For several generations, Upper Arlington Schools were one of the top academic school districts in the state, seldom failing to be one of the top 10 ranked districts in the state and usually the number one district in Central Ohio. These early rankings were documented by publications such as U.S. News & World Report and locally by Columbus Monthly, the Dispatch, the Citizen-Journal and others.

More recently, the state of Ohio Department of Education has ranked every school district in the state (https://reportcard.education.ohio.gov/download).  The Ohio DOE uses “Performance Index”* to compare districts and the data shows a very disturbing trend line.  The state data is available from 2003 – 2019 and in the last few years Upper Arlington Schools’ rankings have plummeted.

Certainly, our community has provided the UA Schools with the financial resources necessary to excel.  Ohio Department of Education 2019-20 data shows that of the 59 districts in the state with enrollment of more than 5,000 students, Upper Arlington Schools spends more per pupil ($13,654.71) than every district but one. (http://education.ohio.gov/lists_and_rankings)

The first step in fixing this problem is to admit that there is an actual problem, which is something the current School Board and the Superintendent have failed to acknowledge.

*According to the Ohio Department of Education, the Performance Index “is a calculation that measures student performance on the Ohio Achievement Assessments/Ohio Graduate Tests at the 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade levels and English I, English II, Algebra I, Geometry, Integrated Math I and Integrated Math II.” (http://education.ohio.gov/lists_and_rankings)