The top reported proficiency rate is 62% in Social studies. The lowest is 20% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Durling Middle School
Durling Middle School serves students in grades five through eight in Lorain, Ohio, a working-class Lake Erie industrial city undergoing waterfront redevelopment. The school is part of Clearview Local Schools, a district that recently passed a renewal operating levy and has invested in facilities modernization including roof work, HVAC replacement, and a new turf field.
The school's enrollment is modest and reflects the city's demographic makeup. The student body is roughly evenly split between Hispanic and white students, with a substantial share who are Black, and a smaller share identifying as two or more races. There is no reported data on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility, special education enrollment, or English learner populations, so a parent seeking detail on those aspects would want to reach out to the school directly.
On state assessments, Durling's proficiency rates are below the median for Lorain County schools. In mathematics, proficiency is quite low, with roughly one in five students meeting state standards. In English language arts, the rate is somewhat better but still below half. Science proficiency is the strongest subject area at roughly mid-range. A parent may want to explore this further with the school, particularly around what supports exist in mathematics and what has shaped these results, since trend data was not available to show whether performance has been stable, improving, or declining.
Among schools in Lorain County that reported proficiency data, Durling lands in the bottom quartile on an overall index combining tested subjects and grades. The school does not serve high school grades, so there is no graduation rate to report.
Lorain itself is a mid-sized city of working-class character with a multi-ethnic identity rooted in immigration to work at the now-closed U.S. Steel plant. Downtown is centered on Broadway Avenue near the Black River waterfront, where the city is investing heavily in a major redevelopment of vacant industrial sites into mixed-use neighborhoods and parks. Housing values are below state and national benchmarks, and rent is affordable relative to median income. Employment anchors include Mercy Health, senior care networks, automotive suppliers, and Lorain County Community College. The city has civic anchors in Black River Landing, a 13-acre waterfront park opened on donated LTV Steel property, and the Lorain Public Library System, which operates multiple branches across the city.
The school is located at the edge of the community, not within the downtown walkable zone, so access by car or school bus is typical. A family considering this school would be choosing a middle school with modest test performance in a district with recent revenue stability and facility improvements, serving a student population that mirrors the city's ethnic and economic diversity, in a city where older housing stock and waterfront investment define the living environment.
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