How Good Are Kirtland Schools? The 2025-26 Report Card, Explained

For families considering a move to Kirtland, the schools are usually the first question, and the answer starts with the state's own data. Kirtland Local Schools has now earned Ohio's highest rating two years running, and the 2025-26 report card, released in September 2026, gives buyers a concrete, current picture of what the district delivers. Here is what the numbers show, what they do not, and what day-to-day school life looks like beyond the scores.

What the 2025-26 Report Card Shows

Kirtland Local Schools earned 5 out of 5 stars on the 2025-26 Ohio State Report Card, matching its 2024-25 rating, and outperformed the state average in achievement and graduation (cleveland.com, September 2026). For context, the average rating across Ohio districts in 2025-26 was 3.8 stars, so Kirtland sits well above a typical district (Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, 2025-26).

The headline number is the district's Performance Index of 94.8 for 2025-26, up from 94.0 the prior year (Ohio Department of Education and Workforce report card data, 2025-26). On the 2024-25 report card, that index placed the district in the top 7% of Ohio districts. The Performance Index measures how students perform across state tests, weighting advanced and accelerated scores, so a rising index means more students scoring at higher levels, not just passing.

All Three Buildings Earned 5 Stars

The district rating is not a single average hiding weak buildings. Each of the three schools earned its own 5-star rating on the 2025-26 report card:

• Kirtland Elementary School: (pre-K through grade 5)
• Kirtland Middle School: (grades 6-8), ranked 36th of 1,036 Ohio middle schools on the 2024-25 report card
• Kirtland High School: (grades 9-12)

Enrollment is small by design. NCES building counts for 2024-25 put the elementary school at about 452 students, the high school at about 335, and the middle school at about 264, for a district of roughly 1,100 students across pre-K through 12 (National Center for Education Statistics, 2024-25). A district that size means small class sizes and a staff that knows families by name, both of which matter to buyers with school-age kids.

Beyond the Scores: Hornets Athletics and Clubs

The report card measures academics, but school life at Kirtland is defined by more than test scores. Kirtland High School teams, the Hornets, compete in the OHSAA Chagrin Valley Conference in navy blue and gold (Kirtland Local Schools athletics page, 2026). Fall brings football, boys and girls soccer, volleyball, cross country, golf, and cheerleading; winter adds boys and girls basketball, wrestling, and swimming; spring brings baseball, softball, track and field, tennis, and lacrosse.

Outside athletics, the district runs a full clubs program: Academic Challenge, Art Club, Drama Club, a FIRST Tech Challenge robotics team, Jazz Band, Marching Band, Flag Corps, Key Club, Math Club, National Honor Society, Student Council, and Yearbook, among others (Kirtland Local Schools clubs page, 2026). The practical effect of a roughly 1,100-student district is that kids can actually participate, rather than compete for a spot on a roster or in a club.

What the Data Means for Buyers

For families comparing Northeast Ohio districts, the report card is the fastest way to see what Kirtland offers: a small, top-rated district where the elementary, middle, and high school all hold Ohio's highest rating. One caution: the district does not participate in interdistrict open enrollment, so the address is what unlocks the schools. Our open enrollment explainer covers the details, and a home inside the district, like 10370 Wilbert Dr, is what makes Kirtland Schools a realistic option rather than a hope.

The rhythm of the district fits the rhythm of the neighborhood. From the one-acre lot at 10370 Wilbert Dr, the school buildings are a short, quiet drive, and the family room's fireplace and vaulted ceiling make a natural homework-night headquarters while the kitchen's granite peninsula handles school-morning breakfasts. If the report card is what brought you to Kirtland, a tour of 10370 Wilbert Dr is a good next step, and Sean can walk you through what the district looks like from a local's perspective.

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