The top reported proficiency rate is 25% in Math. The lowest is 9% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Stephanie Rushin Patrick Elementary School
Stephanie Rushin Patrick Elementary serves kindergarten through sixth grade in Canton, a mid-size Ohio city whose economy, rooted in steel and manufacturing, is transitioning toward healthcare, retail, and services. The school enrolls a diverse student body in which about half are Black students, about a quarter are white, and roughly another quarter are split between Hispanic, multiracial, and other backgrounds. Free or reduced price lunch data is not available, but the neighborhood context and district's recent fiscal pressures suggest a community with significant economic need.
The school's test results show low proficiency. On Ohio's state assessments in the most recent year, about a quarter of tested students met proficiency in math, and about that same share in English language arts. Science proficiency was substantially lower, at roughly one in twelve tested students. These numbers place the school well below the median across tested schools in Stark County. The school tested nearly all eligible students, so participation was not a barrier to these results. Because only one year of assessment data is available, the longer-term trend is unclear. Parents considering this school should recognize that state testing performance is weak and ask the school directly what support systems are in place, what curriculum changes or interventions have begun, and whether the current budget crisis affecting the district is affecting classroom resources or staffing here.
The housing market in the school's zip code runs modestly below the state average. Median home values and monthly rents are lower than the statewide benchmark, making this a more affordable area than many parts of Ohio, though rents have been rising. The economic conditions in Canton itself include steady healthcare employment through large hospital systems, ongoing but reduced manufacturing, and some retail and service activity. Unemployment sits near the national average.
The district faces acute financial pressures. In January 2026, Canton City Schools approved a major budget reduction plan involving building closures, attendance-zone redraws, increased class sizes across all grades, and dozens of staff cuts. The district is consolidating from a K-3, 4-5, 6-8 model to K-6 neighborhood elementary schools, a shift parents have requested, but the shift is being driven also by fiscal need. Stephanie Rushin Patrick is a traditional neighborhood school, not part of the new construction planned at other sites; a parent should verify with the district whether this building's attendance boundary, enrollment, or staffing will change as this transition unfolds. A major operating levy is planned for the November 2026 ballot. These changes will affect property taxes, class sizes, and which building a child attends.
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