance. Highland Middle, the top performer, has the highest per-student spending, but Claggett Middle and A.I. Root Middle achieve strong results with lower spending. Additionally, the Buckeye Intermediate School and Buckeye Junior High School, which serve a wider grade range (4-6 and 7-8), have more mixed performance compared to the dedicated 6-8 middle schools, suggesting the importance of a focused middle school model.