The Ohio Department of Education has published its annual 2025‑2026 Ohio School Report Cards, providing parents, teachers and community members a clear snapshot of how districts are performing under the state’s accountability system.
How the rating system works
Since the 2021 amendment to Ohio’s accountability law, each district and individual school receives an overall star rating from one to five stars, in half‑star increments. In addition to the overall score, five component categories are rated: achievement, progress, gap closing, graduation and early literacy. A separate College, Career, Workforce, and Military Readiness (CCWMR) component measures how well graduating seniors are prepared for post‑secondary pathways.
Cincinnati Public Schools’ performance
Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) earned an overall rating of three out of five stars, an improvement from the 2.5‑star rating recorded in the 2025 report. The three‑star rating indicates that the district “needs support to meet state standards.” The breakdown by component is as follows:
- Achievement: 2 stars
- Progress: 4 stars
- Gap closing: 3 stars
- Graduation: 1 star
- Early literacy: 2 stars
- College, Career, Workforce, Military Readiness: 3 stars
While the graduation component remains a concern at one star, the district’s progress rating of four stars shows notable improvement in student growth over the reporting period.
How other Greater Cincinnati districts fared
Below are the overall star ratings for several neighboring districts:
- Cincinnati Public Schools – 3 stars (up from 2.5)
- Middletown City Schools – 2 stars
- Lakota Local Schools – 4.5 stars
- Mt. Healthy City Schools – 2.5 stars
- Forest Hills School District – 5 stars (up from 4.5)
- Oak Hills Local Schools – 4 stars
Forest Hills achieved the highest possible rating, reflecting strong performance across the measured components. Lakota Local and Oak Hills also posted solid scores, indicating that many districts in the region are moving in the right direction.
What the ratings mean for families
Parents can use the report cards to gauge how well their local schools are meeting state standards and where additional support may be needed. The component breakdown highlights specific areas—such as early literacy or gap closing—where families and community groups might focus advocacy or volunteer efforts.
For a deeper dive into the methodology, proficiency rates and the CCWMR component, the Ohio Department of Education provides a detailed guide to the 2026 report cards on its website.
Looking ahead
The state’s accountability framework is designed to encourage continuous improvement. Districts that receive lower scores are expected to develop targeted improvement plans, and the next year’s report cards will reflect progress—or lack thereof—based on those plans. Cincinnati Public Schools’ rise from 2.5 to three stars suggests that recent initiatives are beginning to bear fruit, but the low graduation rating signals that further work is needed to ensure every student is prepared for life after high school.
Community members, educators and local leaders are encouraged to review the full report, attend school board meetings and collaborate on strategies that will lift all components of the rating system for the benefit of Ohio’s children.
Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.
