At a glance
Ohio rates schools with star ratings (from 1 to 5 stars, in half-star increments), a change made in 2023 from the old A-F system. Ratings appear on the Ohio School Report Cards.
How this state rates schools
Ohio gives star ratings on several components — Achievement, Progress (growth), Graduation, Gap Closing, and Early Literacy — plus an overall star rating. More stars mean stronger performance; the Progress component captures growth.
What gets measured
Under the federal ESSA law, every state rates schools using several indicators. They typically include:
- Academic achievementHow students score on state tests (proficiency in reading/ELA and math)
- Academic growth / progressHow much students improve year to year — not just where they land
- Graduation rateFor high schools (the 4-year cohort rate)
- English-learner progressHow English learners are progressing toward proficiency
- School quality / student successAn extra indicator — often attendance/chronic absenteeism, college/career readiness, or similar
Finding & reading the report card
Look up any school on the Ohio School Report Cards portal. Review the component stars (especially Progress/growth and Early Literacy) and the trend, not just the overall stars.
How families should use ratings
A rating is a helpful starting point, not a verdict. Use it wisely:
- Read it in contextA school’s score reflects its students’ circumstances too, not only its quality
- Look at growth, not just scoresGrowth shows how much a school moves students — often more telling than raw proficiency
- Check the trendIs the school improving over time?
- Look past the summaryDig into the underlying data (subgroups, attendance, readiness)
- Then visitData raises questions; a visit answers them (see our guide on evaluating a school)
Tips for families
- Start on the official portalLook up your specific school, not just district averages
- Weigh growth heavilyHow much a school moves students matters as much as test scores
- Mind the contextRatings partly reflect student demographics and circumstances
- Compare a few schoolsRatings are most useful for comparison, in context
- Pair data with a visitNumbers plus a tour give the real picture
Frequently asked questions
- How does Ohio rate schools?Ohio uses star ratings (1–5 stars) across components and overall (it moved from A-F to stars in 2023).
- What do the ratings measure?Test scores, growth, graduation rate, English-learner progress, and a school-quality indicator.
- Where do I look up my school?On the state’s official report-card portal (see below).
- Should I choose a school by its rating alone?No — use it as a starting point, weigh growth and context, and visit.
- What are CSI and TSI?Federal labels for schools flagged for Comprehensive or Targeted Support and Improvement.
At a glance
- FormatStar ratings (1–5)
- ComponentsAchievement, Progress, Grad, Gap Closing, Early Literacy
- ToolOhio School Report Cards
- Look up atreportcard.education.ohio.gov
Where to look it up
Look up a specific school on the official portal: