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Like report cards for kids, Ohio’s annual school ratings tell parents and other taxpayers how the district is performing.
Unlike student report cards, though, ratings are mostly based on student scores on Ohio state tests. Officials dice the data into dozens of different ways to come to a final score. Did students in a particular building show growth in proficiency compared to last year? How did students of different racial and ethnic groups perform? How are English language learners doing? How about gifted students?
In addition to Ohio’s state tests, the report cards look at graduation rates, absenteeism and — new this year — college, career, workforce and military readiness.
The new measure hurt Cleveland Metropolitan School District.
That fits the trend that wealthier school districts tended to perform better.
You can find data for every district in Ohio here.
— Laura
Overnight Scores and Weather
Northeast Ohio weather forecast: When will rain arrive?
Top Stories
Report cards: Cleveland Metropolitan School District dropped to 2.5 stars in the 2025 state report card, declining from last year’s historic 3-star rating. Laura Hancock reports that a new college and career readiness measure contributed to the district’s lower performance.
Score lists: See the building-by-building scores.
Score trends: The richest school districts did the best again in 2025 report cards released Monday by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, reports Rich Exner.
Science of reading: Fewer Ohio public school districts received top scores in early literacy last school year as the state transitioned to the “science of reading,” an instructional approach that emphasizes phonics and vocabulary, reports Laura Hancock.
Today in Ohio: Ohio has given $12 billion in property tax breaks for everything from deer fences to conveyor belts, yet homeowners’ property taxes keep climbing. We’re talking about the inequality on Today in Ohio, cleveland.com’s daily half-hour news podcast.
Statehouse and Politics
Voter registration: The League of Women Voters of Ohio launched its “Your Voice, Your Vote, Your Power” Airstream tour, visiting Case Western Reserve and Baldwin Wallace universities. Mary Frances McGowan reports the nonpartisan organization aims to register student voters through engaging activities before the Oct. 6 election deadline.
Conversion therapy: State Sen. Nickie Antonio continues pushing for a statewide ban on conversion therapy for minors and vulnerable adults. Mary Frances McGowan reports on the ongoing legislative effort to prohibit the widely discredited practice.
Mike Gibbons: Mike Gibbons, a Cleveland-area investment banker and two-time GOP Senate candidate, died at 73. Jeremy Pelzer reports that Gibbons, who ran unsuccessful campaigns in 2018 and 2022, was known for his honesty and dedication to charity work.
Secret negotiations: Ohio politicians from both parties are defending secret congressional map-drawing negotiations, undermining principles of open government. Today in Ohio podcast hosts discuss how lawmakers prefer backroom deals that protect party interests over transparent public processes.
Charlie Kirk: Vice President JD Vance hosted Charlie Kirk’s podcast, delivering an emotional tribute and vowing to dismantle what he called “left-wing extremist networks” following Kirk’s murder. Sabrina Eaton reports Vance made political accusations without providing evidence of the killer’s motivations.
Northeast Ohio News
Jones censure: Cleveland City Councilman Joe Jones pleaded with his colleagues not to censure him Monday night, saying that a “joking remark” he made had been twisted and magnified into a controversy. Ultimately, his colleagues voted 14-2 to censure him for breaking council’s workplace violence policy and standards of conduct policy, Sean McDonnell reports.
Homelessness ordinances: Lorain and Rocky River are considering making it illegal to sleep in public spaces — sidewalks, parks, alleys, even inside a parked car. Police could issue citations, force people to move along and haul repeat offenders into court. While leaders say they’re just giving officers “tools” to connect people with services, Leila Atassi writes that common sense shows you that poverty is the offense.
Tourism: Greater Cleveland welcomed 18.6 million visitors in 2024, up 1.5% from a year ago but still below its pre-pandemic high. Those visitors spent a whopping $6.9 billion on their trips – up 4% over a year ago and a record, Susan Glaser reports.
Sudden resignation: Todd Walburn resigned from Cleveland Heights’ Mayor’s Action Center on the day the mayor was recalled, with city officials not providing detailed reasons for his abrupt departure, reports Cory Shaffer.
Hitchcock Center: Hitchcock Center for Women, Cuyahoga County’s only residential addiction treatment program devoted exclusively to women and their children, is moving into a new space, reports Kaitlin Durbin. It will include 42 furnished bedrooms with private baths.
Business and Health
Sexual assault nurses: A national advocacy group is sounding the alarm over Ohio’s severe shortage of sexual assault nurse examiners, warning that the lack of trained professionals is undermining survivors’ access to justice and contributing to low arrest rates in rape cases, reports Adam Ferrise.
Medicare: How should someone prepare for Medicare’s new prior authorization program in Ohio? Julie Washington reports that starting in 2026, some procedures will require prior approval, with tips on navigating the process and resources for help.
New pharmacy: The Cleveland Clinic, seeking to remedy the shortage of pharmacies in parts of Cuyahoga County, has opened a new community pharmacy in Warrensville Heights, reports Julie Washington.
Luxury homes: From a sprawling suburban retreat to lakefront living, the most expensive homes for sale in Cuyahoga County offer a stunning array of classic charm and modern conveniences, Mike Rose reports.
Crime and Courts
Fatal shooting: An Akron resident shot a man who entered a home despite a protection order, police say. The man threatened to kill another man and his mother and was shot multiple times, reports Olivia Mitchell.
Flats shooting: Savone Robinson, 21, is charged in connection with a shootout in the Flats that wounded six after a Browns game, reports Lucas Daprile.
Willoughby incident: A 20-year-old man was taken to the hospital following a shooting Monday in Willoughby. A suspect was taken into custody in the area at about 6:30 p.m. and no ongoing threat to the public was apparent, according to police, Peter Krouse reports.
Homicide defense: A jury is deliberating in the Cleveland murder trial of Manija Downey, who claims self-defense after shooting Cynquan Leggett, with prosecutors arguing she planned the attack and her defense citing battered woman syndrome, reports David Gambino.
Arts and Entertainment
Andy Summers: Andy Summers’ upcoming multimedia performance at Kent Stage blends music and photography in a show that explores his legendary career with The Police, reports Peter Chakerian.
‘Notebook’ review: The Tony-nominated musical “The Notebook” transforms Nicholas Sparks’ love story into a deeply emotional stage production that surpasses its film and novel origins through innovative staging and Ingrid Michaelson’s evocative score, reports Joey Morona.
Meatball crawl: Cleveland Montessori School’s upcoming Meatball Crawl and Wine Tasting, an annual fundraiser featuring nearly 20 local restaurants, offers Italian specialties throughout Little Italy’s neighborhood, reports Alex Darus.
Exclusive club: The Never Ordinary Bourbon Society at La Cave, an exclusive members-only club in Chagrin Falls, is opening, featuring rare bourbons, facial recognition entry, and a French-inspired menu, reports Paris Wolfe.
Lobsterfest: La Ville Lumière is hosting its inaugural Lobsterfest, a New England-inspired culinary event featuring a 1½-pound lobster per person, live music, and gourmet buffet on Sept. 28, reports Alex Darus.
Dante Lavelli: A presentation Friday at Cuyahoga County Library’s Independence branch will feature Browns Hall of Famer Dante Lavelli, nicknamed “Gluefingers,” who played from 1946 to 1956 and was known for his exceptional receiving skills, reports Marc Bona.
Oktoberfest: Penguin City Brewing Co.’s upcoming Oktoberfest and voter-registration party combines community celebration with civic engagement in Youngstown, reports Peter Chakerian.
Olinda: Gervasi Destinations’ new restaurant concept Olinda is a modern dining venue scheduled to open in 2026 in Canton, honoring the Gervasi family matriarch with a chic and welcoming atmosphere, reports Paris Wolfe.
You’re all caught up
Don’t forget, you can always find the latest Cleveland news by visiting cleveland.com. If you value the hard work of Cleveland journalists, consider becoming a cleveland.com subscriber.
— Curated by content director Laura Johnston with contributions by Cliff Pinckard.
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