Best Public Schools in Zip Code 45308

ZIP code 45308 covers Bradford, Ohio, a small community served by a single district, Bradford Exempted Village (ranked 535 of 773 statewide, 2 stars). The district operates just two schools on Railroad Avenue: Bradford Elementary School, serving grades PK–5 with 269 students, and Bradford High School, serving grades 6–12 with 244 students — roughly 513 students combined. Neither building ranks near the top of the state; both sit at 2 stars, with the elementary at the 35th percentile and the high school at the 39th.

There are real strengths to build on. Third grade ELA at the elementary is the most consistent bright spot in the ZIP, scoring 73% proficient in 2025–26 and 73.2% the year before, both well above state. Social studies is the high school's clear center of excellence: American Government has beaten state two years running (79.1% and 77.5%), American History hit 84.8% in 2024–25, and English II reached 70.7%. Bradford High also posts a strong 94.6% graduation rate. The weak spots are equally clear: 8th grade math at the high school is the worst relative metric here (25.8% versus 52% statewide, though up from 11.9%), Algebra I has trailed state by double digits two years straight, and the elementary's 4th grade ELA and 5th grade science both fell below state.

Comparing the two buildings, they are moving in opposite directions. The elementary dropped from the 47th to the 35th percentile in one year as its average gap to state widened from roughly even to about nine points behind; the high school slipped more gently and actually narrowed its average gap. Chronic absenteeism tells two stories under one district average of 19.2%: 14.6% at the elementary versus 25.0% at the high school, where 98.77% of students receive free or reduced lunch. Spending per student is nearly identical at both schools, so resources are not the obvious difference. Families should note that elementary grade-level results rest on small groups, the elementary's poverty rate is not reported, and spending figures date to 2018–19.