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Portsmouth, OhioPhoto: Vasiliymeshko · CC BY 4.0
C
Schools in Portsmouth · Portsmouth City School District

Portsmouth’s public schools score below 68% of Ohio districts on tests and graduation

On the state math tests, 23% of Portsmouth’s students scored proficient, below the Ohio average (52%). The grade covers the public school district serving Portsmouth, 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.

#944of 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
36%
▼ 24 pts vs OH 60%
2021–22
Math proficiency
23%
▼ 29 pts vs OH 52%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90–94%
▲ 4–8 pts vs OH 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$19.0K
▲ 15% vs OH $16.6K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.7
OH 16.9 · smaller classes
Schools in town
7
1,561 students on the public path
In brief

Portsmouth’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 125 Ohio towns with household incomes within a quarter of Portsmouth’s, its schools beat 10%, lower than their 32% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 36% of tested students were proficient in reading and 23% in math, against 60% and 52% statewide; 100% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

90–94% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86% across Ohio (the state reports Portsmouth’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending, and where it came from

The district spent $19,036 per student in FY2024, against $16,610 across Ohio. 26% of its revenue that year was federal (Ohio 12%), in the last year of pandemic relief. Districts ↓

Two elementary schools, then one middle school

Which elementary school depends on the address; from grade 7 the district’s path is Portsmouth Junior High School/Portsmouth High School. Enrollment is down 6% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Sciotoville Community School, Notre Dame (private), Notre Dame Jr./Sr. High School (private) and Portsmouth STEM Academy (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 Portsmouth’s grade

C− Test scoresC+ Graduation

C: better than 32% of Ohio school districts, #944 of 993 Ohio towns. Graduation is above the Ohio average; test scores are below it.

Ohio school districts we grade (910)Better than 32%
Lower resultsHigher results
Ohio towns with similar household incomes (125)Better than 10%
CC+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 866 test results and a graduating class of 91 could put Portsmouth anywhere from C to C+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Portsmouth’s students in the tested grades sat them (854 in math, 877 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
PK–62 schoolsDepends on your addressC−
7–12Portsmouth Junior High School/Portsmouth High SchoolPortsmouth City School DistrictC−

Portsmouth’s public schools are run by Portsmouth City School District. 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.

Portsmouth City School DistrictGrades PK–12 · 3 schools · 1,561 students, down 6% since 2020–21 · 13.7 per teacher (OH 16.9)
$19,036OH $16,610 · FY2024
C
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading36%
State average 59.5% · 877 students tested
Math23%
State average 52.2% · 854 students tested
A note on the data.In FY2024, 26% of the Portsmouth district’s revenue came from the federal government, against 12% across Ohio, in the last year of federal pandemic relief; spending per student is reported as published.

Portsmouth vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
PortsmouthCPortsmouth City
ClayB−Clay Local
New BostonC+New Boston Local
PorterA−Wheelersburg Local
HarrisonB−Minford Local

South Shore, KY borders Portsmouth but is graded on its own state’s tests, so it’s left out.

Every school in Portsmouth

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 Portsmouthby address
Portsmouth Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–6
C−
791 students13:1Rate it →
East Portsmouth Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–6 · Sciotoville
C−
134 students13:1Rate it →
Portsmouth Junior High School/Portsmouth High School
High · Grades 7–12
C−
636 students14:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Sciotoville Community School
Grades K–12
C
Charter
373 students12:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Notre Dame
High · Grades 7–12
Private · Catholic
190 students14:1Rate it →
Notre Dame Jr./Sr. High School
High · Grades 7–12
Private · Catholic
188 students12:1Rate it →
Portsmouth STEM Academy
Grades K–12
Private · Nonsectarian
175 students13:1Rate it →

Questions about Portsmouth’s schools

Are Portsmouth’s schools good?

On Ohio’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Portsmouth children attend score below 68% of Ohio’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C Schools grade, #944 of 993 Ohio towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 10%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Portsmouth in?

Portsmouth City School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 1,561 students in 3 schools (2024–25).

What is Portsmouth’s graduation rate?

90–94% of the class of 2023 in Portsmouth City School District graduated in four years, against 86% across Ohio.

How much does Portsmouth spend per student?

$19,036 in Portsmouth City School District (FY2024), against $16,610 across Ohio. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Portsmouth?

Yes: Notre Dame (Catholic, grades 7–12, 190 students), Notre Dame Jr./Sr. High School (Catholic, grades 7–12, 188 students) and Portsmouth STEM Academy (nonsectarian, grades K–12, 175 students). Portsmouth also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Portsmouth families are saying about school.

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Looking for colleges? Colleges near Portsmouth → 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.