Mentor Exempted Village, OH

Original Research by School Decision on Mentor Exempted Village

Mentor Exempted Village is a mid-sized public school district in Lake County, Ohio, serving students from prekindergarten through grade twelve. The district operates across a school community with an enrollment spanning the full age range, from early childhood through high school.

Academic performance in the district shows solid proficiency across state-tested subjects. In English language arts, reading and writing proficiency stands at a level that approaches three-quarters of students meeting state standards. Mathematics proficiency is slightly lower, with about seven in ten students meeting standards. Science proficiency is comparable to mathematics. Social studies shows notably stronger results, with a substantial majority of students meeting proficiency. These results place Mentor in the top quartile for overall proficiency among Lake County's districts.

Chronic absenteeism is another bright spot. The district's chronic absenteeism rate is low relative to county peers, also placing it in the top quartile. This reflects strong student engagement and attendance patterns across the district.

The student body is predominantly white, with smaller Asian, Hispanic, Black, and multiracial populations represented. Specific enrollment data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available. The district does not report free-or-reduced-price lunch counts, so the extent of economic need among families is unclear from available information.

Mentor sits in a housing market where median home values are slightly above the state benchmark but well below the national average. Rental rates are moderate, and the mortgage-to-income ratio suggests homes are moderately priced for families in the region. The area draws from Mentor proper, with small portions from Painesville and Willoughby.

A significant budget challenge has reshaped the district's near-term outlook. In May 2026, voters rejected a new operating levy that the district had placed on the ballot. The failure compounds an ongoing budget reduction plan already underway for five years, which has eliminated more than thirty positions to date. The district now faces additional substantial cuts beyond those already planned, with reductions potentially affecting teaching staff, support services, and transportation. For families considering a move to the area, the coming years will likely bring tighter staffing and fewer program offerings than in the recent past.

In November 2023, voters had approved a renewal levy that preserves core operating funding but rejected a permanent improvement levy intended for building maintenance and capital projects. That loss continues to strain funding for roofing, paving, windows, and facility safety upgrades, forcing those costs onto the general budget and compounding the district's fiscal pressure.

The district operates elementary schools, two middle schools, and Mentor High School, along with preschool and a specialized school for students with autism diagnoses. The schools are established community institutions, but the budget environment means families should expect ongoing adjustments to services and staffing in the years ahead.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

7,067

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 4%

Black 4%

White 84%

Asian 2%

Two+ 5%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

60%

—

Gr 4

66%

—

Gr 5

67%

—

Gr 6

56%

—

Gr 7

64%

—

Gr 8

62%

—

Gr 38

62%

—

Math

Gr 3

64%

—

Gr 4

76%

—

Gr 5

53%

—

Gr 6

48%

—

Gr 7

48%

—

Gr 8

54%

—

Gr 38

57%

—

Science

Gr 5

55%

—

Gr 8

55%

—

Gr 38

55%

—

Schools in this District

13 schools are officially reported under this district.

Bellflower Elementary School

Ridge Elementary School

Fairfax Elementary School

Hopkins Elementary School

Lake Elementary School

Memorial Middle School

Mentor High School

Shore Middle School

Orchard Hollow Elementary School

Sterling Morton Elementary School

Mentor High School Preschool

Garfield Preschool

Cardinal Autism Resource and Education School (CARES)

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

1 grade reported

72%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

76%

Grades 3-8

Science

1 grade reported

70%

Grades 3-8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$274,467

Year-over-year change+3.9%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$255K to $288K

vs. state typical1.12x

vs. national typical0.75x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
44060	Mentor	$275K	+3.9%	98.2%
44077	Painesville	$255K	+3.9%	1.5%
44094	Willoughby	$288K	+4.1%	0.3%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,548/mo

Year-over-year change+5.2%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$1,224 to $1,554/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
44060	Mentor	$1,554	+5.2%	98.2%
44077	Painesville	$1,224	+6.8%	1.5%
44094	Willoughby	$1,242	+7.8%	0.3%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,385/mo

Home price / national median income3.3x

Annual rent / national median income22.2%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$163/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$244,844 (+3.6% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.