The top reported proficiency rate is 87% in Social studies. The lowest is 77% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Dan Emmett Elementary School
Dan Emmett Elementary School is a small public elementary school in Mount Vernon, Ohio, serving preK through fifth grade. The school enrolls about a quarter-thousand students, with a balanced grade-span distribution and an enrollment that skews heavily white, with only a small share of students identifying as Black, Hispanic, Asian, or multiracial. The school's student composition reflects the broader Mount Vernon area.
On state testing, Dan Emmett's third through eighth grade students in math showed proficiency rates above what the county's districts median, placing the school in the top group of performers across Knox County. English language arts proficiency was also above the county median, though lower than math. Science proficiency, tested in a smaller subset of grades, also tracked above county median. The school's overall proficiency index across tested subjects positions it solidly above the midpoint among Knox County districts. Data on free-and-reduced-price lunch eligibility, special education enrollment, and English learner population were not available in the school's records.
The school's academic emphasis is on core instruction in the early grades, where state testing does not yet apply. Kindergarten through second grade, which make up a substantial share of the enrollment, receive no state assessment, so their academic profile is not captured in the public data. This is typical for elementary schools serving these grades.
Mount Vernon is a county seat about 40 miles northeast of Columbus, situated along the Kokosing River. The city has a walkable historic downtown anchored by Public Square and South Main Street, with boutique shops, restaurants, and cultural venues like the restored Woodward Opera House. The community is in active growth, with a coordinated local effort to add thousands of new housing units in response to an identified shortage, particularly to support workforce recruitment for employers like Ariel Corporation, a major manufacturing employer. Home values in the Mount Vernon zip code are modest relative to national benchmarks and slightly above the state average.
A significant uncertainty hangs over Dan Emmett's future. In May 2026, Mount Vernon voters narrowly rejected a school district earned income tax levy that would have funded a major facilities consolidation plan. That plan, which would have closed Dan Emmett along with four other elementary buildings and replaced them with three new schools, is set to return to the ballot in November 2026. A portion of state construction funding is contingent on passage. If the levy passes, the school would close and students would be reassigned to new or remaining buildings. If it fails, Dan Emmett and the current configuration remain in place. This is a material decision point for families considering enrollment; a parent should inquire directly with the district about timeline and likelihood so they can plan accordingly.
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