The top reported proficiency rate is 73% in Social studies. The lowest is 49% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Carson Elementary School
Carson Elementary sits in downtown Newark, a small city that is the county seat of Licking County and now in an expansion phase driven by Intel's planned chip-fabrication investment nearby. The school serves kindergarten through fifth grade on East Main Street, with an enrollment that is small for its grade band. The student body is predominantly white, with a substantial majority of students from families with household incomes low enough to qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
On state testing in math, English language arts, and science, Carson's proficiency rates place it in the bottom quartile relative to other elementary schools in Licking County. In the most recent year, about half the students tested met proficiency in math, roughly six in ten in English language arts, and fewer than half in science. The school tested all eligible students, so the results reflect the full population of third through fifth graders at the school. Trend data showing year-over-year change is not available, so it is not clear whether performance is stable, improving, or declining. Science proficiency was notably lower than in the other two core subjects.
The housing market surrounding the school is moderately priced for the region. Home values in the school's zip code are stable and affordable relative to the national benchmark, and the rental market is similarly accessible. The unemployment rate in the area is low and median household income is solid, which means the substantial rate of economic hardship among Carson's families—over four in five students qualify for free or reduced-price meals—reflects either concentrations of poverty in particular neighborhoods or a mismatch between local wage levels and family circumstances. Whether families are clustered near the school or dispersed across the city is not clear from the available data. The school itself carries no federal Title I designation in the available records, which may reflect missing data or the school's status relative to district poverty thresholds.
For families considering Carson, the main questions are whether the school's proficiency results align with what they see in classroom communication and their child's own progress, and whether the school has begun to address the gap between its performance and that of peer schools in the district. A parent may want to look into the school's academic support and intervention strategies with the school directly. The data available does not show special education identification rates, English learner enrollment, attendance, or discipline practices, which would provide a fuller picture of student need and school response. The earlier social studies assessment from 2016 is not recent enough to add current insight.
Newark is growing. Downtown revitalization has brought new housing, residential lofts, and mixed-use development around the historic courthouse and market district, while on the outskirts Vista Residential is building garden-style apartments and the Thornwood Corridor is anchoring industrial parks. This growth, combined with the planned Intel investment, suggests the district may face enrollment shifts and changing community needs in the coming years. Carson's location in the downtown core means it serves a particular neighborhood, likely with high turnover and economic change as the area revitalizes.
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