The Springfield City School District received a 2.5-star rating on the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce state report card for the 2024–2025 academic year. This rating represents a .5-star improvement and underscores the resilience of students, staff, and families who continue to achieve progress despite significant barriers.
Key Areas of Growth
Performance Index: Increased to 60.156, a gain from last year’s 58.246.
Progress Component: Four of the district’s seventeen buildings earned a four-star rating in progress and seven others achieved three stars, demonstrating meaningful academic advancement through Ohio’s value-added model and highlighting the effectiveness of targeted educational programs and interventions.
College, Career, Workforce, and Military Readiness: Earned a three-star rating on the newly introduced component, which reflects that Springfield students are meeting state standards for success beyond high school through multiple pathways including College Credit Plus, Advanced Placement, industry-recognized credentials, pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs, and military enlistment.
Graduation Rates: Four-year graduation rate rose to 88.8% (up from 84.0% last year), a five-year high.
Attendance: Chronic absenteeism dropped to 39.0%, down nearly 19 percentage points from its 2022–2023 peak of 57.7% and the overall attendance rate rose to 89%, a 7% increase from the 2020-2021 school year.
Early Literacy: While the overall Early Literacy component remains rated at one star, third grade reading data show growth in targeted intervention areas.
These data points indicate that Springfield students are making meaningful gains, even as the district continues to serve one of the most economically disadvantaged populations in the state. “While ratings provide only one measure, we are encouraged by these signs of progress,” SCSD Superintendent Dr. Bob Hill said. “Springfield students and teachers are demonstrating determination and persistence every day.”
Teachers across Springfield provide grade-level lessons to every student, while adjusting instruction so that each child can learn at their own pace. The district uses i-Ready assessments to carefully track how students are progressing and to identify exactly where extra support is needed.
For many years, Springfield students have often entered new grade levels already behind, sometimes by two or more years. This makes meeting state standards on schedule a major challenge.
Despite this reality, recent i-Ready results show very encouraging progress:
Large numbers of students are meeting their yearly growth goals.
An increasing number are hitting “stretch growth,” which means they are learning more than one year’s worth of material in a single year.
This trend shows that students are not only learning, but also catching up to grade-level expectations faster than before. It is clear proof that teachers’ efforts and the district’s strategies are helping students close long-standing gaps and move toward long-term success.
The Impact of Poverty
The Springfield City School District is part of the Federal Community Eligibility Program, meaning every student qualifies for free breakfast and lunch. More than 1,000 students are English Learners, and over 400 are experiencing homelessness. Poverty is a proven driver of academic challenges, but Springfield students are breaking through barriers with the support of dedicated educators, families, and community partners.
External Disruptions
Beyond poverty, this past year brought additional challenges tied to the presidential election cycle. As national tensions spilled into local communities, Springfield schools experienced disruptions requiring focus on student safety and stability. Despite these circumstances, classrooms remained places of resilience and growth.
District Priorities Moving Forward
In response to report card findings, the district is advancing several strategic initiatives:
K–3 Literacy Expansion: Doubling down on early reading assessments and interventions and increasing teacher collaboration time to plan targeted instruction.
Leader in Me: Integrating Core 3 concepts focused on student-led experiences.
Attendance Improvement: Strengthening outreach and partnerships to reduce chronic absenteeism further through a district and community-wide attendance campaign.
Career Readiness: Through innovative programs such as the PAES Lab, increased Business Advisory Council partnerships, and additional graduation pathways, which prepares students with practical workforce skills.
Whole-Child Supports: Expanding access to mental health services and wraparound supports to address non-academic barriers.
A Broader Perspective
While a 2.5-star rating indicates continued opportunities for growth, it also represents the highest achievement for Springfield since the state introduced the star system. When viewed in the context of poverty, mobility, and external disruptions, the gains in graduation, attendance, and performance are especially significant. Springfield students are showing what is possible when determination meets opportunity. The path forward is clear, and the district is committed to ensuring every child has the resources and opportunities necessary to thrive.
“The community should be proud of how far our students have come despite the barriers our families face,” said Dr. Hill. “We remain committed to building on this momentum.”