District holds steady at four stars on state report card

by Dan Holland

The Nordonia Hills City School District earned 4 out of 5 stars on its state report card for the 2025-2026 school year, maintaining the same overall score from the 2024-2025 school year.

The district earned 5 stars for the 2022-2023 school year and 4.5 stars for 2023-2024.

According to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce’s star-based system, 4 stars is defined as “exceeding state standards.”

School districts are rated in six categories, with Nordonia earning the same star ratings as last year. They include achievement on state tests (5 stars), student progress (3 stars), gap closing for student subgroups (5 stars), early literacy in kindergarten through third grade (4 stars), graduation rates (5 stars) and college, career, workforce and military readiness (2 stars).

Each school is also ranked in five categories for a combined overall score, with graduation rates being factored in at the high school level.

Individual school ratings were as follows: Ledgeview Elementary School (4.5 stars), Lee Eaton Intermediate School (5 stars), Nordonia High School (3.5 stars), Nordonia Middle School (4 stars), Northfield Elementary School (4.5 stars) and Rushwood Elementary School (4 stars).

Five-star highlights on the report card include a 96.9% graduation rate, gap closing (75%) and achievement (90.8%).

Gap closing measures how well schools are meeting performance standards in English language arts, math and graduation rates. It also factors in chronic absenteeism, supporting English learners and identifying gifted students.

Superintendent Casey Wright said he is pleased with the district’s overall score.

“We are pleased that Nordonia maintained its four-star rating and continues to perform at a high level,” said Wright. “The district earned five stars in achievement, gap closing and graduation, along with four stars in early literacy. Our performance index also increased to 90.8%; its highest level in five years.”

Wright also noted improvements from last year.

“Our gap closing score increased from 62.7% to 75%, and our college, career, workforce and military readiness score increased seven percentage points, from 53.2% to 60.2%,” he noted. “Third-grade English language arts proficiency reached 81.6%, and 85.3% of students met the requirements for promotion to fourth grade.”

Wright said the district will continue to focus on improving in the areas of progress and post-graduation.

“While our students continue to demonstrate strong achievement, we want every student to make at least a year’s worth of academic growth each year,” said Wright. “Our building teams have reviewed their data and developed action plans focused on specific grades, subjects and student groups.”

Specific measures are in place to address post-graduation success.

“We are expanding opportunities that contribute to the college, career, workforce and military readiness measure,” said Wright. “These include College Credit Plus, Advanced Placement courses, industry-recognized credentials, career-technical education, work-based learning, apprenticeships and military pathways.”

Among elementary school scores, Ledgeview improved by one-half star over last year, while Northfield and Rushwood declined by one-half star. Nordonia Middle School also declined by one-half star.

“Even with those changes, Northfield, Rushwood and the middle school all maintained five-star achievement ratings,” said Wright. “The primary factor at Northfield and the middle school was the progress component. Ledgeview’s improvement was driven by achievement increasing from four to five stars and early literacy increasing from three to four stars.”

Wright noted that the star rating system is only one measure of the district’s performance.

“These results show that Nordonia students continue to achieve at a high level while also identifying where we need to improve,” he said. “We are proud of the work of our students and staff and remain focused on continued growth.”