The top reported proficiency rate is 87% in Math. The lowest is 77% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Putman Elementary School
Putman Elementary serves pre-kindergarten through fourth grade in Blanchester, a small rural village in Clinton County that sits within the Wilmington micropolitan area. The school enrolls a student body that is overwhelmingly white, with a substantial share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch. The enrollment spans all six grades within the school's range and sits at a size typical for an elementary school in a small district.
On state assessments administered in the most recent school year, Putman's students performed above the midpoint among districts in Clinton County. In mathematics, proficiency on Ohio's State Tests reached a level that places the school solidly in the top quartile for its county peer group. English language arts proficiency, while lower than math, still reflects respectable performance. The school achieved full participation in testing, meaning the entire tested cohort was assessed. A note about trend data: only one year of assessment results was available, so growth over time cannot be tracked from the data provided.
Blanchester itself is a quiet, car-dependent village where employment is anchored by healthcare and long-term care facilities, light manufacturing including precision metalworking shops, and retail and food service. The local downtown along Broadway and Main streets holds a public library and historic 19th-century buildings, though the schools occupy a separate campus on the south side of the village. Housing values in the area are modest relative to state benchmarks, and the cost of homeownership, computed against household income, sits well below the national median. Population has remained essentially flat over recent decades, with no major new housing developments reported.
The district itself underwent a significant financial shift in 2024 when voters approved an earned income tax on district residents' wages, effective through 2028. This was the district's first new operating-revenue passage in decades and substantially changes the tax picture for families earning income within the district; the tax does not apply to Social Security, pensions, or investment income. The district indicated publicly reported that this funding provides a financial cushion amid ongoing state-level budget pressures.
Putman appears to be a stable, neighborhood elementary school serving a predominantly white, economically mixed student body in a working-class village. State test results are encouraging, particularly in mathematics. A parent considering the school may want to look into what specific programs or supports are available for the substantial share of students who are economically disadvantaged, as well as the availability of interventions or enrichment offerings. Enrollment figures across grade levels suggest steady, consistent cohorts. The earned income tax is a material consideration for any family relocating to the area or earning wages in the district.
See more original research from School Decision →