In recent years, education reporters have searched for districts serving primarily low-income populations while achieving high academic test scores. That search has put a spotlight on the small steel town of Steubenville.
For decades, research has indicated that schools serving low-income populations almost always have lower test scores. According to the Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University, Ohio considers almost all of Steubenville's students to be economically disadvantaged, so how do they consistently score in the top 10% nationwide?
According to the most recent publicly reported figures, Steubenville City Schools spent $11,583 per student during the 2023-24 school year. For comparison, The Pennant reviewed per-student spending figures for several other notable Ohio districts: Mason City Schools spent $14,700, Olentangy Local Schools spent $15,286, Solon City Schools spent $18,228, Hudson City Schools spent $23,873, and Upper Arlington City Schools spent $32,255.
Spending less per student and with slightly more students per teacher than other Ohio districts, Steubenville's consistency is one undeniable attribute of its success. The district has high teacher retention and has used the same phonics-based reading program, Success for All, for more than 25 years.
Staff and instructional time are also used effectively. Every elementary teacher, including the gym teacher, leads a reading class. Instruction occurs at the same time across the entire elementary school, enabling multi-age groupings by instructional level. Students are also seen practicing fluency skills by reading aloud to each other more frequently than in other schools observed by education journalist Karin Chenoweth.
The district's dedication to literacy begins before kindergarten. Steubenville City Schools offers a subsidized preschool beginning at age 3 through a partnership with Head Start. Teachers maintain high expectations for young learners, encouraging them to speak in complete sentences as practice for future language tasks, according to education journalist Emily Hanford.
Steubenville's success proves that money does not always determine academic outcomes. Through consistent, research-backed instruction, smart use of resources, and a commitment to young learners, the district has built a model worth replicating.
For more information about specific research studies, refer to these articles: