The top reported proficiency rate is 67% in Social studies. The lowest is 47% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Bolich Middle School
Bolich Middle School is a regular public middle school serving grades six through eight in Cuyahoga Falls, a mid-sized city directly north of Akron that is in the middle of a riverfront redevelopment trajectory centered on the Cuyahoga River's historic downtown.
The school has recently undergone a structural change. In January 2026, Bolich and the other district middle school, Roberts, consolidated into a single Cuyahoga Falls Middle School housed within a new building shared with Cuyahoga Falls High School. The district invested in a new facility funded by a voter-approved bond and state support. This consolidation reshapes secondary education in the district and the school's operational identity going forward, as it is now formally the Bolich Campus of the larger middle school.
Academic performance shows uneven results across subjects. In English language arts, roughly three-fifths of students test proficient or above the state standard. In math, the rate is below the midpoint, around half. In science, proficiency falls further, approaching or just below half. The school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile relative to other schools in Summit County. Reading and writing instruction appears to be a relative strength; math and science are areas where more students are not yet meeting grade-level benchmarks. Participation rates in state assessments are consistently high, near universal, so the results reflect actual performance rather than low test-taking rates.
The enrollment is roughly a third smaller than a comprehensive middle school in a larger district, distributed relatively evenly across the three grades. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need in the school community. The racial and ethnic makeup is predominantly white, with smaller Asian and Black populations and a small Hispanic population represented.
Bolich is situated in Cuyahoga Falls proper, a community with modest housing costs relative to the nation. The median home value in the Cuyahoga Falls zip code is below the national benchmark, and rental costs are similarly moderate. The community itself is anchored by riverfront parks, the Blossom Music Center home of the Cleveland Orchestra, and downtown development including restaurants, boutiques, and breweries along reconstructed Front Street. Goodyear is a major regional employer nearby in Akron. Employment in the area is stable and manufacturing and polymer-related industries remain present alongside service and healthcare work at Western Reserve Hospital.
The broader district context matters for prospective families. The district discontinued interdistrict open enrollment for the 2026-27 school year, meaning residency inside district boundaries is now required to attend. Simultaneously, the district faces a projected budget deficit by fiscal year 2028 and a cash crisis by 2030, signaling real financial pressure. Property reappraisals in 2023 increased valuations in the district, leading to tax bill increases in 2024 and another reappraisal scheduled for 2026. For families considering a move to the area, these financial and enrollment changes represent genuine shifts in the district's landscape.
A parent evaluating Bolich should weigh its smaller size and consolidation into a shared 6-12 facility against academic performance that lags the county median, particularly in quantitative and scientific reasoning. The school serves a population with significant economic need. The district's closure to open enrollment and financial forecast suggest a community under cost pressure, making the housing market calculation part of a larger household decision about the district's trajectory.
See more original research from School Decision →