The top reported proficiency rate is 88% in Science. The lowest is 78% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Nordonia Middle School
Nordonia Middle School serves seventh and eighth graders in Northfield, a small suburban village in northern Summit County, roughly fifteen miles southeast of Cleveland. The school sits within the Nordonia Hills City School District, which recently stabilized after years of financial strain.
The middle school's academic profile is solid across state-tested subjects. Reading proficiency sits in the upper range, while math proficiency is strong though slightly lower. Science proficiency is the highest of the three, with full student participation in all state assessments. On the proficiency index used to compare middle schools across Summit County, Nordonia Middle ranks in the top quartile, positioning it among the stronger performers in its county peer set.
The student body is majority white, with a growing Black population and smaller shares of students identifying as multiracial, Asian, and Hispanic. About one in five students qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch, a moderate share suggesting a mixed-income enrollment. Complete data on special education enrollment and English learner populations was not available in the records reviewed.
The school's home district faced significant headwinds before the 2025 school year. Voters rejected a bond measure in 2022 that would have funded three new buildings, and an operating levy failed in March 2024. The district announced staff reductions and program cuts in February 2025, including larger class sizes and increased pay-to-participate fees for sports and activities. The May 2025 passage of a new operating levy provides near-term financial relief and may slow further cuts, but the district continues to operate aging facilities. The middle school building itself has accessibility limitations for students with disabilities, a parent may want to look into this further with the school if that is a concern.
The broader Northfield setting is stable and residential, built around Route 8 with easy access to the Ohio Turnpike and Interstate highways. The village's dominant employer is the MGM Northfield Park racino. Median home values are moderate for the region, and the area has neighborhood parks and proximity to Cuyahoga Valley National Park. Schools are suburban campuses rather than village-center locations, and car-dependent mobility is the norm.
A parent considering this middle school should weigh its academic strength in state testing against the district's recent fiscal volatility and ongoing facility challenges. The school's performance sits clearly above the county median, but the stability of programs and staffing has been uncertain and may remain so depending on community support for future levies.
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