The top reported proficiency rate is 97% in Social studies. The lowest is 77% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Central Elementary School
Central Elementary School is a small second- and third-grade school in Lexington, a village of about a few thousand residents in Richland County, part of the Mansfield metropolitan area. The school enrolls a small student body, about evenly split between grades two and three, with the majority of students from white backgrounds and roughly one-third qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.
On Ohio's State Tests in 2024-25, proficiency rates at Central Elementary sit above the median for Richland County schools. In mathematics, roughly four in five students scored proficient or above; in English language arts, just under four in five did. These results place the school's overall proficiency index in the top quartile among Richland County districts. The school tested all enrolled students and reported full participation. A 2016-17 result in social studies at fourth grade showed very strong proficiency, though because Central now serves only grades two and three, recent state testing is limited to math and ELA.
The school sits within Lexington Local, a district in the midst of significant change. A new consolidated 7-12 building opened in fall 2022 with modern facilities including multiple gymnasiums and a performing arts center. However, the district has faced mounting fiscal pressure. Operating in deficit spending since 2022-23, the district faced state budget cuts and a property-tax relief measure that reduced revenue, and voters rejected a proposed income tax in May 2026. As a result, the school board approved cutting 24 positions district-wide for 2026-2027, including 12 teacher positions. Among those cuts were kindergarten teachers, a first-grade teacher, and a high school Spanish teacher; the board confirmed these reductions will not be reversed even if a future levy passes. The district was placed under state fiscal precaution and is projected to exhaust operating funds before the end of 2027-28 without new revenue.
On the positive side, the district received state funding in late 2024 to build a new consolidated PreK-6 elementary school, with the state covering roughly half the cost. This new building will be constructed at or near the Central Elementary site. The shift to consolidated elementary facilities marks a major change from the current three-school model for elementary students.
The village of Lexington itself is a traditional small town along the Clear Fork River with a historic town square, local coffee shops and eateries, and over sixty acres of public parks. Employment is a mix of white- and blue-collar work, with food service and office support prevalent, though much of the job base extends to the broader Mansfield metro region. The area is car-dependent with no public transit system. Housing values are modest relative to national benchmarks, and rental costs are affordable; median home prices place the area below state averages. The village is currently updating its comprehensive plan and working on sidewalk construction, signaling that walkability and infrastructure remain active local concerns.
Parents considering Central Elementary should weigh the school's solid test performance against the district's fiscal challenges. Staffing cuts and program reductions are underway, and the district faces a real funding crisis before the 2027-28 school year ends. The planned new consolidated elementary building represents a long-term facilities improvement, but families should understand the near-term operational pressures and reductions that precede it. The school's data is limited to math and ELA because it serves only grades two and three; state social studies testing does not apply to those grades.
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