The top reported proficiency rate is 92% in Science. The lowest is 83% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Kenston Middle School
Kenston Middle School sits at the heart of a small, upscale village where civic life centers on a walkable historic downtown, and where a tight residential community forms around a single school district. The school serves grades six through eight for an enrollment of roughly mid-size for a middle school, drawn from the villages of Chagrin Falls, South Russell, Bentleyville, and part of Moreland Hills in Geauga County. The student body is predominantly white, with a small free-and-reduced-price-lunch population, reflecting the affluent character of the surrounding communities.
Academically, Kenston Middle performs with clear strength across tested subjects. Proficiency in English language arts and mathematics both stand well above the midpoint among Geauga County's districts, while science proficiency is notably high. These results rest on solid participation and scale scores that signal engaged teaching and learning. The school demonstrates consistent strength across grade levels, with no pronounced weak spots in any tested area.
The school occupies a distinct moment in the district's structure. In the 2024-25 school year, the district closed Kenston Intermediate School and reorganized its building footprint from four buildings to three. Grades four and five moved into what is now called Kenston Middle School, making it a grades four through seven building, while the high school consolidated into grades eight through twelve. This structural change was driven by a multi-year funding crisis: voters defeated a substantial operating levy in May 2021, and subsequent renewal attempts failed again in November 2023 and March 2024. That financial pressure led directly to the building closure and rightsizing. In November 2024, however, voters approved a new permanent improvement levy, stabilizing facility funding going forward. The district also aligned bell schedules across grades four through twelve for the current school year, putting all students on one morning start time. These are lasting changes to how the district operates, and families considering enrollment will live with them.
For a parent weighing this school, the academic performance is genuine and above the typical district bar. The community itself is walkable and civic-minded, with downtown anchored by independent shops, a working waterfall, and active parks and cultural life within steps of residential neighborhoods. Housing values in the zip code are elevated relative to both state and national benchmarks, and that reflects a neighborhood of established, well-maintained homes. The school's recent structural reorganization is a fact of life here, not a temporary disruption, so a parent should understand that the building configuration and bell schedules differ from what they might be familiar with in other districts. Special education enrollment data and English learner information were not available; a parent may want to look into those with the school directly if those services matter to their family.
See more original research from School Decision →