The top reported proficiency rate is 81% in Social studies. The lowest is 73% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on O H Somers Elementary School
O H Somers Elementary School serves kindergarten through sixth grade in Mogadore, a small village in the Akron metropolitan area that straddles Summit and Portage counties. The school sits in a mixed-use, working community anchored by manufacturing employers—Newell Brands, Synthomer, Kent Elastomer, and others operate facilities here alongside modest single-family housing. The village has been flat in population for two decades but is beginning to see new residential development, including townhouse and single-family home projects marketed as the village's first substantial new construction in years.
The school enrolls a small student body, all of it drawn from the local village. The population is predominantly white, with minimal racial or ethnic diversity. Just over a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school solidly in a working to lower-middle-income range. State assessment data for the current year shows proficiency in the mid-to-high range. In English language arts, roughly three-quarters of students in grades three through eight meet proficiency standards. Math proficiency sits at a similar level, with about three-quarters of tested students meeting the mark. Science proficiency is also around three-quarters. On the county comparison measure of overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades, O H Somers sits above the midpoint among districts in Summit County, a meaningful position given the scope of that county's enrollment. Testing participation rates are full, indicating the school administers assessments to its full eligible population.
The broader district context matters here. Mogadore Local School District has experienced significant financial stress. After three consecutive levy defeats that led to layoffs, increased class sizes, reduced busing, and fees added to extracurriculars, voters narrowly approved a six-year operating levy in May 2025. That new tax provides revenue to stabilize the district and prevent further cuts to staffing, advanced-placement courses, sports, theater, and music. However, the district remains under a state of "fiscal caution," meaning it projects running out of funds within a defined horizon. Families should expect that despite the recent levy success, the district will likely continue to operate with tighter budgets than many suburban or more affluent districts. Class sizes may remain larger than ideal, busing service is limited, and extracurricular participation may require out-of-pocket cost-sharing.
The school itself has no apparent staffing, attendance, discipline, or specialized program data in available records. Special education and English learner enrollment data were not reported. Housing values in the zip code are modest and slightly above the Ohio state median, with homes appreciating at a measured pace. The area is car-dependent, centered on Interstate 76 and three main thoroughfares, with transit provided by a local bus route. Lions Community Park, a 43-acre recreation facility with fields, courts, and trails, is the main civic anchor and hosts a summer festival.
For families, O H Somers offers solid fundamental instruction in a small, familiar community setting. Test results show students are meeting state proficiency standards at reasonable rates, with no major subject-area weakness evident. The trade-off is operating within a district under structural budget pressure, which affects how much enrichment, transportation, and program breadth can be sustained. The school fits families who value a small, rooted school community and can navigate the practical and financial constraints of a working-class district in recovery.
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