Original Research by School Decision on Trotwood-madison High School
Trotwood-Madison High School is a public high school in Trotwood, Ohio, serving students in grades 9 through 12. The school sits in a mid-sized suburban city northwest of Dayton that has been working to recover from major economic disruptions in recent years. Understanding the school means understanding both its academic standing and the community context around it.
The student body is predominantly Black, with a small number of students from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. Enrollment is moderate for a high school, with a slightly larger freshman class and smaller senior class, which may reflect typical attrition or could signal patterns worth discussing with the school directly. State data on free and reduced lunch eligibility and students with disabilities is not available, so a parent seeking that information should ask the school directly.
On state assessments taken in 2024-25, the school's proficiency profile is uneven. Students showed the strongest performance in social studies, with a majority of students meeting proficiency. Science proficiency fell in the middle range. English language arts proficiency was notably lower, with about a third of students meeting the benchmark. Math proficiency was the lowest area, with fewer than one in five students scoring at or above proficiency. Only one year of data is available, so it is not yet possible to determine whether these results reflect stable patterns or recent shifts in student learning. A parent may want to ask the school about curriculum and instruction in math and ELA specifically, what targeted support is being offered in those areas, and what gains the school is working toward.
The school is part of the Trotwood-Madison City School District, which is navigating substantial funding pressures. The district began deficit spending in fiscal year 2024 and is facing a gap between its state funding and its expenses that is projected to worsen. District leaders are considering a November operating levy to close that gap; whether it passes will directly affect program availability and property taxes for residents in the area. This is an active and ongoing issue that will shape the school's resources and priorities in the near term. The district has also adopted a structured literacy approach to reading instruction in elementary grades, grounded in science of reading principles, which represents a lasting pedagogical commitment to foundational skills.
The city itself is in an active redevelopment phase after the closure of the Salem Mall and damage from a tornado. The local employment base spans manufacturing, logistics, retail, and public service; many residents commute to nearby employers including Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and health systems. Housing values in the zip code are modest relative to state and national medians, and rental costs are affordable. The city is advancing several major projects to attract investment and housing growth, including a food marketplace and workforce development hub planned for the former mall site, though these remain under development.
A parent considering this school should focus on the uneven test results across subjects, particularly the low proficiency in math and ELA, and should ask directly about how the school addresses those gaps and what support pathways exist for students who are struggling. It would also be worth understanding the school's graduation rate and college or career readiness outcomes, which are not included in the data provided here. Given the district's budget uncertainty, it may be helpful to understand what programs or staffing could be at risk depending on levy outcomes. The school's profile will be shaped significantly by how the district resolves its funding challenge in the coming months.
See more original research from School Decision →