The top reported proficiency rate is 86% in Social studies. The lowest is 77% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Kean Elementary School
Kean Elementary School is a small K-4 school in Wooster serving a student body that is predominantly white. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, and enrollment sits at around three-hundred, spread fairly evenly across kindergarten through fourth grade.
The school's most recent state test results, from 2024-25, show proficiency rates in the solid range. In math, students scored at a level above the midpoint among Wayne County's school districts. In English language arts, proficiency was slightly lower but still above the midpoint. All tested students participated in the assessments. The school's overall proficiency index positions it above the midpoint across the districts in Wayne County, placing it in a group of schools performing better than the county median.
One data limitation: the school does not report on special education enrollment or English learner population, and social studies testing data is available only from 2016-17, which is now several years old. Ohio tests math and ELA in grades 3-8, so Kean's kindergarten and first- and second-grade students are not included in those state results. Because Kean serves only K-4, there is no graduation rate or high school context to report.
Kean is situated in Wooster, the Wayne County seat, a town in active growth mode focused on new housing and downtown revitalization. Downtown Wooster has a walkable core with locally owned shops, restaurants, and civic institutions anchored by the Wayne County Courthouse. The city is home to major employers including The J.M. Smucker Company headquarters, The Wooster Brush Company, and the College of Wooster. A new public transit system, WayGo, launched in August 2025 and operates both fixed-route service connecting schools and shopping to medical facilities and on-demand curb-to-curb rides throughout the city.
The Wooster City School District, Kean's parent, faces significant headwinds. Voters rejected bond issues in May 2023 and May 2025 aimed at replacing aging buildings, including a facility housing early grades that exceeds a certain age. The district's five-year forecast shows a fiscal shortfall by the end of the 2028 school year, and all attempts at a new operating levy have failed since a point several years ago. In April 2026, the school board paused further bond pursuit and began exploring modular classroom units instead, signaling that facility conditions and available resources for programs will likely tighten. Parents may want to look into the district's current capacity planning with the school directly, as facility and staffing constraints could affect class sizes and program breadth in coming years.
Housing in the zip code is moderately priced relative to national benchmarks and affordability has improved slightly year-over-year. Monthly mortgage payment estimates are in the mid-range for the region, and rent as a share of household income is below one-fifth, making the area reasonably accessible for families. Employment in Wayne County stands at a moderate unemployment rate, and median household income is solidly above the national average.
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