The top reported proficiency rate is 10% in English language arts. The lowest is 5% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Excel
EXCEL is a small regular public school in Bedford serving grades three through twelve, with a total enrollment of fewer than one hundred students. The school is part of the Bedford City School District, which also serves Bedford Heights, Oakwood Village, and Walton Hills across a multi-community area.
The student body is predominantly Black, with a small number of white and multiracial students and minimal racial diversity otherwise. Data on free and reduced-price lunch eligibility, special education enrollment, and English learner status are not available. The school's grade distribution is uneven, with very small cohorts in the lower elementary grades but larger numbers in high school, particularly in grades eleven and twelve.
State testing results for grades three through eight in math show proficiency well below county and state expectations. In English language arts, the pattern is similar. Science results are based on a smaller tested group, with participation notably lower than in other subjects. Across subjects, EXCEL's proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile relative to districts in Cuyahoga County. The school's state assessment performance is significantly weaker than the majority of schools and districts serving the county.
Because the school serves grades through twelve but state testing occurs only in grades three through eight, no high school proficiency data are reported. A graduation rate is not available in the provided data, and no information about attendance, discipline, or course access was included.
The Bedford City School District has undertaken substantial capital planning, with voters approving a major bond in 2023 to fund three new buildings—a new middle school and K-2 facility scheduled for 2027 and a new high school in 2028. The district has also reinstated fifteen Career and Technical Education programs at no additional cost, expanding pathways for students interested in skilled trades and career preparation.
EXCEL's housing market context is Bedford itself, a small historic eastern suburb of Cleveland. Homes in the area are modestly priced for the region and represent a mix of architectural styles—bungalows, colonials, Tudors, split-levels—on tree-lined streets. The historic downtown along Broadway Avenue anchors civic life with a Town Square, gazebo, and mom-and-pop shops. Local employment includes healthcare (a University Hospitals branch and senior care facilities), retail, food service, and logistics, though many residents commute to larger Cleveland employers. A parent considering EXCEL should seek further conversation with the school about the very low state test proficiency rates, the small size and unusual grade structure, the availability of high school programming and course offerings, and how the school's academic pathway aligns with their child's needs.
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