Original Research by School Decision on Perry High School
Perry High School is a small public high school serving grades nine through twelve in Perry Township on the Lake Erie shore. The building sits on Success Boulevard in a township where population has remained essentially flat, anchored by lakeshore recreation and a stable economy built partly around the extended operating license of the nearby Perry Nuclear Plant and regional nursery operations.
The school's academic performance shows strength in science and social studies proficiency, with students demonstrating solid command of math as well. English language arts proficiency is somewhat lower than the other three subjects. Only one year of state testing data was available, so trend direction cannot be assessed. The school's enrollment is small—just over five hundred students across the four grade levels—with roughly three-quarters attending from families above the free-or-reduced-price lunch threshold.
The student body is predominantly white, with a modest Hispanic enrollment and very small numbers of students from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. Data on the enrollment of students with individualized education plans and English learners was not available. Graduation rate data was not provided.
A parent considering the district should be aware of a significant financial context: in May 2023, voters in Perry Local School District rejected an emergency operating levy by a substantial margin. The district reported at that time that it had not received new money for general operating purposes in more than two decades. This means the district continues to operate on a fixed base without recent revenue increases, which creates ongoing budget pressure and raises the likelihood of future levy campaigns. This is a material consideration for families moving into the area.
Housing in the Perry zip code is modestly priced relative to both state and national benchmarks, with home values and mortgage costs well below national medians. Rents are moderate and more affordable than mortgage payments in the local market. The area offers lake-access recreation—the township operates a 50-acre park on Lake Erie with ball fields, courts, and a boat ramp, and Lake Metroparks maintains two nearby preserves with bluffs, meadows, and shoreline access. The Perry Public Library anchors the civic center on Main Street. Public transit is not available; US Route 20 is the main east-west spine.
The township is in the middle of a comprehensive plan update adopted in May 2026, reflecting the locality's intent to guide future development, though no major new residential subdivisions have emerged recently. The school sits in a stable, slowly growing community with outdoor amenities, affordable housing, and steady employment, but families should factor the district's recent levy rejection and absence of new operating revenue into their decision.
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