Full Breakdown
Ohio School Report Cards Show Mixed Progress for Major Districts
By Drooid · · How we work
2026 Report Card Overview
The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW) released its 2026 school report cards in September, using the five-star rating system adopted after the 2021 amendment. Districts receive an overall rating from 1 to 5 stars in half-star increments and separate star ratings for six components: achievement, progress, gap closing, graduation, early literacy, and College, Career, Workforce and Military Readiness (CCWMR). Weighting assigns 25 % each to achievement and progress and 12.5 % to the remaining four components.
Cincinnati Public Schools Improves to 3 Stars
Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) earned an overall 3-star rating, up from 2.5 stars in 2025. Component scores:
- Achievement: 2 stars
- Progress: 4 stars (up from 2 stars)
- Gap Closing: 3 stars
- Graduation: 1 star (four-year rate fell to 80.6 %)
- Early Literacy: 2 stars
- CCWMR: 3 stars
Four CPS schools received 5-star overall ratings, and three schools earned 4- or 4.5-star ratings; no school received a 1-star rating.
Columbus City Schools Gains to 2.5 Stars
Columbus City Schools (CCS) posted an overall 2.5-star rating, a half-star improvement over its prior two-star rating. Component scores:
- Achievement: 2 stars
- Progress: 3 stars
- Gap Closing: 2 stars
- Graduation: 1 star
- Early Literacy: 1 star
- CCWMR: 3 stars
CCS reported that 45 of its 100+ schools met or exceeded state standards, and 77 schools met standards for student growth. Reading proficiency rose in five of seven grades, with eighth-grade improving by 7.4 percentage points; more than half of fifth-graders reached proficiency for the first time. Mathematics proficiency increased by an average of 9.4 percentage points since 2021-2022. Chronic absenteeism rose to 53.8 % for 2025-2026, up from 52.6 %.
Funding Context and Upcoming Levy
The report cards appear amid criticism of Ohio’s school-funding formula, which places a larger share of costs on local taxpayers. Columbus receives $4,442 in state aid per pupil compared with $14,117 for the city’s own contribution. CPS is leveraging its improved rating to request additional funding: a property-tax levy will appear on the November ballot.
Data & Statistics Summary
- CPS overall rating: 3 stars (up from 2.5)
- CPS progress rating: 4 stars (up from 2)
- CPS graduation rate: 80.6 %
- CCS overall rating: 2.5 stars (up from 2)
- CCS reading gain (8th grade): +7.4 pp
- CCS math gain (average): +9.4 pp since 2021-2022
- CCS chronic absenteeism: 53.8 % (2025-2026)
Official Statements & Responses
- Shauna Murphy (CPS Superintendent) highlighted the district’s collective effort and expressed optimism about the rating increase.
- Angela Chapman (CCS Superintendent) acknowledged progress while calling for continued improvement.
- State officials noted that minor adjustments to the graduation and CCWMR components were intended to produce “slight increases in performance” this year.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I want to say thank you to the board for all of your dedication, hard work, your push, your drive. To our students, for their tenacity, their hard work and for their families for choosing Cincinnati Public Schools,” — Superintendent Shauna Murphy
What’s Next
- CPS’s property-tax levy will be on the November ballot, aiming to secure additional local funding.
- ODEW will publish the next set of report cards in 2027, providing another benchmark for district performance and funding discussions.