The top reported proficiency rate is 37% in Science. The lowest is 25% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Crenshaw Middle School
Crenshaw Middle School is a mid-sized public middle school serving seventh and eighth grades in Canton, Ohio. The school enrolls students from across the city's demographic spectrum: roughly a third are Black, roughly a third are white, a smaller share are Hispanic, and the remainder are multiracial or Native American. The school does not report free-or-reduced-price-lunch rates, so the economic profile of its student population is not available from the data.
State testing results show proficiency well below the Ohio standard across tested subjects. In English language arts, roughly a third of students tested reached proficiency. In math, proficiency was similar. Science performance was somewhat higher but still below half. The most recent comparable data on social studies dates to 2016 and is not recent enough to be meaningful for current conditions. Only one year of testing data is available, so no trend information is possible. Among the school districts in Stark County, Crenshaw's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile, meaning schools elsewhere in the county show stronger performance on average. A parent may want to look into what academic supports, tutoring, or intervention structures the school offers.
The school operates under Canton City School District, which faced significant change in early 2026. The district approved a major budget reduction including dozens of staff cuts, increased class sizes across all grades, and closure of multiple elementary buildings. A seven-mill operating levy is planned for November 2026 ballot, which would affect household property taxes. The district is also transitioning from its prior grade-band structure to K-6 neighborhood elementary schools, built with a 2023 bond measure. These shifts will redraw which building students attend and alter busing patterns. For families with younger siblings in the district or planning ahead, the move toward neighborhood elementary schools represents a lasting change in school assignment and configuration.
Crenshaw itself serves grades seven and eight only, so it is not directly affected by the elementary school reconfiguration. However, the budget reductions and staffing cuts extend across all grade levels, including middle school, so class sizes will grow and some positions will be eliminated.
Canton itself is a mid-size Ohio city with a mixed character. A historically industrial economy centered on steel and manufacturing is transitioning toward healthcare, retail, and services. Aultman Hospital and Mercy Medical Center are among the largest employers. TimkenSteel remains headquartered in the city. The downtown core is rated very walkable, with a pedestrian-friendly Arts District around Fourth Street and Cleveland Avenue anchored by galleries, studios, restaurants, and monthly First Friday celebrations. Civic life centers on downtown and includes the Stark County Library system, the Canton Palace Theatre, the Canton Museum of Art, and the McKinley Presidential Library. A major development story is Hall of Fame Village, a mixed-use campus under construction near the Pro Football Hall of Fame, with sports facilities, retail, and planned hotel and housing. The city has experienced long-term population decline, though recent losses are small enough that the Greater Ohio Policy Center characterizes the trend as stabilization rather than active shrinkage. Housing values in the Canton area are modest relative to national benchmarks, and rental costs are moderate. Mortgage affordability is better than the state average.
See more original research from School Decision →