The top reported proficiency rate is 35% in English language arts. The lowest is 9% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Frederick Douglass School
Frederick Douglass School is a small elementary school serving pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in Cincinnati, with an enrollment of around a few hundred students across eight grade levels. The school is located on Park Avenue in the 45206 zip code and is part of Cincinnati Public Schools.
The student body is predominantly Black, with a substantial majority of enrollment coming from African American students. The school also serves a small number of students of other racial and ethnic backgrounds, including white, multiracial, and Hispanic students. Demographic data on free or reduced-price lunch eligibility and special education or English learner enrollment was not available.
On state testing, Frederick Douglass shows weak academic performance across tested areas. In English language arts, roughly one-third of students in grades 3 through 6 scored at proficient level or above on Ohio's State Tests, with reading proficiency lower still. Mathematics proficiency is markedly low, with only around one in ten students meeting proficiency in the school year just completed. Science proficiency sits at roughly one-third. The school's performance on mathematics places it well below the median among elementary schools in Hamilton County, falling into the bottom quartile when measured against district peers. ELA results are similarly low when compared with the county comparison set. Social studies testing data available was from several years prior and similarly showed minimal proficiency.
The Cincinnati Public Schools district, which operates Frederick Douglass, has undergone substantial recent shifts. The district closed a large budget gap in 2025 by cutting classroom positions and reducing support services. The district also made a curriculum change, adopting new ELA materials and training teachers in science-of-reading approaches starting at the earliest grades. Voters renewed the district's operating levy in November 2025 without a tax increase, dedicating recurring funding to preschool expansion and K–12 programming including college and career readiness and neighborhood school options. This signals some stability in operating support moving forward, though the recent staffing cuts remain a near-term reality.
Frederick Douglass sits in Cincinnati proper, in the Park Avenue corridor. The neighborhood is part of the broader urban core, with access to the public library system, bus transit via Metro, and the free Connector streetcar system that links downtown, Over-the-Rhine, and The Banks. Housing values in the 45206 zip code are moderate relative to national benchmarks and have seen a modest decline. Rental costs are in line with regional affordability measures. The broader Cincinnati market shows active new listing and apartment development, particularly downtown and in fast-growing suburbs, though the immediate neighborhoods around the school vary in walkability and development activity.
The school's test results and standing among county schools suggest it is operating with significant academic headwinds. A parent considering Frederick Douglass may want to look into further what school-level supports are available for reading and math instruction, how the recent district staffing changes have affected this particular school's classroom resources, and what supplemental or intervention services exist for students who are not yet proficient. The state testing data shows consistent gaps across multiple subjects, making questions about tutoring, special supports, and instructional intensity relevant for families making enrollment decisions.
See more original research from School Decision →