The top reported proficiency rate is 66% in Science. The lowest is 60% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Fairless Middle School
Fairless Middle School serves grades six through eight in Navarre, a small village in southwestern Stark County along the Tuscarawas River. The school enrolls a small student body, about evenly distributed across its three grades. Just over half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The student population is predominantly white, with very small numbers of students of other racial or ethnic backgrounds. Data on special education enrollment and English learner status are not available.
On state assessments administered in the 2024-25 school year, about three-fifths of Fairless Middle students scored at proficient levels or above in mathematics and English language arts, with science proficiency running somewhat higher. All students tested in these subjects. Science data reflects a smaller tested group, suggesting the school may serve science as an elective or advanced option for some students. A social studies assessment was last reported nearly a decade ago and is not current. Only one year of assessment data is available, so trends cannot be determined.
Relative to the other school districts in Stark County, Fairless Middle's overall proficiency index sits in the bottom quartile. A parent may want to look into this further with the school or district to understand what resources and supports are in place to help students progress and what interventions target students working below proficient levels.
Navarre itself is a residential village with tree-shaded streets and a mix of older housing stock from the mid-1800s through mid-20th century, built on small lots of half an acre or less. Main Street has locally owned antique shops and restaurants. The village is car-dependent overall, though compact enough to walk between downtown storefronts. A regional transit bus runs along State Route 21. Parks and recreation facilities, including Navarre-Bethlehem Park with playgrounds and shelters, and the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail, anchor civic life. Employment centers on manufacturing at Prospect Industrial Park, with Hendrickson Navarre and a Tractor Supply distribution center among the largest employers. The population and employment have trended flat to slightly downward in recent years, consistent with a stable small-village character without major new housing development.
Fairless Local School District has undergone significant changes. A new high school opened in 2023, modernizing the grades nine through twelve facility. However, in March 2025 the Board of Education cut staff and programming, including elimination of middle school Spanish, reductions in teaching positions, and cuts to summer programs and support services. The district faces a consequential budget challenge: its main operational levy comes up for renewal on the 2026 ballot, and the district also depends on revenue from natural gas pipeline easements that will depreciate substantially over time. A parent considering Fairless Middle should be aware that course offerings, class sizes, and support staffing are currently under constraint. The district has adopted a new strategic plan with revised mission and graduate profile statements to guide instruction moving forward.
Housing values in the Navarre area are below state and national benchmarks, making it an affordable community. Mortgage costs and rent are both modest relative to income. The school's location on Navarre Road places it on the district campus rather than within the village center proper.
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