The top reported proficiency rate is 75% in Science. The lowest is 62% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Liberty Middle School
Liberty Middle School serves grades six through eight in Newark, Ohio, as part of Newark City Schools. The school enrolls a student body that is predominantly white, with about half of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. About a third of the enrollment comes from each grade level, with the sixth-grade class running slightly larger than the eighth.
On Ohio's State Tests, Liberty shows solid performance in science and moderate results in English language arts and mathematics. In science, proficiency stands above the midpoint for the county's districts. Reading and math proficiency track at the midpoint or slightly below, with similar performance in both subjects. Participation rates across all tested subjects are very high, suggesting consistent test-taking and minimal opt-out. Science assessment results appear strongest; a parent may want to ask the school directly about its science program and what drives that relative strength.
The school is positioned above the midpoint for overall proficiency when all tested subjects are averaged together, compared to other districts in Licking County. This placement reflects balanced, respectable performance across the board rather than standout strength in any single area.
Newark itself sits in an active growth phase, anchored by a historic downtown centered on Courthouse Square and supported by a mix of established and new manufacturing, healthcare, and service employment. The area is experiencing new residential development, including garden-style apartments and downtown lofts, and a major regional draw is anticipated from a large semiconductor manufacturing project expected to bring jobs to the county. Housing prices and rents fall below state and national medians, making the area relatively affordable, though recent annual appreciation has been modest. The city is investing in downtown revitalization, downtown pedestrian infrastructure, and transit connections to higher-education campuses on its north side.
Little publicly available information surfaced about recent district-level strategic shifts, curriculum changes, or ballot measures within Newark City Schools, so a parent interested in understanding the district's priorities beyond academics may want to reach out directly to the administration. Staffing data, attendance records, chronic absenteeism rates, discipline policies, and student-support details were not available, so parents should ask the school about those dimensions during a visit or inquiry. The school has not reported special-education enrollment or English-learner population figures, which limits visibility into those support structures.
See more original research from School Decision →