The top reported proficiency rate is 91% in Math. The lowest is 50% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Rushwood Elementary School
Rushwood Elementary School is a small K-4 school in Northfield, a suburban village in northern Summit County, about 15 miles southeast of Cleveland. The school is part of Nordonia Hills City Schools, a district that has recently stabilized after a period of budget strain. All students at Rushwood who took state assessments in math and English language arts showed full participation, and proficiency rates in both subjects were strong, placing the school above the midpoint of proficiency among schools in its county comparison set.
The enrollment is small, under 400 students, with a fairly stable demographic profile. The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of students identifying as Black, multiracial, or Hispanic, and a small number of Asian students. About one-fifth of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a middle-income community context. The area around Northfield is primarily suburban and residential, built along Northfield Road with easy freeway access but without a dense walkable core. Housing in the area is moderately priced compared to national benchmarks and just slightly above state medians. Most families use cars for daily travel.
Rushwood's most recent state assessment data, from the 2024-25 school year, shows math proficiency slightly higher than English language arts proficiency. In English language arts, about nine in ten students tested reached proficiency, while in math, the rate was nearly as high. These results reflect solid foundational skills in both literacy and numeracy for the school's young learners. The school participates fully in state testing, with all eligible students assessed. Science and social studies testing data on file is older and sparse, which is common for elementary schools where those subjects are tested less frequently or in fewer grade bands.
The district context matters. Nordonia Hills City Schools faced significant budget pressures over several years, with failed operating levies in 2022 and 2024 followed by cuts to staff and programs, increased pay-to-participate fees, and warnings of larger class sizes. A new operating levy passed in May 2025, which provides relief and funding stability going forward, though the school still operates in aging facilities. The newest building in the district was constructed several years ago, and a voter-approved bond issue to replace six aging buildings with three new schools was rejected in November 2022, so facility upgrades remain a longer-term question.
For families considering Rushwood, the school offers a small, stable, community-oriented environment with demonstrated strength in reading and math. The recent levy passage should ease some of the resource constraints that plagued the district in the previous two years. A parent may want to look into current class sizes and whether any prior staff cuts have begun to stabilize, since those announcements were made before the May 2025 levy approval and conditions may already be shifting.
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