The top reported proficiency rate is 60% in Science. The lowest is 46% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Zane Grey Elementary School
Zane Grey Elementary serves about 938 students in pre-K through sixth grade in Zanesville, a small Appalachian-edge river city roughly 52 miles east of Columbus. The school enrolls a diverse student body: a substantial majority are white, with students of two or more races making up a sizable share, and smaller populations of Black and Hispanic students. The school building sits on its own campus rather than in the walkable downtown core, which anchors the city's civic life along the Muskingum River.
Academically, Zane Grey's proficiency rates across tested subjects sit in the bottom quartile relative to other elementary schools in Muskingum County. In math, about half of third- through eighth-grade students score at proficient or above on Ohio's State Tests. English language arts proficiency is somewhat lower, with fewer than half meeting the standard. Science proficiency is the strongest area, with roughly three-fifths of students proficient. Reading comprehension and writing skill development appear to be areas where the school may want to focus; a parent curious about how the school is addressing this gap would benefit from asking the school directly about instructional priorities and any targeted support programs.
The school draws from a community shaped by affordable housing and working-class employment. Zanesville's housing costs run well below state and national benchmarks, and the workforce skews toward manufacturing, distribution, and service occupations. Genesis HealthCare System is the area's largest employer, followed by logistics hubs and light manufacturing. The city is slowly rebuilding its residential stock; new single-family and affordable rental developments are underway or recently completed. Public transit exists through South East Area Transit but is limited, so most families drive.
Zane Grey's enrollment spans eight grade bands from pre-K through sixth grade, with kindergarten and first grade being the largest cohorts. Enrollment appears stable. The school serves the full elementary age range, so state testing data is available only for grades three through eight; no graduation rate applies because the school does not serve high school grades.
The district is investing in early-childhood capacity. A new multipurpose facility under construction on existing school property is designed to house eight to ten preschool classrooms alongside pediatric and behavioral health clinics operated by Muskingum Behavioral Health, Muskingum Valley Health Centers, and All Well, with completion targeted for 2026. This co-location of school-based health and mental health services alongside expanded preschool enrollment represents a structural change in what the district offers families with young children.
Zanesville itself retains a walkable, historic downtown with riverfront parks, the Y-Bridge landmark, performing arts venues, and local shops and restaurants, though the city center sits apart from school campuses and most residential areas are car-dependent. The workforce and community suggest a school serving families with ties to manufacturing and service work, with housing affordability a real asset for family budgets.
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