Best Public Schools in Newark, OH

The city of Newark, Ohio is home to 19 schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school grades across two school districts - Newark City and Licking Valley Local. The data reveals a mix of high-performing and struggling schools, with significant disparities in academic achievement and student outcomes.

Several schools stand out as top performers, including Licking Valley Elementary School, which ranks in the top 25% of Ohio elementary schools, and Liberty Middle School, which also performs in the top quartile statewide. The public charter Par Excellence STEM Academy is another high-achieving school, with strong academic results across multiple subjects. In contrast, the district's virtual school, Newark Digital Academy, struggles with significantly lower test scores and graduation rates.

Socioeconomic factors appear to play a major role, as schools with higher rates of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch tend to have lower academic performance, higher chronic absenteeism, and lower graduation rates. This suggests that addressing disparities in Newark will require a multifaceted approach targeting both academic and socioeconomic challenges facing students and families.