District report cards have been released across Ohio, and in Franklin County, the wealthiest areas tended to do best.
The top graded districts in the county for the 2017-18 school year are Bexley City and New Albany-Plain Local — both earned an A and, in 2016, both had six-figure median incomes.
Columbus City Schools is by far the largest district in the county and second lowest in household income. It was the only district in Franklin County to receive an F.
Higher income neighborhoods like Dublin, Upper Arlington and Grandview Heights all earned Bs.
But while income roughly correlated with school grades, it wasn’t a perfect predictor—Worthington and Canal Winchester had nearly identical 2016 median incomes but earned a B and a D respectively.
Overall, there were 14 Fs and 28 As, but the most common grade for districts was a C.
Ohio education officials have graded aspects of a district’s performance like graduation rate for years, but this is the first time each district has received an overall letter grade.
Other urban districts Cleveland, Dayton, Youngstown and Toledo received failing grades in addition to Columbus while many wealthier suburban areas of the state got high marks.
State School Superintendent Paolo DeMaria says there’s been improvement, even in some districts with an overall failing grade. He says it’s important to look at the data behind those letters.
“If a district or a school has a C grade, you know what are the contributors? What are the successful things that contribute to that C? What might be the weaknesses that need further attention or further improvement?” DeMaria says.
DeMaria says only East Cleveland will be subject to state takeover because of this report card.
The overall grades for districts in Franklin County are as follows:
- A, Bexley City Schools
- A, New Albany-Plain Local
- B, Dublin City
- B, Gahanna-Jefferson City
- B, Grandview Heights Schools
- B, Upper Arlington City
- B, Worthington City
- C, Groveport Madison Local
- C, Hamilton Local
- C, Hilliard City
- C, Westerville City
- D, Canal Winchester Local
- D, Reynoldsburg City
- D, South-Western City
- D, Whitehall City
- F, Columbus City School District
