The top reported proficiency rate is 100% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Furry Elementary School
Furry Elementary School is a public school serving prekindergarten through second grade in Sandusky, a small Lake Erie port city that has been investing heavily in downtown revitalization and waterfront development. The school sits within Perkins Local School District, a district whose recent trajectory has been shaped by failed facility bonds and the emergence of a significant non-levy revenue stream from industrial development.
The school enrolls roughly a half-thousand students across four grade levels, with enrollment distributed fairly evenly from pre-K through grade 2. A little over a third of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch. The student population is predominantly white, with Hispanic students making up a meaningful share and smaller populations of Black, multiracial, Asian, and American Indian students. Data on English learners and special education enrollment was not available.
State testing occurs only beginning in third grade, so Furry has no proficiency results for the grades it serves. However, the school reported two third-grade test-takers in both math and English language arts in the 2022-23 school year, both of whom achieved proficiency, placing the school at the top quartile among districts countywide for overall proficiency. This reflects a very small cohort and should be viewed with caution; a parent may want to discuss with the school how its instructional approach in the early grades builds toward that performance as students progress.
Furry occupies a residential area of Sandusky, a community in transition. The city's downtown has experienced substantial reinvestment over the past several years, including waterfront parks, a restored City Hall, and new apartments and small businesses. The broader Sandusky economy remains anchored by Cedar Point and other seasonal tourism attractions, alongside healthcare and manufacturing. Housing in the area is modestly priced relative to state and national benchmarks, and rent is slightly lower than estimated mortgage payments for a comparable purchase. Sandusky has also launched a "Welcome Home Ohio" effort to build affordable single-family homes, and a major 36-acre waterfront redevelopment (East Bay) is planned to begin in 2026.
At the district level, Perkins Local faced a setback when voters rejected a bond measure in May 2023 to fund a new combined middle and high school building, leaving capital questions unresolved for secondary grades. However, in November 2023 the district secured a Tax Increment Financing agreement tied to a large data-center development (Aligned Data Centers) on the former KBI site, an arrangement that will direct estimated new property tax revenue to the district's operating and capital accounts over time, potentially reducing reliance on future property-tax levies. For a family considering elementary grades in this district, that longer-term revenue stability may matter if they plan to stay through middle and high school.
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