What share of students in Ohio are proficient in math?

In 2024, 32% of eighth graders in Ohio public schools were at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (joint 10th highest among the 50 states and DC) and 32% in reading, compared with 38% and 38% in 2019 (national public 2024: 27% and 29%).

Education in Ohio, United States: official figures

86.2% of public high school students in Ohio graduated within four years of starting ninth grade in the 2021-22 school year (the adjusted cohort graduation rate); 23rd lowest among the 49 states (including DC) with data (U.S.: 86.6%).

High school graduation rate (4-year ACGR)

86.2%

2021-22

NAEP fourth-grade reading score

216

2024

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics score

279

2024

Current spending per pupil, public schools

$17,257

FY2024

Public school enrollment

1,675,300

Fall 2023

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher

32.4%

2024

Is the graduation rate in Ohio rising?

The four-year graduation rate in Ohio was 86.2% in 2021-22, compared with 81% in 2011-12 and 82.0% in 2018-19, before the pandemic; nationally the rate went from 80% in 2011-12 to 86.6% in 2021-22.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate for disadvantaged students in Ohio?

In 2021-22 the four-year graduation rate in Ohio was 76.8% for economically disadvantaged students, 68.2% for students with disabilities and 71.0% for English learners (U.S.: 81.3%, 71.4%, 72.1% respectively).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the graduation rate by race in Ohio?

By race and ethnicity, the 2021-22 graduation rate in Ohio was 75.4% for Black, 76.3% for Hispanic and 89.5% for White students (U.S.: 81.0%, 82.8%, 89.8%).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Ohio score in grade 4 reading?

Public school students in Ohio averaged 216 in fourth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 13th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 222 in 2019 (national public: 214, 219 in 2019). 32% scored at or above Proficient and 38% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Ohio score in grade 8 reading?

Public school students in Ohio averaged 260 in eighth-grade reading on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 12th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 267 in 2019 (national public: 257, 262 in 2019). 32% scored at or above Proficient and 31% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Ohio score in grade 4 math?

Public school students in Ohio averaged 239 in fourth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 13th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 241 in 2019 (national public: 237, 240 in 2019). 43% scored at or above Proficient and 23% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How do students in Ohio score in grade 8 math?

Public school students in Ohio averaged 279 in eighth-grade mathematics on the 2024 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), joint 10th highest among the 50 states and DC, down from 286 in 2019 (national public: 272, 281 in 2019). 32% scored at or above Proficient and 35% below Basic.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

How much does Ohio spend per student?

Public school systems in Ohio spent $17,257 per pupil on current operations in fiscal year 2024, 22nd highest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: $17,619), according to the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Is school spending per pupil in Ohio going up?

Current spending per pupil in Ohio rose from $13,538 in fiscal 2019 to $17,257 in fiscal 2024, up 27.5% before inflation (U.S.: up 33.6%); the change on fiscal 2023 was up 4.7%.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

What does Ohio spend school money on?

Of the $17,257 spent per pupil in Ohio in fiscal 2024, $9,940 went on instruction and $6,761 on support services; salaries and wages came to $9,655 per pupil and employee benefits $3,842.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Where does school funding in Ohio come from?

Public school systems in Ohio received $31.5 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024: 11.8% from the federal government, 34.6% from the state and 53.6% from local sources such as property taxes (U.S.: 11.6%, 45.2% and 43.2%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How much does Ohio spend on public schools in total?

Total spending by public school systems in Ohio was $31.3 billion in fiscal 2024, of which $27.1 billion was current spending and $3.2 billion capital outlay on buildings and equipment; the systems owed $15.6 billion in debt at the end of the year.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many students are in public schools in Ohio?

1,675,300 pupils were enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools in Ohio in fall 2023, down 0.9% on fall 2019 (1,689,867) and down 2.8% on fall 2013; nationally enrollment was down 2.5% since 2019.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What is the student-teacher ratio in Ohio?

Public schools in Ohio had 102,323 full-time-equivalent teachers in fall 2022, about 16.4 pupils per teacher, 14th most among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 15.4; Ohio in fall 2019: 15.9).

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

What percentage of people in Ohio have a college degree?

32.4% of adults aged 25 and over in Ohio, about 2,670,000 people, held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2024; joint 14th lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 36.8%). That is up 1.7 percentage points on 2021 (30.7%), according to the American Community Survey.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many people in Ohio have a graduate degree?

In 2024, 12.5% of adults 25 and over in Ohio had a graduate or professional degree and 9.1% an associate degree as their highest qualification (U.S.: 14.7% and 8.8%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How many adults in Ohio did not finish high school?

92.2% of adults 25 and over in Ohio had at least a high school diploma or equivalent in 2024, leaving 7.8% without one; that share is joint 21st lowest among the 50 states and DC (U.S.: 10.1%).

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

How Ohio compares with other states

Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR) (2021-22)

Ohio ranks 27 of 49, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate; New Mexico and Oklahoma did not report for 2021-22

Rank	Region	Public high school 4-year graduation rate (ACGR)
24	New York	86.7%
25	North Carolina	86.4%
26	Maryland	86.3%
27	Ohio	86.2%
28	Maine	86.1%
29	Hawaii	86.0%
30	Montana	85.8%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students (2021-22)

Ohio ranks 31 of 48, highest first. Adjusted cohort graduation rate

Rank	Region	Graduation rate of economically disadvantaged students
28	Maryland	77.9%
29	Louisiana	77.5%
30	Utah	77.5%
31	Ohio	76.8%
32	Maine	76.6%
33	Washington	76.5%
34	South Carolina	76.4%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Ohio ranks 14 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade reading, average score
11	Kentucky	218
12	Montana	217
13	Pennsylvania	216
14	Ohio	216
15	Washington	216
16	Maryland	216
17	Louisiana	216

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score (2024)

Ohio ranks 12 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade reading, average score
9	Iowa	261
10	Idaho	261
11	Montana	261
12	Ohio	260
13	Wisconsin	260
14	Minnesota	260
15	South Dakota	260

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Ohio ranks 13 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP fourth-grade mathematics, average score
10	Tennessee	240
11	Indiana	240
12	South Dakota	240
13	Ohio	239
14	North Carolina	239
15	Colorado	239
16	Wisconsin	239

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score (2024)

Ohio ranks 10 of 51, highest first. Public school students; scale 0-500

Rank	Region	NAEP eighth-grade mathematics, average score
7	Nebraska	280
8	New Hampshire	280
9	North Dakota	280
10	Ohio	279
11	Montana	279
12	Indiana	278
13	Colorado	278

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics (2024)

Ohio ranks 10 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Eighth graders at or above NAEP Proficient in mathematics
7	Colorado	32.5%
8	Nebraska	32.5%
9	Illinois	32.3%
10	Ohio	32.1%
11	Montana	32.1%
12	New Hampshire	32.0%
13	Connecticut	31.9%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading (2024)

Ohio ranks 38 of 51, highest first. Public school students

Rank	Region	Fourth graders below NAEP Basic in reading
35	Wisconsin	38.8%
36	Idaho	38.6%
37	North Dakota	38.4%
38	Ohio	38.2%
39	Pennsylvania	37.8%
40	Montana	37.8%
41	Kentucky	37.7%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Current spending per pupil, public schools (FY2024)

Ohio ranks 22 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances

Rank	Region	Current spending per pupil, public schools
19	Michigan	$18,314
20	Oregon	$18,083
21	New Mexico	$17,664
22	Ohio	$17,257
23	Virginia	$17,104
24	North Dakota	$17,102
25	Minnesota	$17,098

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019 (FY2019-FY2024)

Ohio ranks 39 of 51, highest first. Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation

Rank	Region	Change in current spending per pupil since FY2019
36	West Virginia	+30.2%
37	Kentucky	+29.3%
38	Minnesota	+27.7%
39	Ohio	+27.5%
40	Missouri	+27.1%
41	New York	+27.0%
42	Nebraska	+26.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Share of public school revenue from local sources (FY2024)

Ohio ranks 8 of 51, highest first. Census Bureau

Rank	Region	Share of public school revenue from local sources
5	Florida	55.4%
6	Colorado	54.8%
7	Missouri	53.7%
8	Ohio	53.6%
9	Pennsylvania	52.4%
10	Illinois	51.1%
11	Maine	51.0%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Pupils per teacher, public schools (Fall 2022)

Ohio ranks 14 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Pupils per teacher, public schools
11	Washington	17.2
12	Michigan	16.7
13	Oklahoma	16.6
14	Ohio	16.4
15	Colorado	16.3
16	Indiana	15.8
17	Minnesota	15.5

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023 (2019-2023)

Ohio ranks 16 of 51, highest first. Common Core of Data

Rank	Region	Change in public school enrollment, fall 2019 to fall 2023
13	Montana	-0.4%
14	Alaska	-0.6%
15	Oklahoma	-0.7%
16	Ohio	-0.9%
17	North Carolina	-1.0%
18	Tennessee	-1.0%
19	Georgia	-1.1%

Source: National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education) · saved copy

Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)

Ohio ranks 38 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over with a bachelor's degree or higher
35	South Carolina	33.3%
36	Idaho	33.0%
37	Alaska	32.8%
38	Ohio	32.4%
39	Tennessee	32.4%
40	Wyoming	32.3%
41	Iowa	32.1%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent (2024)

Ohio ranks 31 of 51, highest first. American Community Survey 1-year estimates

Rank	Region	Adults 25 and over without a high school diploma or equivalent
28	Missouri	8.0%
29	Kansas	8.0%
30	District of Columbia	8.0%
31	Ohio	7.8%
32	Michigan	7.8%
33	Washington	7.7%
34	Oregon	7.7%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copy

More on Ohio: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · the United States

Sources

National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 219.46: Public high school 4-year adjusted cohort graduation rate (ACGR), by selected student characteristics and state, 2011-12 through 2021-22, read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1913b92e5e75…)
U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2024 1-year estimates, table-based summary file: Educational attainment for the population 25 years and over (B15003), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 0c933281d2c2…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2024, Table 203.20: Enrollment in public elementary and secondary schools, by state, fall 1990 through fall 2023 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 8e370b60d62a…)
U.S. Census Bureau: 2024 Annual Survey of School System Finances: summary tables (Public Elementary-Secondary Education Finance Data, fiscal year 2024), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 848133174f29…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 913ed194a3d5…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP mathematics grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7dc207d5418d…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 4, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 7da857933d83…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): NAEP reading grade 8, 2019 and 2024: average scale score and achievement-level percentages for public school students by state (NAEP Data Service), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 790de8a24822…)
National Center for Education Statistics (U.S. Department of Education): Digest of Education Statistics 2023, Table 208.40: Public elementary and secondary teachers, enrollment, and pupil/teacher ratios, by state, fall 2000 through fall 2022 (Common Core of Data), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 c15568f58c4c…)

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