Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Lancaster

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Lancaster Ohio Main StreetPhoto: Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant) · CC BY-SA 2.5
C+
Schools in Lancaster · Lancaster City School District

Lancaster’s public schools score below 56% of Ohio districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the public school district serving Lancaster, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Ohio, not nationally.

#819of 993 Ohio townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Ohio state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
54%
▼ 6 pts vs OH 60%
2021–22
Math proficiency
48%
▼ 4 pts vs OH 52%
2021–22
Graduate on time
88%
▲ 2 pts vs OH 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$15.1K
▼ 9% vs OH $16.6K
FY2024
Students per teacher
19.8
OH 16.9 · larger classes
Schools in town
13
5,343 students on the public path
In brief

Lancaster’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 1210 Ohio towns with household incomes within a quarter of Lancaster’s, its schools beat 22%, lower than their 44% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 54% of tested students were proficient in reading and 48% in math, against 60% and 52% statewide; 98% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

88% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86% across Ohio. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $15,066 per student, against $16,610 across Ohio (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Five elementary schools, then two middle and one high school

Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. Bernadette School (private), William V. Fisher Catholic High School (private), Redeemer Lutheran Preschool (private), New Story Schools (private) and Lancaster Montessori School (private) are in town. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Lancaster’s grade

C+ Test scoresC Graduation

C+: better than 44% of Ohio school districts, #819 of 993 Ohio towns. Graduation is above the Ohio average; test scores are below it.

Ohio school districts we grade (910)Better than 44%
Lower resultsHigher results
Ohio towns with similar household incomes (1210)Better than 22%
C+B−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 3,235 test results and a graduating class of 435 could put Lancaster anywhere from C+ to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 98% of Lancaster’s students in the tested grades sat them (3,228 in math, 3,242 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Lancaster, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
K–55 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC to B
6–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC
9–12Lancaster High SchoolLancaster City School DistrictB−

Lancaster’s public schools are run by Lancaster City School District, which also serves Hocking and Pleasant. Parts of Lancaster (3% of its land) are served by Amanda-Clearcreek Local instead. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Lancaster City School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 9 schools · 6,036 students, down 2% since 2020–21 · 19.8 per teacher (OH 16.9)
$15,066OH $16,610 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading54%
State average 59.5% · 3242 students tested
Math48%
State average 52.2% · 3228 students tested

Lancaster vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Ohio towns that share Lancaster’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
LancasterC+Lancaster City
HockingB−Lancaster City PK–12 · Amanda-Clearcreek Local PK–12
PleasantB−Lancaster City PK–12 · Fairfield Union Local K–12
GreenfieldA−Bloom-Carroll Local
BerneBBerne Union Local

2 of the 4 neighbors share Lancaster City with Lancaster, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Lancaster

13 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Ohio’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

District schools in Lancasterby address
Tarhe Trails Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
B
611 students20:1Rate it →
Gorsuch West Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
C
530 students18:1Rate it →
Mt. Pleasant Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
C+
530 students20:1Rate it →
Medill Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
C+
530 students20:1Rate it →
Tallmadge Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
C
486 students19:1Rate it →
Bridges
Elementary · Grades 1–8
18 studentsRate it →
Thomas Ewing Junior High School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C
643 students18:1Rate it →
Lancaster High School
High · Grades 9–12
B−
1,995 students21:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Bernadette School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
Private · Catholic
144 students15:1Rate it →
William V. Fisher Catholic High School
High · Grades 9–12
Private · Catholic
139 students7:1Rate it →
Redeemer Lutheran Preschool
Elementary · Grades PK–K
Private · Religious
60 studentsRate it →
New Story Schools
Grades K–12
Private · Special education
36 students6:1Rate it →
Lancaster Montessori School
Elementary · Grades PK–K
Private · Nonsectarian
16 students5:1Rate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Early Childhood Center 1).

Questions about Lancaster’s schools

Are Lancaster’s schools good?

On Ohio’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Lancaster children attend score below 56% of Ohio’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #819 of 993 Ohio towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 22%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Lancaster in?

Lancaster City School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 6,036 students in 9 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Lancaster are served by Amanda-Clearcreek Local.

Where do Lancaster kids go to high school?

Lancaster High School, with 1,995 students; its own test results earn a B−.

What is Lancaster’s graduation rate?

88% of the class of 2023 in Lancaster City School District graduated in four years, against 86% across Ohio.

How much does Lancaster spend per student?

$15,066 in Lancaster City School District (FY2024), against $16,610 across Ohio. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Lancaster?

Yes: St. Bernadette School (Catholic, grades PK–5, 144 students), William V. Fisher Catholic High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 139 students), Redeemer Lutheran Preschool (religious, grades PK–K, 60 students), New Story Schools (special education, grades K–12, 36 students) and Lancaster Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 16 students).

Parents talk

What Lancaster families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Lancaster → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Ohio. Stars are from neighbors.