The top reported proficiency rate is 78% in Social studies. The lowest is 44% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Freedom Elementary School
Freedom Elementary School is a public elementary school in Lima, Ohio, serving prekindergarten through fourth grade in the city's school district. The school enrolls a small student body with representation across racial and ethnic lines: about a third of students are Black, roughly a third are white, and about a quarter are multiracial, with a small Hispanic population. Detailed information about free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility was not available, nor were counts of students with individualized education plans or English learners.
The school's academic performance, measured by Ohio's State Tests, shows mixed results. In math, about half of students in grades three through four score at the proficient level or above. English language arts performance is lower, with fewer than half reaching proficiency. On a social studies assessment administered in 2017, a much higher proportion of fourth-grade students scored at or above proficiency. When compared to other districts in Allen County on an overall proficiency index, Freedom Elementary falls below the midpoint. Only one year of current state testing data is available for the school, so trend information is not yet present.
Lima itself is an older industrial city, formerly a manufacturing hub that has experienced Rust Belt decline and is now in active downtown and housing revitalization. The community is anchored by two regional hospitals, legacy manufacturers including a Ford engine plant and General Dynamics facility (the former Tank Plant), and a developing retail and dining scene. The city has invested in parks, bike paths, the public library, and transit infrastructure. Housing values in the area are notably below state and national medians, making homeownership more accessible than in many Ohio communities. The city has begun significant public investment in downtown streetscape improvements slated to begin in 2025 and is offering tax abatements and other incentives to attract new residential construction.
At the district level, Lima City Schools has recently made a substantial curriculum investment in a new elementary and middle school reading program, Core Knowledge Language Arts, which requires teachers to shift their planning and instruction. The district is emphasizing that this initiative needs time to mature rather than cycling through frequent program changes. For the 2026-27 school year, the district significantly loosened its student dress code, allowing broader self-expression in student clothing. The district's most immediate challenge for families is its ongoing budget deficit. A property tax levy renewal is on the November 2026 ballot that would maintain current funding levels without asking for new money, though district leadership has stated the renewal will not eliminate the deficit, meaning harder choices about programs and services likely lie ahead. This fiscal reality is a direct consideration for any family weighing the stability of the district's offerings.
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