Elementary Schools in Lancaster City

The elementary schools located in Lancaster City, Ohio, serve students from kindergarten through 5th grade. This analysis examines the performance and characteristics of the 5 elementary schools in the district, with Tarhe Trails Elementary School emerging as the standout institution.

Tarhe Trails Elementary consistently outperforms the other schools in the district and the state of Ohio on key metrics, including state assessment proficiency, chronic absenteeism, and per-student spending. With a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger and a ranking in the top third of Ohio elementary schools, Tarhe Trails demonstrates a level of academic excellence that the other schools in the Lancaster City district struggle to match. In contrast, the remaining four schools – Medill Elementary, Gorsuch West Elementary, Mt. Pleasant Elementary, and Tallmadge Elementary – generally lag behind the district and state averages on academic performance measures.

The data also reveals significant disparities in student demographics and resource allocation across the schools. Tarhe Trails serves a student population with a lower percentage of free or reduced-price lunch recipients, suggesting a more affluent community, while the other schools have higher rates of economically disadvantaged students. Additionally, Tarhe Trails spends the most per student, potentially indicating greater access to educational resources. These differences in student population and funding levels may contribute to the performance gaps observed between the schools, highlighting the need for the Lancaster City school district to address issues of equity and ensure all students have access to high-quality educational opportunities.