The latest Ohio School Report Cards are in, and the results paint a mixed picture for Scioto County schools. At the top of the list, the Scioto County Career Technical Center earned a perfect 5-star rating, while Portsmouth City Schools continue to grapple with low test scores and high absenteeism.
Portsmouth’s Struggles in Focus
Portsmouth City Schools received just 3 out of 5 stars overall and only 2 out of 5 for achievement. The state noted that many grade levels fell short on proficiency tests, particularly in math and English.
- Elementary & Middle School:
Only 48.8% of third graders tested proficient in English Language Arts, and just over half (52.5%) in math. By fifth grade, math proficiency plunged to 23.7%.
Sixth and seventh graders fared even worse in math, with only 20% and 22.8% proficient, respectively.
- High School:
While U.S. History was a bright spot (85.1% proficient), other subjects lagged behind: Geometry (37.2%), Biology (41.5%), and English II (46.8%).
The district scored just 1 out of 3 stars for early literacy in grades K–3, suggesting students are starting behind and struggling to catch up. On a positive note, Portsmouth did receive 4 stars for graduation rate and 3 stars for workforce readiness.
Chronic absenteeism remains a major hurdle: 32.2% of Portsmouth students were chronically absent, compared to 13.4% in Wheelersburg.
Scioto County’s Best Performers
- Scioto County Career Technical Center (CTC): The standout of the county, the CTC earned a full 5 stars, meeting all 9 out of 9 federal performance indicators—a clear win for workforce readiness and career training.
- Northwest Local Schools: Scored 4.5 stars overall, with 4-star achievement, 5-star progress, and a 5-star graduation rate.
- Wheelersburg Local Schools: Ranked 4 out of 5, boasting a 5-star graduation rate and 4-star achievement, though it earned just 1 star for workforce readiness.
- Bloom-Vernon Local Schools: Earned 4 out of 5 stars, showing steady performance across categories.
- Green Local & Valley Local Schools: Both scored 4 out of 5, reflecting solid academic progress and high graduation rates.
Mid-Range Schools
- Clay Local Schools: Scored 3.5 out of 5 stars with a 5-star graduation rate, but only 1 star for workforce readiness.
- New Boston Local Schools: Also at 3.5 stars overall, with 5-star progress and graduation, but weak in early literacy and workforce readiness (both 1 star). Academic achievement was rated at just 2 stars, flagged by the state as “needing support.”
- Washington-Nile Local Schools: Ranked 3.5 stars, with 3 stars for achievement and 2 for early literacy.
- Minford Local Schools: Came in at 3 stars overall, with good graduation rates but weak early literacy (2 stars).
What the Numbers Mean
The Ohio Department of Education emphasized that literacy remains a top priority across the state and noted that chronic absenteeism is trending downward overall. The College, Career, Workforce, and Military Readiness component was also highlighted, measuring how well students are being prepared for opportunities after graduation.
In Scioto County, the contrast is clear: while Portsmouth is still struggling to meet state standards, schools like Northwest, Wheelersburg, and the Career Technical Center are setting the bar high.