The top reported proficiency rate is 43% in Social studies. The lowest is 19% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Clarendon Intermediate School
Clarendon Intermediate School serves grades four through six in Canton, an Ohio city navigating both revival and contraction. The school enrolls a diverse student body drawn from the surrounding area, with enrollment roughly evenly split across the three grades. The student population is racially and ethnically mixed, with substantial representation among Black, White, Hispanic, and multiracial students.
The school's academic results present a significant challenge. On Ohio's State Tests in 2024-25, proficiency rates in core subjects were low. In English language arts, fewer than a third of students scored at proficient levels. In mathematics, the proficiency rate fell to below one in five. Science testing showed similar pressure, with proficiency around one in five students. When compared against districts across Stark County, Clarendon's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile, well below the median performance of other schools in the county that report these measures. State testing data for social studies is older and not current; science is tested only in a subset of grades, which explains the lower tested count there.
Student participation in testing has been strong. Participation rates exceeded ninety-nine percent in math and English language arts, indicating that absence and opt-out are not driving the low proficiency numbers.
The district has undergone significant structural change. In May 2023, voters approved a bond measure to build two new kindergarten-through-sixth-grade elementary schools, moving away from the prior model where younger students changed buildings every few years. This shift to neighborhood schools means assignments and busing patterns are being redrawn. More recently, in January 2026, the district approved a substantial budget reduction plan that closes multiple elementary buildings, consolidates students, and increases class sizes across all grade levels. These changes will directly affect where students attend school and the instructional environment they encounter, and parents should expect reassignment notices and changing conditions in their schools.
Canton itself is a mid-sized Ohio city with a historically industrial economy now diversifying toward healthcare, retail, and services. The city has experienced long-term population decline but shows signs of stabilization rather than active shrinkage. Downtown Canton has a vibrant Arts District centered on Fourth Street with galleries, studios, and restaurants, anchored by a monthly First Friday celebration. The Pro Football Hall of Fame and its mixed-use development campus sit north of the city along Interstate 77, distinct from downtown. Housing values in the area are moderate, with affordability better than national benchmarks. Healthcare and specialty manufacturing remain major employers alongside retail and services.
Clarendon Intermediate is positioned in a district undergoing real transition. The low proficiency results are the immediate academic reality. Parents should seek direct conversation with the school about its instructional approach to reading and mathematics, whether tutoring or additional support services are available, and how the district's current budget constraints may affect staffing and class size at Clarendon specifically. The broader district context of building consolidation and enrollment shifts is also something to clarify: understanding which building assignment applies to your child under the new configuration matters for logistics and community fit.
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