Richland County Schools & Education
Richland County, Ohio
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
35/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
82.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
82.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 88.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,678
National avg $13,239
State avg $7,994
School Score
35/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 54/100
State Score Position
#81
of 88 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Richland County
Measured School Summary
Richland County faces educational challenges with a school score of 35/100 and a graduation rate of 82.0%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $7,678 per pupil, Richland County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 35% below the Ohio average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 6.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 4% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Richland County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
46 public schools and 16 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
35/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #81 of 88 Ohio counties with school score data.
Completion
82.0%
6.3 pts below the state average
Funding context
$7,678
$316 below the state average
School coverage
46
16 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Richland County has 46 public schools across 16 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Richland County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Review-carefully county
Richland County has a lower measured county-level school signal. Use the school table to look for specific districts or grade bands that may differ from the county average.
State position
#81
of 88 Ohio counties with school score data. The county score is 19 points below the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
Mansfield City
Elementary to high school visible
3,182 students
8 listed schools in this county slice.
Madison Local
Elementary to high school visible
2,730 students
6 listed schools in this county slice.
Lexington Local
Elementary to high school visible
2,338 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
Ontario Local
Elementary to high school visible
1,932 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Mansfield City is the largest listed district slice, with 8 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Richland County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Richland County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Richland County, Ohio
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
A Large and Diverse School Network
Richland County supports a massive educational infrastructure of 46 public schools serving 18,843 students. Managed by 16 different districts, the system includes 19 elementary, 10 middle, and 13 high schools. This high number of districts provides a variety of educational philosophies and local leadership styles across the county.
Mansfield City and Charter School Options
Mansfield City is the largest district with 3,182 students, followed by Madison Local with 2,730. Unlike many neighboring counties, Richland features six charter schools which represent 13% of all schools in the area. These alternative options provide families with choices beyond the traditional public school framework.
A Blend of City, Suburb, and Rural Life
Richland County offers a unique locale mix with 15 rural, 14 city, and 13 suburban schools. The average school size is 410 students, but large facilities like Pioneer Career & Technology Center serve over 1,000 students. This variety means families can find everything from dense urban campuses to secluded rural schoolhouses.
School Overview
Total Schools
46
in Richland County
Reported Enrollment
18,843
46 schools reporting
School Districts
16
districts
Charter Schools
6
13% of total
School Level Breakdown
16 School Districts in Richland County
Mansfield City
Madison Local
Lexington Local
Ontario Local
Shelby City
Clear Fork Valley Local
Pioneer Career & Technology
Crestview Local
GOAL Digital Academy
Plymouth-Shiloh Local
46 Public Schools in Richland County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 2 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 46 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pioneer Career & Technology | Profile | Pioneer Career & Technology | Shelby, 44875Town: Fringe | 6–12 | Vocational | 1,040 |
| Stingel Elementary School | Profile | Ontario Local | Ontario, 44906Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 937 |
| Shelby Elementary School | Record | Shelby City | Shelby, 44875Town: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 900 |
| Madison High School | Record | Madison Local | Mansfield, 44905Suburb: Small | 9–12 | High | 877 |
| Mansfield Senior High School | Record | Mansfield City | Mansfield, 44906City: Small | 8–12 | High | 815 |
| GOAL Digital Academy | Record | GOAL Digital Academy | Mansfield, 44906City: Small | KG–12 | CharterVirtual | 772 |
| Madison Middle School | Record | Madison Local | Mansfield, 44905Suburb: Small | 5–8 | Middle | 769 |
| Malabar Intermediate School | Record | Mansfield City | Mansfield, 44907City: Small | 3–6 | Primary | 762 |
| Lexington High School | Record | Lexington Local | Lexington, 44904Suburb: Small | 9–12 | High | 746 |
| Ontario High School | Record | Ontario Local | Mansfield, 44906Suburb: Small | 9–12 | High | 527 |
| Madison South Elementary School | Record | Madison Local | Mansfield, 44907Suburb: Small | PK–4 | Primary | 522 |
| Shelby High School | Record | Shelby City | Shelby, 44875Town: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 499 |
| Eastern Elementary School | Record | Lexington Local | Lexington, 44904Suburb: Small | 4–8 | Middle | 474 |
| Ontario Middle School | Record | Ontario Local | Mansfield, 44906Suburb: Small | 5–8 | Middle | 468 |
| Clear Fork High School | Record | Clear Fork Valley Local | Bellville, 44813Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 465 |
| Foundation Academy | Record | Foundation Academy | Mansfield, 44906City: Small | KG–8 | Charter | 460 |
| Sherman Elementary School | Record | Mansfield City | Mansfield, 44906City: Small | PK–2 | Primary | 459 |
| Shelby Middle School | Record | Shelby City | Shelby, 44875Town: Fringe | 5–8 | Middle | 454 |
| Mansfield Middle School | Record | Mansfield City | Mansfield, 44906City: Small | 7–8 | Middle | 427 |
| Bellville Elementary School | Record | Clear Fork Valley Local | Bellville, 44813Rural: Fringe | KG–5 | Primary | 414 |
Pioneer Career & Technology
Pioneer Career & Technology
Shelby, 44875 / Town: Fringe
Stingel Elementary School
Ontario Local
Ontario, 44906 / Rural: Fringe
GOAL Digital Academy
GOAL Digital Academy
Mansfield, 44906 / City: Small
Madison South Elementary School
Madison Local
Mansfield, 44907 / Suburb: Small
Clear Fork High School
Clear Fork Valley Local
Bellville, 44813 / Rural: Distant
Bellville Elementary School
Clear Fork Valley Local
Bellville, 44813 / Rural: Fringe
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,678
State avg $7,994
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Richland County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Ohio counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Ohio?
How should I read the school score in Richland County?
What is the graduation rate in Richland County?
How much does Richland County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Richland County, Ohio — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Richland County, Ohio?
Richland County supports a massive educational infrastructure of 46 public schools serving 18,843 students. Managed by 16 different districts, the system includes 19 elementary, 10 middle, and 13 high schools. This high number of districts provides a variety of educational philosophies and local leadership styles across the county.
What are the major school districts in Richland County, Ohio?
Mansfield City is the largest district with 3,182 students, followed by Madison Local with 2,730. Unlike many neighboring counties, Richland features six charter schools which represent 13% of all schools in the area. These alternative options provide families with choices beyond the traditional public school framework.
What is the school experience like in Richland County?
Richland County offers a unique locale mix with 15 rural, 14 city, and 13 suburban schools. The average school size is 410 students, but large facilities like Pioneer Career & Technology Center serve over 1,000 students. This variety means families can find everything from dense urban campuses to secluded rural schoolhouses.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.