The top reported proficiency rate is 89% in Social studies. The lowest is 78% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Highland Elementary School
Highland Elementary School serves kindergarten through fourth grade in Stow, a suburban city in northern Summit County that sits within the Akron metropolitan area. The school enrolls a small student body drawn from a largely established, car-dependent residential community where most families own homes or rent in suburban subdivisions.
The school's most recent state test results show solid performance across the subjects measured. In grades three through four math, proficiency reached a strong level, with most students tested performing at proficient or above. English language arts proficiency came in at a slightly lower but still above-average level for the same grades. The school tests all enrolled third and fourth graders and reports full participation rates. State data from several years ago showed an even higher proficiency rate in fourth-grade social studies, though that subject is no longer tested at the elementary level in Ohio's current assessment cycle. Only one year of recent data is available, so trends over time cannot be tracked.
The school's student population is predominantly white, with smaller numbers of students of multiple races, Black students, Asian students, and Hispanic students. About a quarter to a third of students come from households qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of economic need. Data on students with individualized education plans and English learners was not available, so the scope of special services and language support remains unclear.
Stow-Munroe Falls City School District, the parent district, recently secured its financial footing after years of tight budgets. In late 2022, voters narrowly approved significant new operating money that ends more than a decade of level-funded local revenue and increases homeowner tax burden. A subsequent May 2023 vote extended the district's core operating levy through the mid-2030s at no additional cost, locking in stability for schools and staff. These funding shifts mean families considering the district will pay higher property taxes but gain assurance about classroom staffing and program continuity going forward.
The Stow area itself is a built-out suburban city with steady housing values and rental markets. Most residents drive; car-oriented strip retail and industrial parks dominate the landscape more than walkable neighborhoods. The city is actively redeveloping its Darrow Road commercial corridor with new mixed-use and entertainment projects, and job anchors include healthcare systems, manufacturing firms in adhesives and audio equipment, and major distribution operations. The community has recently opened a new civic center and maintains extensive parks and trail systems. Schools sit on separate suburban campuses scattered across the city rather than clustered near a town center.
Highland Elementary's test data positions it in the top performance tier among schools in Summit County for overall proficiency, though context and peer comparison are limited by the small number of elementary schools reporting state results in the county. A parent may want to inquire directly with the school about staffing levels, class sizes, special education and English learner support, early intervention practices, and how the recent district levy has affected program offerings at the elementary level.
See more original research from School Decision →