US News recognizes 16 top-performing schools in Mahoning Valley

Danielle Riccitelli, kindergarten teacher at Seaborn Elementary School, left, reads a Thanksgiving story to her kindergarten class during story time… (Seaborn has three kindergarten classes)… by R. Michael Semple

Rankings of top-performing schools in Ohio and the nation, U.S. News & World Report

Mahoning County

Primary schools

• West Boulevard Elementary (Boardman SD) – 76 in Ohio

• Robinwood Lane Elementary (Boardman SD) – 107 in Ohio

• Stadium Drive Elementary (Boardman SD) – 111 in Ohio

• Springfield Elementary (Springfield SD) – 101 in Ohio

• South Range Elementary (South Range SD) – 129 in Ohio

• CH Campbell Elementary (Canfield SD) – 141 in Ohio

Secondary schools

• Canfield Middle (Canfield SD) – 24 in Ohio

• Jackson-Milton Middle (Jackson-Milton SD) – 109 in Ohio

• Poland Central (Poland SD) – 136 in Ohio

• South Range Central (South Range SD) – 61 in Ohio

• Springfield Intermediate (Springfield SD) – 141 in Ohio

• Western Reserve Middle (Western Reserve SD) – 95 in Ohio

Trumbull County

Primary schools

• Seaborn Elementary (Weathersfield SD) – 134 in Ohio

• Maplewood Elementary (Maplewood SD) – 149 in Ohio

Secondary schools

• Champion Mid (Champion SD) – 91 in Ohio

• Lakeview Middle (Lakeview SD) – 103 in Ohio

Sixteen Mahoning Valley schools have been named among the top performing schools in the state and nation, according to a report identifying the top elementary and middle schools in Ohio and the United States for 2025.

The schools were ranked this month by U.S. News & World Report based on their share of students who were proficient or above on their math, reading and language arts assessments, according to a statement from the outlet.

However, the raw test scores made up only half of the assessment.

Test results in the context of socioeconomic demographics, such as the percentage of students receiving free or reduced lunches, made up the other half of the rankings. Publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Education was also taken into account, taking into account factors such as faculty qualifications and student-to-faculty ratios.

The top-performing schools among the state’s 3,500 elementary schools include all three elementary schools in the Boardman Local School District, according to U.S. News. Those schools are West Boulevard, at 76th; Robinwood Lane, ranked 107th; and Stadium Drive, ranked 111th. Those schools are also the highest ranked of all Mahoning Valley elementary schools on the list.

The prize is in its fourth year.

SEABORING PRIMARY SCHOOL

Seaborn Elementary School ranks 134th in the report. This is the third time Seaborn Elementary School has been recognized by the news station as a top-performing school, receiving recognition in 2022 and 2024.

Eighty-two percent of students scored at or above the proficient level in math, and 80% scored at or above that level in reading, according to the outlet’s data. The school’s students fared better in math and better in reading in this metric compared to students across the state, as 57% of students tested at or above the proficiency level in reading, and 51% in Ohio tested at or above that level tested for math.

Seaborn Elementary Principal TJ Koniowsky considered the school receiving the award an “incredible honor.”

“It seems like our kids, teachers and everyone really stepped up after COVID, and we’ve been on the rise ever since,” Koniowsky said. “We received the Blue Ribbon School Award in 2022, which was then supported by a five-star award, and now we have a five-star award this year. Our children and staff continue to go above and beyond, which is quite remarkable to see, and it is a testament to the commitment of the teachers, the children and the families who are very supportive of education and Mineral Ridge.”

Seaborn Elementary School received a five-star rating in the state report card ratings released in September.

The school wasn’t perfect, with its early literacy rating getting four stars, but Koniowsky said it’s a difficult area for all schools to improve.

“So that was a three in 2023. That was a three-star. So it’s already gone up one star and that (four) is actually a very, very, very difficult star rating to achieve,” Koniowsky said. “Yesterday we had our directors’ meeting in the province. They talked about that specifically, that’s one of the hardest ones; I think something like just single-digit percentages in the state got a five-star rating.”

Koniowsky said he wished the state tested and focused more on what things looked like in the spring, rather than the fall, because teachers and staff would have a chance to do their part in influencing the scores.

“They put so much emphasis on the drop tests of mainly first, second and third graders because they compare every fall against each other, right?” Koniowsky said. “And say a child, maybe they’re a divided household and they go and live with the other parent all summer and they don’t work on their studies, and they come back lower than expected. Then that’s a thing.”

“Our methods and strategies are proven. Our teachers are great teachers, and we care about kids, and because of that, the scores tend to fall where they fall,” he added.

Although he could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon, Weathersfield Superintendent Damon Dohar praised Koniowsky and the school’s students and staff for being recognized for the third time Thursday in a news release.

“Their hard work and dedication have been recognized at multiple levels in education circles,” Dohar said. “We are all proud to once again celebrate their honor as one of the top elementary schools in Ohio.”

NILES INTERMEDIARY SCHOOL

Niles Intermediate School was ranked 517 out of 1,577, in the same rankings, placing it in the top 40% of public elementary schools in Ohio. This is also the school’s third time in the spotlight, and will also be recognized in 2022 and 2024.

According to U.S. News & World Report data, 61 percent of students scored at or above the proficient level in math, and 58% scored at or above that level in reading.

Kimberly Barrell, chair of the Niles City Schools board of education, said they were “extremely excited” about the school’s ranking.

“We are grateful and proud of our employees for all their hard work and dedication,” said Barrell. “I think it speaks volumes about how dedicated they are to our students.”

Director Chris Staph shared that feeling and also noted their grades this year.

“This achievement reflects the dedication of our students, faculty and staff,” said Staph. “To also earn a 4.5-star rating on the Ohio Department of Education’s state report card makes this recognition extremely rewarding.”