The top reported proficiency rate is 87% in Social studies. The lowest is 74% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Taft Intermediate School
Taft Intermediate School serves fourth and fifth graders in Ashland, a small college town in north-central Ohio where Ashland University anchors civic life alongside a downtown focused on walkable Main Street and strong local manufacturing. The school draws from Edison Elementary, which houses second and third graders under a district reconfiguration that began in the 2025-2026 school year and fundamentally altered which building elementary students attend based on grade level.
The school's most recent state testing data shows math proficiency above the midpoint among Ashland County districts and well-distributed performance across subjects. In math, the proficiency rate reflects strong command of grade-level content. English language arts proficiency is solid, with the average scale score in the mid-range for the assessment. Science proficiency sits slightly lower but remains respectable. Across the three subjects, math is the school's strongest showing. State testing results from earlier years are too dated to trend, so the school's momentum is unclear. All tested students participated in the state assessments.
The enrollment is small for an intermediate school, spanning two grades. Student composition is predominantly white, reflecting the town's demographics. About half the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of economic need and a context families use to gauge peer environment and school resources. The school does not report counts for special education or English learner enrollment, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the size of those populations and how they are served.
Ashland itself is experiencing notable residential growth. The city approved multiple housing developments in 2025 and early 2026, including a multi-building apartment project, a large condo community on the edge of town, and annexation of farmland for future development. Home values in the area are moderate compared to the state and well below the national benchmark. Median monthly rent in the zipcode is also modest, and mortgages are materially cheaper than rent for those with down payment savings. The town's major employers include Charles River Laboratories, the university, a hospital, and a manufacturing sector that spans industries from hydraulics to consumer goods.
The district faces a property tax renewal vote in November 2026. As a renewal rather than a new tax increase, it holds existing rates steady, but voters will determine whether a substantial funding source continues. One of the district's elementary buildings, Reagan Elementary, earned National Blue Ribbon School status in 2024, a federal recognition based on the school's five-star state rating. That credential reflects and reinforces the district's academic identity locally.
Taft's academic profile is the main anchor for families choosing this school. The proficiency rates in math and science are firm, and the school sits above the county median in overall proficiency. For a parent weighing intermediate schools in this part of Ohio, the combination of solid test performance, small size, and the town's affordability and walkable downtown core makes Taft a straightforward choice if the grade band and geography fit. The recent elementary reconfiguration is worth understanding if you have younger children already in or entering the district.
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