Part 1: Westerville Schools Celebrate Key Gains on State Report Card, Maintain Strong Regional Standing
Westerville City Schools received a 3.5-star overall rating, narrowly missing the cutoff for four stars, and achieved a strong rebound in student academic growth, according to the latest Ohio School Report Cards released by the state. The district’s calculated score was 3.094 on a 5-star scale. The state threshold for a 4-star overall rating is 3.125, and district officials said Westerville fell just short of that mark. The results keep the district in the upper tier of central Ohio school systems.
But these marks arrive at a critical moment. The district is dealing with the fallout from a failed 2024 levy. It has already cut millions of dollars from its budget. It is asking residents to approve new funding on November 4 with a 0.75% income tax. The question for voters is whether the current level of performance can be maintained without new revenue.
The annual state report card grades districts on a one-to-five-star scale across several components. Westerville’s 2024-2025 results show clear strengths and areas that now need attention.
Progress: 4 stars; reflects students making more than one year’s expected academic growth across grade levels and remained unchanged from 2024.
Achievement: 4 stars; with a performance index of 89.7, an improvement from 88.9 in 2024, based on state test proficiency and advanced achievement.
Graduation: 4 stars; supported by a 93.9% four-year rate (up from 92.5%) and 95.9% five-year rate, both exceeding state targets for that level.
Gap Closing: Received two stars, primarily due to a 17.8% absenteeism rate that missed state targets and triggered penalties under ODE rules, despite academic gains for subgroups like students with disabilities and those who are economically disadvantaged, where attendance can weigh up to 50% of the score.
Early Literacy: 2 stars; with a 67.5% K-3 literacy proficiency and growth rate, just 0.5 points below the 68% cutoff for 3 stars, based on i-Ready diagnostics, prompting district audits of K-3 supports amid upcoming state reading law changes.
College, Career, Workforce, and Military Readiness (CCWMR): 2 stars under ODE’s strict 11-pathway definition, which excluded some locally prepared students, such as those with a 3.65 GPA, college credits, and advanced coursework but no qualifying AP scores, leading district officials to describe it as overly punitive.
Two areas pulled down the overall score.
First, Gap Closing dropped. Under Ohio’s scoring rules, missing the state’s attendance targets can sharply reduce the Gap Closing score, even if student groups are otherwise meeting academic targets. As a result, Westerville’s Gap Closing category fell into the low range at two stars this year.
Second, Early Literacy is now a 2-star category. District leadership said this remains an urgent area and said the district is reviewing early reading diagnostics and supports in grades K through 3.
A new factor this year is College, Career, Workforce, and Military Readiness. Ohio rated this measure and began counting it toward the overall score. Westerville received two stars. The district said the state uses a strict definition of “ready.” In one example given to the board, a student with advanced coursework, college credit, and a high GPA still did not count as “ready” under the formula.
Regionally, Westerville’s results still place it in the upper tier of suburban districts in central Ohio. It does not match districts that sit at or near five stars overall. It remains well ahead of large urban systems such as Columbus City Schools, which continue to post significantly lower overall ratings.
The district has maintained strong marks in Achievement, Progress, and Graduation. At the same time, two weaknesses stand out in the newest data. Gap Closing slipped after the district faced attendance penalties. Early Literacy, now at two stars, shows that early reading remains a persistent challenge.
While the report card paints a picture of a successful district making key improvements, it doesn't show the financial strain happening behind the scenes.
Coming Tomorrow in Part 2: The Westerville News examines the dollars and cents behind the district's success: the failed levy, the $6.3 million in cuts, and the arguments for and against the new tax increase.
The Westerville News is a reader-supported publication by Gary Gardiner, a lifelong journalist who believes hyper-local reporting is the future of news. This publication focuses exclusively on Westerville—its local news, influence on Central Ohio, and how surrounding areas shape the community.
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