Original Research by School Decision on Stebbins High School
Stebbins High School is a mid-sized public high school in Dayton serving grades 9 through 12. The school enrolls a student body that is mostly white, with smaller shares of Black, multiracial, and Hispanic students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting economic diversity in the enrollment.
On state assessments, Stebbins' proficiency results show uneven performance across subjects. In English language arts and science, roughly half of all students reached proficiency. Social studies was the strongest area, with roughly two-thirds of students proficient. Mathematics is a clear soft spot, with proficiency running notably lower. Only a single year of assessment data was available, so trends over time cannot be assessed. A parent may want to ask the school directly about efforts to strengthen math instruction and whether those results reflect patterns or changes underway.
Graduation rate data was not provided in available records, so the school's completion picture is unclear. The school's website should have that information for a fuller picture of outcomes.
Dayton itself is a mid-sized Ohio city anchored by Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and a healthcare sector led by Premier Health and Kettering Health Network. The downtown core has undergone revitalization over roughly the past decade, with redeveloped riverside parks, a new Main Library, performing-arts venues, and growing residential conversion of old industrial buildings. Historic walkable neighborhoods near downtown, such as the Oregon District and South Park, remain active. Beyond those areas, Dayton is car-dependent; average citywide walkability is moderate-to-low. The region's housing market is more affordable than state and national benchmarks, and rents remain stable.
Stebbins' parent district, Mad River Local Schools, recently navigated two significant property tax transitions. A multi-mill school construction bond that had financed all new district buildings expired at the end of 2024, removing that levy from taxpayers' bills. In May 2025, after earlier defeats, voters approved a permanent improvement levy dedicated to building repairs and equipment. That new levy adds a permanent property tax commitment, though it cannot fund salaries or general operations. The district has faced voter skepticism about funding, so families should expect continued conversation around fiscal needs and school support in the community.
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