The top reported proficiency rate is 55% in Social studies. The lowest is 27% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Harvard Elementary School
Harvard Elementary School is a public pre-K through eighth-grade school in Toledo serving a small student body that is racially and ethnically mixed, with white students making up the largest share, followed by Black and Hispanic students in roughly equal numbers. The school's recent state test results show proficiency below what you would see among the broader set of districts in Lucas County. In math, about one in four students tested scored at proficient level or above on Ohio's State Tests, while in English language arts, the rate was roughly four in ten. Science proficiency was similar to ELA. These results place the school in the bottom quartile when compared with other schools in Lucas County. The school had full testing participation, suggesting the data reflects the whole student population rather than a subset.
The school sits in Toledo, a mid-sized industrial city on Lake Erie anchored by manufacturing, healthcare, and education. Toledo itself is in active revitalization, particularly downtown, with major residential conversions underway and significant new mixed-use development. The Glass City Riverwalk and cultural anchors like the Toledo Museum of Art draw residents and visitors. Neighborhoods range from the Victorian Old West End, very walkable and close to downtown, to the Warehouse District with its lofts and restaurants, to more car-dependent suburban areas. Housing values in the school's zip code are below both state and national benchmarks, and rents are modest, making the area relatively affordable. Mortgage costs and rent each represent a reasonable share of income locally.
However, families considering this school should know about a major structural change coming to the district. In April 2026, the Toledo Board of Education approved a comprehensive transformation plan to address a substantial budget deficit driven by reduced state and federal funding. The plan includes closing and repurposing multiple elementary schools, including Harvard. The district is also transitioning several K-8 schools to K-6 configurations, converting one high school into an arts and sciences academy, reconfiguring another for early career-technical education, and changing school start times and transportation beginning in the 2026–27 school year. This means that if your child currently attends Harvard, they would be moved to another building as part of this restructuring. For families new to the district, this plan reshapes which buildings exist, which grades they serve, what athletic programs are available, and daily schedules across Toledo schools. A parent may want to look into these changes directly with the district to understand how they affect your specific situation and which school your child would actually attend going forward.
On the positive side, voters approved Issue 19 in November 2024, a tax levy and bond issue that provides the district's first new operating funding in over a decade. This money goes to routine operating expenses, building maintenance, and growth projects like restoring the Scott Park campus, though it does add a measurable amount to the property tax bill for homeowners.
Data on free or reduced-price lunch eligibility, special education enrollment, English learner enrollment, and chronic absenteeism were not available for Harvard. State testing data for social studies was last reported in 2017 and is not current enough to reflect the school's recent performance in that subject. The school's enrollment is small for its grade band.
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