By Rachel Scofield

Canal Winchester Schools surpassed expectations in the 2025 Ohio State Report Card, showing strong performance across multiple categories and notable improvement in the district’s Performance Index score.

The district’s CW Promise strategic plan set a goal of raising the Performance Index—a measure of student achievement across all tested subjects—by 0.5 points this year. Instead, Canal Winchester achieved a 2.9-point gain.

“We anticipated maintaining our strong overall performance and were especially pleased to exceed our own internal goal for Performance Index growth,” said Superintendent Kiya Hunt. “These results reflect the steady work of our students, staff, and families and confirm that the steps we’ve taken, such as updating early literacy programs and introducing personalized goal-setting at the high school, are having a positive impact.”

One area of strength for the district was Gap Closing, which measures how well schools support specific student subgroups, including those who are economically disadvantaged, students with disabilities, and English learners. Canal Winchester earned a five-star rating in this category.

“Earning five stars shows that our staff are providing strong, targeted supports so that all students can succeed,” Hunt said. “We credit this success to a combination of data-driven instruction, early intervention, and the collaboration between teachers, families, and staff to meet the needs of every learner.”

The district also highlighted the high school’s gains. Canal Winchester High School showed improvement across all tested subjects, which Anthony attributed in part to a new personalized goal-setting initiative. Students who met their academic goals were rewarded with an exemption from final exams, a policy that encouraged engagement and accountability.

“Dedicated teachers and a school culture that celebrates academic growth also played a key role in this success,” Hunt noted.

At the elementary level, both buildings earned two stars in early literacy, while the district as a whole received three stars in this category. Early literacy ratings consider multiple factors, including third grade English Language Arts scores, promotion rates, and K–3 reading progress.

Anthony emphasized that the district-wide three-star score offers a clearer picture of progress. “Those scores don’t capture the progress students make as they move from second to third grade, which is why the district-wide rating provides a clearer picture of our early literacy growth,” she said.

Indian Trail Elementary, which serves students in preschool through second grade, did not receive an Achievement score because state tests begin at third grade.

Looking ahead, the district plans to continue building on this year’s momentum.

“We are incredibly proud of the continued academic success of our district and grateful for the dedication of our students, staff, and families,” Hunt said. “Their hard work and partnership make achievements like this possible and keep us moving toward even higher levels of student success.”