The reported proficiency rate for Math is 100%.
Original Research by School Decision on Hollingsworth East Elementary School
Hollingsworth East Elementary School serves kindergarten through second grade in Eaton, a small city about half an hour west of Dayton that functions as the county seat of rural Preble County. The school enrolls a modest population of students across its three grade levels, drawn from a community that is actively growing in housing stock through new subdivisions while maintaining a stable population base. About half the enrollment qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, a indicator of moderate economic need in the school's catchment.
The student body is predominantly white, with small numbers of students from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. Data on special education and English learner populations was not available. The school sits in a car-dependent suburban and rural setting, so families rely on vehicles for daily life.
The most recent state testing data available comes from spring 2024 and covers only third grade, the first tested grade in Ohio. That cohort achieved perfect proficiency in mathematics, placing the school's performance at the top of the district comparison group within Preble County. However, a very small number of students were tested at that grade level, so a parent should understand that this single data point reflects a small sample and is not yet a long-term pattern. No multiyear trend data is available, which is typical for a school in the early grades.
What makes Hollingsworth East notable in the district's current context is the statewide recognition it received for reading growth. In spring 2024, Ohio's Department of Education and Workforce identified the school as a Positive Literacy Outlier, meaning it showed significant improvement in K-3 reading outcomes. This recognition came in the context of Ohio's statewide shift to Science of Reading and structured phonics-based instruction starting in the 2024-25 school year. State officials visited Eaton schools to study how the district built its literacy practices, suggesting that families interested in evidence-based early reading instruction have concrete recent results to point to.
The Eaton Community City School District has maintained stable support through a local income tax that voters renewed in November 2024, extending through 2030. That income tax applies to wages, salaries, self-employment income, and capital gains, but not Social Security or workers' compensation, and generates substantial annual revenue for day-to-day operations. Families moving into the district should factor this ongoing local income tax into their cost of living calculation.
Hollingsworth East is a regular public elementary school with no special magnet or charter designation. It is one of two elementary schools in the district, both serving the early grades. The housing market in the zip code has appreciated modestly and median home values sit below the state benchmark, making it a relatively affordable entry point to homeownership in the region. Eaton itself has an unusually strong park system for its size, anchored by Fort St. Clair on the west side with trails and facilities, and downtown amenities centered around Main Street with shops, restaurants, and seasonal festivals. The local economy is anchored by manufacturing, healthcare, and education employers including Henny Penny and Kettering Health Preble.
For families seeking an early elementary program with demonstrated phonics-based reading instruction and recent state recognition for literacy growth, in a stable, affordable small-town setting with room for growth, this school and district combination warrants a close look.
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