The top reported proficiency rate is 46% in English language arts. The lowest is 24% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Ella P. Stewart Academy for Girls
Ella P. Stewart Academy for Girls is a small public elementary school serving pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in Toledo's Avondale neighborhood. The school enrolls a small, tight-knit population of students, with the student body predominantly Black, reflecting the neighborhood's demographic composition. The school is all-girls, a distinction that shapes the peer environment and school culture in ways that appeal to families seeking single-gender education for their daughters in the early grades.
Academic performance at Ella P. Stewart sits notably below state benchmarks. On the most recent state testing in grades three through six, about two-fifths of students met proficiency in English language arts, about two-fifths in math, and roughly one-third in science. When positioned against other districts in Lucas County, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile. These results reflect significant academic gaps that a parent should understand clearly going in. The school may be worth exploring further with administrators to understand what targeted supports exist for students, what interventions are in place for struggling readers or mathematicians, and what the school's improvement trajectory looks like.
State testing data from an earlier year in social studies showed similarly low proficiency rates, which may suggest a broader pattern rather than a subject-specific challenge. Because the school serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate data to report. Free or reduced price lunch counts and special education enrollment numbers were not available in the data, so a parent interested in understanding the school's economic composition or the scale of special education services should ask the school directly.
Toledo as a place is a mid-sized industrial city on Lake Erie that has been in active revitalization, especially downtown. Major employers span manufacturing, healthcare, and education, anchored by companies like Owens Corning and the University of Toledo. The city is organized into distinct neighborhoods with varying character, from Victorian-era blocks in the Old West End to warehouse conversions and newer residential projects. Downtown and certain core neighborhoods are walkable, though much of the greater area remains car-dependent. Housing in the broader Toledo ZIP code is affordable relative to national benchmarks; home values and rental rates reflect a modestly priced market.
The school sits within Toledo City School District, which in April approved a significant structural reorganization called Transformation Plan 2.0 to address a major budget deficit. The plan closes several elementary schools, transitions some K-8 schools to K-6 configuration, and reconfigures high schools, with changes taking effect beginning in the 2026-27 school year. For families considering Ella P. Stewart, this district-level volatility is relevant context. Additionally, in November 2024 voters approved a new operating levy, the district's first new operating money in over a decade, which will increase property taxes for district residents. Any family moving to the area should factor both the new tax burden and the ongoing structural changes into their planning.
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