Best Public Schools in Zip Code 45068

Zip code 45068 is home to three public schools serving grades PK–12: Waynesville Elementary School (PK–6, 749 students), Waynesville Middle School (6–8, 379 students), and Waynesville High School (9–12, 448 students). All three belong to the Wayne Local district and together enroll 1,576 students. The elementary school is the largest; the middle school is the smallest.

This is one of Ohio's strongest districts. Wayne Local ranks 41st of 773 districts (95th percentile, 5 stars), and every school holds a 5-star rating. Waynesville Elementary School has the best overall profile: 82nd of 1,560 schools (95th percentile), with standout math (4th-grade math 97.2%, 3rd-grade math 95.9%, versus 67.3% and 62.1% statewide), the lowest chronic absenteeism at 10.3%, and a steadily improving rank. Waynesville Middle School ranks 78th of 1,046 (93rd percentile) and posts a remarkable 100% Algebra I proficiency in both years, against 61.6% statewide. Waynesville High School ranks 76th of 795 (90th percentile) with a 98.6% graduation rate and strong End-of-Course scores, but the highest chronic absenteeism at 19.9%.

Every reported 2025–26 test score across all three schools sits above the state average, by at least 16.4 points. Average gaps over state are +25.3 points at the elementary school, +25.6 at the middle school, and +20.6 at the high school. The high school dipped year over year in most subjects except American Government, and middle school 7th-grade math fell from 81.6% to 70.2% while 8th-grade math jumped from 60.6% to 80.5%. Resource patterns are not simple: the middle school has the highest student-teacher ratio (22.9) and highest 2018–19 spending ($9,453), while the elementary school gets the best results with the lowest spending ($8,938) and largest enrollment. The middle school's free/reduced-lunch figure is not reported here, and spending data date to 2018–19.