The top reported proficiency rate is 57% in Science. The lowest is 29% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Finneytown Secondary Campus
Finneytown Secondary Campus, a middle and high school serving grades seven through twelve in Cincinnati, sits in the middle of a district-wide facilities rebuild. The school currently operates at the existing secondary site while a new building for grades seven through twelve is under construction nearby, expected to open in the 2026-27 school year. This transition means families are choosing a school that will move to a fresh facility within a couple of years, funded by state money and a locally approved bond.
The student body reflects Cincinnati's diversity. About half the enrollment identifies as Black, with substantial shares of white, Asian, and Hispanic students, along with students of multiple races. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that many families in the school's enrollment area face economic pressures. The school draws about equal numbers across the middle grades and slightly stronger enrollment in grades nine and ten, with the total falling in the lower hundreds.
Academic performance shows a mixed profile. In science, about half of students tested scored at proficient levels or above, a relatively strong result. Social studies performance was stronger still, with proficiency above that threshold. English language arts proficiency hovered at roughly the midpoint of state expectations. Mathematics proficiency ran markedly lower, with roughly a quarter of students scoring proficient or above. Across all tested subjects combined, the school's proficiency sits below the midpoint among secondary schools in Hamilton County. The school achieved full or near-full participation rates on state assessments, meaning the results represent the actual student population rather than a subset.
The school operates within Finneytown Local, a small district that has committed to modernizing its physical plant. The elementary school portion of this rebuild opened in fall 2022 with collaborative "learning communities" where two grade levels share flexible spaces, a design meant to deepen cross-grade and cross-classroom work. The secondary building under construction will bring similar thinking to the middle and high school environment when it opens. Voters approved a bond in prior years to cover local share of this work; homeowners in the district continue to pay those additional property taxes.
The immediate neighborhood and broader Cincinnati context matter for families weighing this choice. Cincinnati's housing market shows modest price movement but steadier rental increases. The Cincinnati region is anchored by major employers including Procter & Gamble, Fifth Third Bank, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, and the University of Cincinnati, plus growing sectors in aerospace and consumer goods. The city itself is organized around dense downtown and Over-the-Rhine neighborhoods, with uphill residential areas and suburban reaches. Public transit includes Metro buses and a free streetcar loop connecting downtown to entertainment and arts districts. Schools in the district are geographically spread across the broader area rather than clustered in one neighborhood, so location and commute are family-specific questions.
For families considering Finneytown Secondary, the trajectory matters: current students are in a building that will empty out within a couple of school years as the new facility comes online. That creates a specific experience window. Academic results suggest the school is working with students facing real economic and other challenges, with science and social studies stronger than mathematics. The new building will bring physical freshness and design-forward learning spaces starting in 2026-27, which may or may not translate to instructional shifts, a question worth exploring directly with the district.
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