The top reported proficiency rate is 84% in Science. The lowest is 63% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Blendon Middle School
Blendon Middle School serves grades six through eight in Westerville, a mixed-use suburb north of Columbus. The school enrolls a student body drawn from both more established neighborhoods closer to the city center and newer suburban subdivisions that spread northward. Just under half the enrollment qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch; the student composition is majority white with substantial shares of Black, multiracial, and Hispanic students, alongside smaller numbers of Asian students.
Academically, Blendon reports solid proficiency across state-tested subjects. Performance in English language arts is strong relative to the school's grade band and district context. Mathematics proficiency is somewhat lower, with room for growth in a few percentage points. Science and social studies proficiency both run high, with social studies in particular showing commanding performance. Across these measures, the school's overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint among middle schools in Franklin County. The testing data represents nearly complete participation across all subjects, suggesting reliable results.
The school's locale shapes daily life. Westerville itself combines a preserved historic downtown around State Street near Otterbein University, where walkability and independent retail create street life, with newer suburban corridors to the north characterized by conventional auto-oriented patterns. The broader setting includes an extensive parks and trails system, the Westerville Public Library anchoring Uptown, and transit options through COTA bus service, though public transportation remains limited compared to Columbus. Major employers span finance, healthcare, logistics, and education, with JP Morgan Chase, DHL Supply Chain, Mount Carmel Health System, and Otterbein University among the area's anchors.
Housing in the 43081 zip code runs in the mid-range for central Ohio, with median home values above state benchmarks but below the national average. Rents are moderate relative to incomes. The area is in active growth, with employment-land expansion, new residential subdivisions targeting the custom home market, and proposals for mixed-use infill near Uptown. Zoning is also shifting to allow accessory dwelling units and more housing variety.
The district faces real financial crosscurrents. A failed combined bond and operating levy in November 2024 triggered roughly [a substantial sum] in cuts, including elimination of teaching and administrative positions and reductions to gifted enrichment services. In November 2025, voters then approved an earned income tax that will generate sustained revenue starting January 2026, lifting the prospect of austerity but creating a structural tax shift for working families new to the district. That shift applies only to wages and self-employment income, not retirement income or Social Security. Parents considering a move should factor in this tax environment and any interim program changes. The district also recently navigated a religious release time policy reversal, first rescinding and then reinstating a program to comply with state law. These swings reflect a district adjusting to both fiscal pressure and evolving state mandates, a context families weigh as they choose schools.
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