Summary:
Zip code 45778, serving the Stewart, Ohio area, is home to two public schools within the Federal Hocking Local School District: Federal Hocking High School (grades 9-12, 211 students) and Federal Hocking Middle School (grades 6-8, 185 students). The district ranks 508th out of 828 in Ohio, earning a 2-star rating, and the two schools present distinct challenges and strengths that parents should consider.
Federal Hocking High School stands out for its strong Biology proficiency rate of 67.3%, which exceeds the state average, and a solid 88.3% graduation rate. However, it struggles significantly with a 36.4% chronic absenteeism rate—far above the district average—and underperforms the state in most subjects, particularly American History and Geometry. In contrast, Federal Hocking Middle School shows more consistent performance, holding a 2-star rating for three years, and boasts a notable strength in 7th grade, where students score at or above state averages in both Math and English Language Arts. The middle school also benefits from a better student-teacher ratio of 11.5:1, compared to the high school's 15:1, despite spending significantly less per student ($7,050 vs. $11,644).
A key takeaway is the spending paradox: the high school spends 65% more per student yet achieves worse overall academic outcomes, suggesting funds may not be effectively addressing root issues like chronic absenteeism. The 7th grade anomaly at the middle school offers a potential blueprint for improvement, as it is the only grade level in the zip code to match state averages in multiple subjects. Ultimately, these schools require targeted, school-specific interventions—the high school needs to tackle attendance, while the middle school can build on its 7th-grade success to lift other grades.
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