The top reported proficiency rate is 27% in Social studies. The lowest is 6% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Marion-sterling Elementary School
Marion-Sterling Elementary School serves grades pre-kindergarten through ninth grade in Cleveland's Central neighborhood, near the intersection of Central Avenue and East 30th Street. The school has a small enrollment across a broad grade span that includes both early childhood and middle grades, ending unusually with a single ninth-grade student. The student population is overwhelmingly Black, with a small number of students identifying as Hispanic, White, or multiracial. Data on free-or-reduced-price lunch rates, English learner populations, and special education enrollment were not available.
On state assessments in mathematics, English language arts, and science, Marion-Sterling's proficiency rates are substantially below the midpoint among Cuyahoga County districts. The school reported single-digit proficiency rates in mathematics and science and a low proficiency rate in ELA across grades three through eight. The school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile relative to the county's districts. Participation rates on the state tests are high, suggesting these low proficiency numbers reflect actual student performance rather than testing barriers. The trend and year-over-year change in performance cannot be assessed from the available data; only the current school year results are present.
Cleveland is a large mixed-use city centered on the Cuyahoga River and Lake Erie shoreline. It is organized into distinct neighborhoods, ranging from dense urban areas like Downtown, Ohio City, and Tremont to quieter residential zones like Old Brooklyn and West Park. The city has shifted from a manufacturing base toward healthcare, education, and cultural services. After decades of population loss, Cleveland has recently posted small population gains, with growth concentrated in Downtown and nearby urban neighborhoods. Housing values in the school's zip code are relatively modest, and rental costs are moderate. The broader Cuyahoga County housing market shows moderate activity and affordability compared to national benchmarks.
The Cleveland Metropolitan School District is in a period of significant structural change. In November 2024, voters approved Issue 49, a combination of operating levy and bond extension that increases property taxes on homeowners in the district. More substantially, in December 2025 the district board approved a consolidation plan called Building Brighter Futures that will reduce the district from 88 schools to 59 by the 2026-27 school year, closing 18 buildings and merging 39 schools. Elementary schools in the district will shrink from 61 to 45, and high schools from 27 to 14. This plan will reassign a substantial number of students across the district and reshape the footprint of neighborhood schools. For the 2024-25 school year, the district became cellphone-free for students and rolled out PowerSchool, an online grade book that gives parents direct access to student grades. A parent considering Marion-Sterling may want to look into how the school's enrollment and ninth-grade pathway fit within the district's consolidation plan and whether Marion-Sterling itself will be affected by any proposed closures or mergers.
See more original research from School Decision →