The top reported proficiency rate is 32% in Science. The lowest is 15% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Trotwood-madison Middle School
Trotwood-Madison Middle School serves a school population that is predominantly African American, with a smaller share of students of mixed-race background and white students. The school sits in a suburban Trotwood, a mixed-use city northwest of Dayton that is actively recovering from economic headwinds—the loss of the Salem Mall and damage from a tornado—while pursuing redevelopment of retail, industrial, and residential corridors. The school's role is to anchor academic growth in grades 6 through 8 for students in a community where sustained educational investment has been uneven.
The school's state testing results show proficiency levels well below those of peers in Montgomery County. In math, the share of students meeting state proficiency standards is in the bottom quartile for the county; performance in English language arts is similarly low, positioned well below the county median. Science results are measurably higher than in the other two core subjects, though still below the county's midpoint. Proficiency across the three tested subjects places the school in the bottom quartile when compared against other county school districts. Only one year of state test data is available, so growth trends cannot be assessed from the numbers on hand. A parent may want to look into what the school identifies as barriers to proficiency and what academic shifts are underway to move those results.
The student enrollment is small by middle-school standards, stable across the three grades served. Data on free and reduced-price lunch eligibility, English learners, and students with disabilities were not available, so a fuller picture of student needs cannot be drawn from the public reporting. The district as a whole has adopted a Science of Reading framework for elementary grades, with explicit phonics and word-study instruction; the extent to which that approach is reflected in middle-grade literacy or has translated into measurable gains at the middle level is not clear from the data provided.
The district faces a sustained fiscal squeeze. It began deficit spending in fiscal year 2024 and is expected to continue as expenses grow faster than revenue projections. Leadership has signaled that a property tax levy may be sought in November. A new levy would increase household costs for property owners; failure to pass one would likely trigger program cuts. This is a material consideration for families weighing enrollment, as it speaks to the stability of staffing and programming going forward.
Trotwood itself is undergoing purposeful redevelopment. A 56-acre Salem Mall site is slated to become a food hall and small-business incubator hub, with opening expected in 2026; industrial parks are attracting new speculative buildings and housing construction is advancing in subdivisions. The town sits on the northwestern edge of the greater Dayton metro, with commute-distance access to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Premier Health, and other regional employers. Median home values in the zip code are below the state benchmark, and monthly rental costs are modest relative to regional norms, making housing relatively affordable, though this advantage is offset by the ongoing fiscal strain on schools.
The school operates as a regular public middle school, not a charter or specialized program. Information about course offerings, staffing levels, discipline practices, and attendance was not available in the data provided. A parent considering Trotwood-Madison Middle School may benefit from visiting the building, speaking with current families about the climate and support structures in place, and understanding from the district what pedagogical or programmatic changes are expected to move proficiency gains in the near term.
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