The top reported proficiency rate is 28% in Science. The lowest is 16% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Andrew J Rickoff
Andrew J Rickoff is a public elementary and middle school serving preK through eighth grade in Cleveland. It sits in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood on the city's east side and enrolls a student body that is predominantly Black, with a small number of students who are Hispanic, white, Asian or multiracial. The school does not report the count or rate of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, nor does it report enrollment of students with individualized education plans or English learners, so a parent seeking that data should contact the school directly.
On Ohio's State Tests for 2024-25, Rickoff's students showed low proficiency across tested subjects. In math, roughly one in six students tested at proficient level or above; in English language arts, roughly one in five. In science, the school performed somewhat better at roughly one in four, though science testing covers only the upper grades. When compared to other schools in Cuyahoga County, Rickoff's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile of the county's schools. This is a straightforward indicator that academic performance, as measured by state tests, is below the county median. A parent considering this school may want to look further into what the school is doing to build proficiency, what supports are available for students who struggle, and whether the academic trajectory aligns with their child's needs.
The school's enrollment is small for its grade span, spanning from early childhood through middle school. Within that span, enrollment is relatively balanced across grades, with slightly larger cohorts in the earlier elementary years and somewhat smaller ones in the upper elementary and middle grades. This mixed-age span creates a K-8 learning environment rather than separate elementary and middle structures, which shapes daily peer groups and school culture.
Cleveland itself is a large mixed-use city on Lake Erie's shore with distinct neighborhoods, each with its own commercial and community character. The city has shifted from manufacturing toward healthcare, education and service employment. After decades of population decline, downtown and inner-ring neighborhoods have seen modest new residential investment, though exurban counties remain the main draw for new housing growth across Greater Cleveland. Housing values in the Cleveland zip code are modest relative to the state and national benchmarks, and rental costs are below national median as well, making housing relatively affordable by comparison, though this reflects the local economic context rather than appreciation.
The Cleveland Municipal School District, Rickoff's parent district, is navigating substantial change. In December 2025 the district board approved a major consolidation plan that will reduce the district from eighty-eight schools to fifty-nine by the 2026-27 school year, closing eighteen buildings, ending five leases, and merging thirty-nine schools. About one-third of the district's students will be reassigned as a result, and the district projects annual savings. For families, this means the school footprint is shifting, some children will change school assignments, and transportation patterns will evolve. Additionally, voters passed Issue 49 in November 2024, a multi-year operating levy and bond extension that increases property taxes on homeowners by roughly the cost of a few hundred dollars per year on a median-value home, raising the district several hundred million dollars annually for operations and facilities. The district also went cellphone-free for students in 2024-25 and rolled out an online grade book system giving parents real-time access to grades.
For a parent evaluating Rickoff, the key questions involve whether the school's current academic performance and support systems fit their child, whether transportation will be reliable under the district's evolving structure, and whether the tax increase and consolidation plans reflect a sustainable direction they feel confident in.
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