The top reported proficiency rate is 50% in Social studies. The lowest is 31% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Adena Middle School
Adena Middle School serves students in grades six through eight in Frankfort, a small rural village in northwestern Ross County. The school is part of Adena Local Schools, a consolidated K-12 district that draws from Concord, Union, and Deerfield townships. The middle school enrollment runs to a few hundred students, with roughly equal distribution across the three grades.
The student body at Adena Middle is predominantly white, with a very small representation of Black, Hispanic, and students of two or more races. The school's racial composition is heavily skewed toward one group, and parents considering this school should understand that demographic reality. Data on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility, special education enrollment, and English learner status were not available, leaving a gap in the economic and learning-needs profile of the school.
State test results show proficiency rates that fall below midpoint performance among districts in Ross County. In English language arts, less than half of students tested met proficiency standards. Math proficiency was lower still. Science proficiency sat somewhat higher. Across the three tested subjects, the school's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile among county districts. A parent may want to look into further detail with the school about instruction in math, where the gap is widest, and ask about any targeted interventions or support programs underway. The school reports full participation in state testing, so these results reflect the school's full student population.
The one available trend data point covering multiple years, for social studies in grade six from 2016-17, showed roughly half the students met proficiency, but that single data point offers limited insight into recent direction.
Frankfort itself is a very small, stable community. Population has remained flat for two decades. The village center sits along Main and High Streets with a library branch, municipal building, and scattered small businesses. The Adena school campus lies a few miles outside the village proper on County Road 550, accessed by bus service. Most parents in the district drive; there is no fixed public transit. Housing values in the 45628 zip code are modest by national standards and below Ohio's state median, making the area relatively affordable. Local employment is thin; most working parents commute to Chillicotle or surrounding Ross County for jobs in healthcare, manufacturing, or retail.
Adena Local Schools is making a significant infrastructure investment. As of September 2024, the district broke ground on a school-based health and wellness center expected to open in phases through April 2026, bringing primary care, mental health services, and pharmacy access directly to the school campus and to the surrounding communities. When complete, this facility will be a permanent addition to student support, though it remains under construction.
Parents considering Adena Middle should weigh the very small, homogeneous student community; the below-county-average test proficiency, especially in math; the rural, low-density setting with bus-dependent access; and the affordability of the housing market against any draw they feel to the school's size or the wellness initiatives underway in the district.
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