The top reported proficiency rate is 21% in Social studies. The lowest is 15% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Pickett Elementary School
Pickett Elementary School serves kindergarten through eighth grade in a residential neighborhood on Toledo's south side. The school enrolls a student body that is predominantly Black, with smaller shares of students identifying as multiracial, Hispanic, and white. The school is a regular public school within the Toledo City School District.
State testing data from the most recent school year shows proficiency rates in the bottom quartile relative to other districts in Lucas County. In math, roughly one in ten students tested at proficiency or above. In English language arts, the rate was somewhat higher but still low. Science testing showed similarly limited proficiency. Older assessment data from social studies, collected nearly a decade ago, shows notably higher proficiency in fourth grade than sixth grade, though this information is now dated and may not reflect current conditions. The school achieved very high test participation rates, indicating robust engagement in state assessment.
The neighborhood context matters here. Toledo is in an active revitalization phase, with downtown undergoing substantial investment and new housing development. However, Pickett sits on Blum Street on the south side, a part of the city where economic opportunity and housing conditions are more uneven than the revitalizing core. Housing values in the zip code where the school is located remain modest relative to state and national medians, and median rents are correspondingly lower. This reflects a neighborhood demographic and economic profile shaped by historical patterns and ongoing change. The school does not publicly report the share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, nor does it report rates of students with disabilities or English learner populations, so a parent cannot fully assess the economic or language profile from the available data.
The school is currently operating, but families considering enrollment should be aware of major district-wide changes announced in spring 2026. The Toledo City School District approved a comprehensive restructuring plan to address a substantial budget deficit driven by recent changes to state funding formulas. The plan closes and repurposes multiple elementary schools, transitions several K-8 schools to K-6 configuration, and reshapes middle and high school programs. Pickett's status under this plan is not specified in the available information, so a parent should contact the district directly to learn whether this school will be affected, whether its grade configuration will change, and what students' transition pathways may be.
The district also implemented a significant new property tax levy in late 2024, its first operating levy increase in more than a decade. This will increase property tax obligations for families with homes in the district, though it is also funding building maintenance and district growth projects.
A parent considering Pickett should approach with eyes open to the combination of limited recent test performance, neighborhood economic context, and current district instability. This is a school in a city and district in transition, and the near-term operational and structural changes warrant direct conversation with school leadership and the district before making a decision.
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