A number of Mahoning Valley schools have been named among some of the top-performing schools, according to a publication determining the best elementary and middle schools in Ohio and the United States for 2025.

The schools were ranked by U.S. News & World Report this month on their shares of students who were proficient or above proficient in their mathematics and reading and language arts state assessments, according to an explanation provided by the outlet.

Raw test scores were only half of the assessment, however.

Test results in the context of socioeconomic demographics, such as the percentage of students who received free or reduced-priced lunches, made up the other half of the rankings. It also factored in publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Education, considering factors such as faculty qualifications and student-to-teacher ratios.

The award is in its fourth year.

SEABORN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Seaborn Elementary School in Weathersfield ranked 134 in the report. This is the third time Seaborn Elementary School has been acknowledged by the news outlet as a top-performing school, earning recognition in 2022 and 2024.

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

Seaborn Elementary Principal T.J. Koniowsky considered the school receiving the award to be an “incredible honor.”

“It just seems like our kids, teachers and everybody after COVID have really stepped up, and we’ve been on the rise ever since,” Koniowsky said. “We got the Blue Ribbon School Award in 2022 that was backed up by a five-star award after that, and now we have a five-star award this year. Our kids and staff keep raising their game, which is pretty remarkable to see, and it’s a testament to the effort of the teachers and the kids and the families that are very supportive of education and Mineral Ridge.”

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

The school fell short of perfection with its Early Literacy grade receiving four stars, but Koniowsky said it’s a tough area to improve in for all schools.

“So that was a three in 2023. That was a three-star. So it’s already risen by a star and that (four) is actually a very, very, very difficult star rating to obtain,” Koniowsky said. “We had our principals meeting yesterday at the county. They talked about that specifically, that’s one of the hardest ones; I think something like only single-digit percents in the state got a five-star.”

Koniowsky said he wishes the state tested and focused more on how things looked in spring, rather than the fall, as teachers and staff would get the chance to do their part in affecting scores.

“They put such a focus on the fall testing of basically first, second and third graders because they compare each fall to each other, right?” Koniowsky said. “And so say a kid, maybe they’re split household, and go live with the opposite parent for the entire summer and don’t work on their academics and they come back lower than expected. Then that’s a ding.”

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

While he couldn’t be reached for comment Friday afternoon, Weathersfield Superintendent Damon Dohar praised Koniowsky and the school’s students and staff for being recognized a third time in a press release Thursday.

“Their hard work and dedication has been recognized on multiple levels in educational circles,” Dohar said. “We’re all proud to celebrate their commendation, once again, as one of the top elementary schools in Ohio.”

NILES INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL

Niles Intermediate School ranked 517 of 1,577, in the same rankings, placing among the top 40% of public elementary schools in Ohio. This is also the third time the school has been featured, also being recognized in 2022 and 2024.

Sixty-one percent of students scored at or above the proficient level for math, and 58% scored at or above that level for reading, according to U.S. News & World Report’s data.

Kimberly Barrell, president of Niles City Schools’s Board of Education, said they were “beyond thrilled” with the school’s ranking.

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

Principal Chris Staph shared that sentiment, noting their report card scores this year, too.

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