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Buildings on North Park Place, Painesville, Ohio, September 2025Photo: Niagara · CC BY-SA 3.0
B−
Schools in Painesville · Painesville City Local School District, Riverside Local School District

Painesville’s public schools score below 51% of Ohio districts on tests and graduation

The grade covers the two public school districts serving Painesville, 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.

#751of 993 Ohio townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From Ohio state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% 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
57%
▼ 3 pts vs OH 60%
2021–22
Math proficiency
50%
▼ 3 pts vs OH 52%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90%
▲ 4 pts vs OH 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.7K
▼ 17% vs OH $16.6K
FY2024 · Riverside Local
Students per teacher
18.9
OH 16.9 · larger classes
Schools in town
7
2,735 students on the public path
In brief

Painesville’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 825 Ohio towns with household incomes within a quarter of Painesville’s, its schools beat 40%, lower than their 49% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 57% of tested students were proficient in reading and 50% in math, against 60% and 52% statewide; 100% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

90% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86% across Ohio. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

Painesville City Local spends $16,172 per student and Riverside Local $13,728, against $16,610 across Ohio (FY2024). Neither counts toward the grade. Districts ↓

Choice beyond the district

Lake Erie Bilingual Academy and Our Shepherd Lutheran 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 Painesville’s grade

B− Test scoresC+ Graduation

B−: better than 49% of Ohio school districts, #751 of 993 Ohio towns. Graduation is above the Ohio average; test scores are below it.

Ohio school districts we grade (910)Better than 49%
Lower resultsHigher results
Ohio towns with similar household incomes (825)Better than 40%
B−BA fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 3,568 test results and a graduating class of 394 could put Painesville anywhere from B− to B. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Painesville’s students in the tested grades sat them (3,527 in math, 3,608 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC− to C+
6–8Heritage Middle SchoolPainesville City Local School DistrictC−
9–12Harvey High SchoolPainesville City Local School DistrictC−

Painesville runs its own schools through grade 12 (Painesville City Local School District). From grade PK, students attend the Riverside Local School District, shared with Concord, Grand River, Leroy and Painesville. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

Two districts serve Painesville

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

Painesville City Local School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 5 schools · 2,735 students · 17.0 per teacher (OH 16.9)
$16,172OH $16,610 · FY2024
C
Riverside Local School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 6 schools · 4,112 students, down 4% since 2020–21 · 20.4 per teacher (OH 16.9)
$13,728OH $16,610 · FY2024
B+
Test scores · 2021–22

Below the state in reading

Reading · PK–12, Painesville City Local School District40%
State average 59.5% · 1432 students tested
Math · PK–12, Painesville City Local School District30%
State average 52.2% · 1372 students tested
Reading · PK–12, Riverside Local School District68%
State average 59.5% · 2176 students tested
Math · PK–12, Riverside Local School District62%
State average 52.2% · 2155 students tested

Painesville vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
PainesvilleB−Painesville City Local PK–12 · Riverside Local PK–12
Painesville Township—Riverside Local
Fairport HarborCFairport Harbor Exempted Village
ConcordB+Riverside Local
MentorA−Mentor Exempted Village

2 of the 4 neighbors share Riverside Local with Painesville for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.

Every school in Painesville

7 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 Painesvilleby address
Maple Elementary School
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C+
432 students16:1Rate it →
Elm Street Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
C−
429 students17:1Rate it →
Chestnut Elementary School
Elementary · Grades K–5
C
425 students17:1Rate it →
Heritage Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C−
602 students15:1Rate it →
Harvey High School
High · Grades 9–12
C−
847 students19:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Lake Erie Bilingual Academy
Elementary · Grades K–5
Charter
49 students7:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Our Shepherd Lutheran School
Elementary · Grades K–8
Private · Religious
112 students11:1Rate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (Harvey Academy).

Questions about Painesville’s schools

Are Painesville’s schools good?

On Ohio’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Painesville children attend score below 51% of Ohio’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B− Schools grade, #751 of 993 Ohio towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 40%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Painesville in?

Two districts: Painesville City Local School District runs grades PK–12, and Riverside Local School District runs grades PK–12, shared with Concord, Grand River, Leroy and Painesville.

Where do Painesville kids go to high school?

Harvey High School, with 847 students; its own test results earn a C−.

What is Painesville’s graduation rate?

90% of the class of 2023 in Riverside Local School District graduated in four years, against 86% across Ohio.

How much does Painesville spend per student?

$16,172 in Painesville City Local School District and $13,728 in Riverside Local School District (FY2024), against $16,610 across Ohio. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Painesville?

Yes: Our Shepherd Lutheran School (religious, grades K–8, 112 students). Painesville also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Painesville families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Painesville → 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.