The top reported proficiency rate is 56% in Social studies. The lowest is 26% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Kenton Elementary School
Kenton Elementary is a neighborhood school serving kindergarten through sixth grade in Springfield, Ohio. The school enrolls a student body distributed fairly evenly across its grade bands, with roughly equal numbers of students in each class level.
The student composition is mixed by race and ethnicity: roughly half white students, with substantial representation from Black and multiracial families, a smaller Hispanic population, and very few Asian or Native Hawaiian students. Data on free and reduced lunch eligibility and counts of English learners or students with disabilities were not available, so a complete picture of economic need and special-population support cannot be drawn from the information provided.
On state proficiency testing in 2024-25, Kenton's results across core subjects are below the midpoint of Ohio proficiency standards. In English language arts, roughly two in five students scored at proficient level or above. In mathematics, about one in three students reached that benchmark. Science scores were notably lower, with roughly one in four students meeting proficiency. Social studies testing data comes from an older assessment year and is not current. When comparing proficiency across tested grades and subjects, Kenton places in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Clark County, the broader region where it operates. The school achieved full participation in testing, meaning students were tested at expected rates.
Springfield is a mid-sized industrial city that has experienced significant economic decline tied to manufacturing loss but in recent years has seen downtown revitalization, new housing development, and demographic change with a large influx of Haitian immigrants. The school sits in a neighborhood context rather than a downtown or campus setting. Housing values in the school's zip code are moderate relative to state and national benchmarks, and the housing market has seen modest appreciation. The local economy is anchored by healthcare, insurance, manufacturing, public sector employment, and higher education, with major employers including Mercy Health, Assurant, Navistar, and several universities. Schools across the district are dispersed across neighborhoods rather than concentrated in a single downtown area.
The broader Springfield City School District context includes stable funding: voters approved a continuing permanent improvement levy in 2022 that generates ongoing revenue for building maintenance and athletic facility upkeep with no additional tax burden to residents, and the Ohio Supreme Court recently ruled in the district's favor to allow collection of an existing bond tax through the mid-2030s for past capital improvements.
Parents considering Kenton should recognize that current academic proficiency levels are below state standards and lag county peers, which may indicate a need to understand more directly from the school about instructional approaches, additional academic support available to students, and any specific strengths in particular grade bands or subject areas. The school's role as a regular public neighborhood elementary without specialized programs means it serves a general student population. Grade-level and socioeconomic data gaps prevent a fuller picture of whether particular supports or challenges exist for students with disabilities, English learners, or economically disadvantaged families.
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