The top reported proficiency rate is 70% in Social studies. The lowest is 42% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Chillicothe Intermediate School
Chillicothe Intermediate School serves grades three through six in the only city school district in Chillicothe, Ohio, a small historic city in southern Ross County. The school draws from a stable community where housing prices fall notably below state and national benchmarks, and where civic life centers on a walkable downtown with parks, cultural venues, and a recently revitalized commercial core, though the May 2025 closure of the Pixelle paper mill dealt the local economy a significant blow.
The school enrolls a student body that is predominantly white, with a meaningful share identifying as two or more races and smaller populations of Black and Hispanic students. Specific data on free and reduced-price lunch eligibility, special education enrollment, and English learner status were not available. The enrollment spans roughly evenly across the four grade bands served, with slightly more students in sixth grade.
State test results show mixed academic performance. In English language arts, about half of students scored at proficiency or above, while math proficiency ran lower, with students demonstrating measurable gains in reading comprehension relative to mathematics problem-solving. Science proficiency was comparable to math. The school's overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint among Ross County school districts. Ohio's state tests administered to grades three through six achieved near-complete participation, indicating reliable data capture.
The district itself navigates real budget pressure. An earned income tax levy failed by a narrow margin in May 2026 after the district had already made cuts in prior years; officials indicated that without new revenue, further reductions to staffing and programs would follow. Simultaneously, the district completed a major elementary school consolidation project, demolishing the former Western and Hopewell Elementary buildings and opening two new grade-banded elementary campuses with state support. This restructuring permanently altered which buildings serve which grade bands across the system, affecting where families' youngest children attend school.
Chillicothe is a city of moderate size on the southern fringe of the Columbus metropolitan area. The historic downtown, recognized for effective revitalization, draws foot traffic to breweries, restaurants, shops, and the Majestic Theatre; a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area and annual festivals like the Feast of the Flowering Moon anchor civic life. Beyond the core, the city spreads across neighborhoods of Victorian and mid-century homes, with a retail corridor and manufacturing sites on the edges. Public transit operates fare-free on-demand service supplemented by fixed routes, with all routes connecting at the public library to enable transfers. The school itself sits dispersed within the city rather than clustered downtown.
For families considering this school, the trajectory matters. The intermediate grades show reading performance holding steady and math and science performing similarly to one another, but both trailing reading. A parent may want to look into further with the school what supports exist for mathematics, given the proficiency gap. The district's current fiscal strain is real and ongoing; families choosing this school should be aware that budget constraints are likely to shape program offerings and staffing stability in the near term. The community itself is stable and walkable, with low housing costs and established civic institutions, though the local economic base has contracted significantly with the mill closure.
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