Xenia Community Schools continues a steady upward trajectory on the most recent state report card, maintaining a solid 3-star overall rating, in spite of changes to state calculations for the report. Most notably for 2026, every single school building across the district earned a rating of 3 stars or higher for the first time, indicating that all schools officially met or exceeded state standards.

"I continue to be proud of the hard work and dedication of our students, staff, and the families supporting them," said Dr. Gabriel Lofton, Superintendent of Xenia Community Schools. "Making this kind of sustained progress, even in the face of changes in scoring from the state, is the result of years of intentional effort across our district. Seeing every one of our schools meet or exceed state standards confirms what I see in our buildings every day: that our focused work on student growth and achievement is paying off.”

Key Highlights & Student Growth

• District-Wide Milestone: All five elementary schools, as well as Warner Middle School and Xenia High School, are now performing at or above state expectations.
• Top Performing Elementary Schools: McKinley Elementary reached an outstanding 4.5 out of 5 stars, with top marks for student growth and helping students succeed across all learning groups. Arrowood Elementary followed closely with a 4-star overall rating.
• High School Momentum: Xenia High School jumped to a 3-star overall rating after three years at 2.5 stars, driven by gains in academic achievement, student progress, and college, career, and military readiness.
• Middle School Progress: Warner Middle School maintained its solid 3-star rating, building on recent growth.
• Preparing Students for the Future: A key state metric tracking college, career, and workforce preparation improved from 2 to 3 stars district-wide, reflecting stronger opportunities for graduating students.

Understanding the Numbers

While state updates to how early reading proficiency is calculated created an apparent dip in literacy scores across Ohio, metrics measuring academic growth and gap closing offer a clearer picture of year-over-year success. Consistent improvements in these core areas prove that district programs and student learning are moving firmly in the right direction.

Over the past several years, the district has invested significantly in early literacy, introducing new curriculum and dedicating staff time to literacy initiatives. District-wide, XCS saw gains in “Improving K-3 Literacy,” indicating real growth on that front for elementary students over the past year.

"State report card formulas and criteria will change over time, but even when state benchmarks shift, our focus does not," said Lofton. "While changes to how state metrics are calculated can make year-to-year comparisons tricky, our commitment to teaching children remains constant. We welcome higher standards for our students, and we will continue adjusting our instruction to meet and exceed them."

Find the district’s complete report card on the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce site.