The top reported proficiency rate is 82% in Social studies. The lowest is 65% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on David Smith Elementary School
David Smith Elementary School is a K-5 school of roughly average enrollment for its grade band serving the city of Delaware, the county seat of one of Ohio's fastest-growing counties. The school's most recent state testing shows proficiency in the mid-range: about two-thirds of students in grades 3-5 met state benchmarks in math, more than two-thirds in English language arts, and about four-fifths in science. Only one year of current testing data was available, so trends cannot yet be measured. The school tested nearly all eligible students and participation was strong across all subjects.
Delaware is anchored by a walkable historic downtown with Ohio Wesleyan University adjacent to the core, and the city is experiencing rapid residential growth through multiple large new subdivisions. The housing market is moderately priced relative to national benchmarks. Civic institutions—the county courthouse, library, and city hall—sit downtown alongside retail and mixed-use blocks, creating a unified civic center rather than a dispersed landscape.
David Smith Elementary sits in a school district that has made two recent parent-facing changes worth noting. Beginning in 2023-2024, Delaware City Schools shifted all K-3 reading instruction to a Science of Reading and Structured Literacy approach, which altered how phonics and word study are taught, what homework looks like, and what reading materials come home. This is a deliberate pedagogical shift that affects classroom practice and family routines. Second, in November 2025, voters approved a continuing property tax levy for building maintenance, buses, technology, and materials. This is a new, permanent tax obligation that would factor into the cost of living in the district for any family considering relocating.
The student body at David Smith is predominantly white, with a smaller multiracial population and very small numbers of Asian, Black, and Hispanic students. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Special education enrollment data was not available, nor was data on English learners. State assessment data for younger grades (K-2) does not exist because Ohio does not test those grades, so no academic snapshot is available for the lower elementary years the school also serves.
When compared against the four other districts in Delaware County, David Smith's overall proficiency index sits below the midpoint. That comparison reflects the school's position as one option within a county with several school systems; context matters here, since growth and demographic shifts are occurring across Delaware County and may vary by district and neighborhood. A parent considering David Smith would want to look into whether recent test performance aligns with school and family goals, and whether the district's pedagogy shift in early literacy matches their approach to reading instruction at home.
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