The top reported proficiency rate is 11% in English language arts. The lowest is 2% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Anton Grdina
Anton Grdina is a small public school in Cleveland serving prekindergarten through ninth grade, with enrollment distributed across the early and middle grades. The student body is overwhelmingly African American, with a small number of students of mixed race or other backgrounds. Data on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility and English learner status were not available.
The school's academic performance is notably low across tested subjects. In math, fewer than a handful of students in the tested grades met proficiency on Ohio's State Tests. English language arts showed slightly higher proficiency but still in the single digits. Science proficiency was similarly limited. The school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile among districts in Cuyahoga County. Because the school does not serve tenth through twelfth grade, no graduation rate is available; state testing does not measure the early grades, so prekindergarten and early elementary performance is unmeasured by this metric.
The school is part of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, which in December 2025 approved a significant consolidation plan that will reshape the district's footprint. By the 2026-27 school year, the district will merge schools and close buildings, affecting a substantial share of students across the system and changing which schools many families attend. This restructuring will likely have direct implications for Anton Grdina and its enrollment going forward. Additionally, voters approved a tax levy increase in November 2024 that raises operating funds for the district and will cost homeowners in the district more per year based on home value.
For the current school year, the district became cellphone-free for students and introduced an online grade book system called PowerSchool, giving parents direct access to grades. These changes affect daily classroom operations and parent communication across all district schools.
The neighborhood where Anton Grdina sits, on the East Side in the 44104 zip code, reflects broader Cleveland housing patterns. Home values in this area have declined modestly year-over-year, and median rent and home value are both well below state and national benchmarks. The area is a quieter, more residential part of Cleveland, distinct from the walkable, investment-heavy neighborhoods like Downtown and Ohio City that have seen recent growth.
Families considering this school should look closely at the district's consolidation plan to understand whether Anton Grdina will remain open and unchanged, or whether it will be affected by mergers or closures in coming years. The very low academic proficiency numbers warrant a detailed conversation with school leadership about the school's instructional approach, student support services, and plans to improve outcomes. The school's small size and early-grades-heavy enrollment composition also means it offers a different environment than larger comprehensive schools serving through high school.
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