Best Schools in Dayton, Ohio
102 schools · 56 Elementary · 9 Middle · 24 High · 13 Other
Choosing a school in Dayton?
Use this page to compare every school in Dayton by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Harman Elementary School
Elementary · Oakwood City. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Oakwood Junior High School
Middle · Oakwood City. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Smith Elementary School
Elementary · Oakwood City. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Dayton for 2026 are Harman Elementary School (9.6/10), Oakwood Junior High School (9.6/10), and Smith Elementary School (9.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 50 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
102
85 public · 17 private
Avg Score
5.9
out of 10
Median Home
$152,077
home value · ACS
Districts
35
serving the city
Schools
102
85 public · 17 private
Avg Score
5.9
out of 10
Median Home
$152,077
home value · ACS
Districts
35
serving the city
Rates 8.3/10 despite 66% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.2 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Dayton schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Dayton
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (50 of 102). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harman Elementary School | 9.6 / 10 |
| 2 | Oakwood Junior High School | 9.6 / 10 |
| 3 | Smith Elementary School | 9.4 / 10 |
| 4 | The Miami Valley School | 9.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Holy Angels Elementary School | 9.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Oakwood High School | 8.9 / 10 |
| 7 | Temple Christian School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 8 | Smith Middle School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 9 | Dr John Hole Elementary School | 8.5 / 10 |
| 10 | Saville Elementary School | 8.3 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.9/10
- Median household income
- $62,159
- Median home value
- $152,077
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 29%
- Avg commute
- 21 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 56%
31% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Dayton compares
Ohio rank
#348 of 442
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.5
below Ohio avg (6.4)
Median household income
$62k
87% of Ohio median
Schools in this city
91
Education Snapshot
Dayton, OhioDayton's 102 schools span 35 serving districts and enroll approximately 35,357 students — a level mix tilting toward elementary, with 56 elementary schools, 24 high schools, and 9 middle schools. The 91 rated schools average 5.9/10 on MySchoolScout, half a point below Ohio's 6.4/10 state average. That gap tracks closely with Dayton's economic profile: a median household income of $61,588 runs 17% below Ohio's median of $73,792. The city also carries a notable charter presence — 23 charter schools operate within city limits, expanding options beyond the traditional district structure. Adults with a bachelor's degree or higher make up 30% of the population. With 35 distinct districts shaping school quality across city neighborhoods, families comparing individual schools will find more variation than the city-wide average suggests — that 5.9/10 mean masks both stronger and weaker performers within the landscape.
About Schools in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton's public school landscape spans 77 ranked schools with an average score of 6.1 out of 10, placing it in competitive but uneven territory for Ohio families. That average masks significant variation — 22 schools, or 29% of the city's ranked public schools, score 7 or higher, meaning nearly a third of options clear a strong performance threshold. Parents willing to research individual schools will find meaningful differences across the metro.
The highest-performing school in the city is Oakwood Junior High School, rated 9.5 out of 10, which signals that Oakwood City School District sets a consistently high bar. On the elementary side, Harman Elementary School scores 9.3, Dr. John Hole Elementary and Smith Middle School both reach 8.5, and Smith Elementary comes in at 8.4. These top-tier schools cluster toward the upper end of Ohio rankings and offer parents concrete targets if academic performance is the primary factor in their search.
District boundaries matter significantly in Dayton. The city encompasses multiple independent districts — including Dayton City Schools, Oakwood, Kettering, Beavercreek, and others — each with its own performance profile. Oakwood and surrounding suburban districts drive the upper percentile schools, while Dayton City Schools serves a broader urban population with more variable results. Families should identify which district covers their address early in the process, since school assignment follows district lines and open enrollment availability differs by district.
Practically speaking, parents comparing Dayton schools should anchor their search on the 22 schools scoring 7 or above and cross-reference those with grade level, location, and enrollment options. The city average of 6.1 is a useful baseline — any school scoring meaningfully above that mark represents a stronger-than-typical option in this market. If a family's priority is top-tier elementary preparation, Harman and the Smith schools are worth close attention. For middle school, Oakwood Junior High stands apart from every other ranked school in the city. Start with district lookup by address, then layer in school-level scores to narrow the field.
Elementary Schools
56 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 428 students · 1st–6th | 9.6 |
| 2 | 514 students · 1st–6th | 9.4 |
| 3 | 430 students · 4th–5th | 8.6 |
| 4 | 400 students · 2nd–5th | 8.5 |
| 5 | 381 students · Kindergarten–4th | 8.3 |
| 6 | 279 students · 2nd–5th | 8.2 |
| 7 | 84 students · Kindergarten–6th | 8.0 |
| 8 | 469 students · 2nd–5th | 7.8 |
| 9 | 366 students · Kindergarten–4th | 7.8 |
| 10 | 500 students · Pre-K–6th | 7.6 |
Show all 56 elementary schools in Dayton
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
9 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 305 students · 7th–8th | 9.6 |
| 2 | 732 students · 6th–8th | 7.5 |
| 3 | 466 students · 5th–6th | 6.0 |
| 4 | 297 students · 7th–8th | 5.0 |
| 5 | 521 students · 5th–7th | 5.0 |
| 6 | 376 students · 7th–8th | 4.2 |
| 7 | 556 students · 5th–9th | 4.1 |
| 8 | 366 students · 7th–8th | 3.8 |
| 9 | 382 students · 6th–8th | 3.3 |
High Schools
24 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 668 students · 9th–12th | 8.9 |
| 2 | 343 students · 9th–12th | 7.1 |
| 3 | 835 students · 7th–12th | 7.0 |
| 4 | 100 students · 7th–12th | 5.7 |
| 5 | 120 students · 9th–12th | 5.3 |
| 6 | 773 students · 9th–12th | 5.3 |
| 7 | 150 students · 9th–12th | 5.3 |
| 8 | 53 students · 9th–12th | 4.9 |
| 9 | 259 students · 6th–12th | 4.8 |
| 10 | 1,119 students · 9th–12th | 4.7 |
Show all 24 high schools in Dayton
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Other Schools
13 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 179 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 5.3 | ||
| 2 | 102 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 4.5 | ||
| 3 | 128 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 3.3 | ||
| 4 | 200 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 3.0 | ||
| 5 | 361 students · Pre-K–12th | — | ||
| 6 | 13 students · 1st–12th | — | ||
| 7 | 27 students · 4th–12th | — | ||
| 8 | 2 students · 6th–9th | — | ||
| Private Schools 5 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | The Miami Valley School
Private
439 students · Kindergarten–12th | 9.2 | ||
| 2 | Temple Christian School
Private
143 students · Pre-K–12th | 8.8 | ||
Show all 13 other schools in Dayton
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Schools in Dayton
Dayton, Ohio · 102 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 23 ZIP codes
Median Income
$62,159
Median Home Value
$152,077
Median Rent
$984/mo
Population
440,995
College Educated
29%
Homeownership
56%
Avg Commute
21 min
Poverty Rate
22.4%
Community Profile
Dayton has a median household income of $62,159. It is an area where 29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $152,077, with a median rent of $984/month. The area has a poverty rate of 22.4%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 21 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Ohio
- Elementary
- 56
- Middle
- 9
- High
- 24
- Other
- 13
Resources
School Districts (35)
City Day Community School
1 school · 182 students
Richard Allen Preparatory
1 school · 441 students
Alliance Community Schools Inc. dba Dayton Leadership Acade
1 school · 481 students
Pathway School of Discovery
1 school · 800 students
North Dayton School of Discovery
1 school · 596 students
Miami Valley Academies
1 school · 115 students
Emerson Academy
1 school · 667 students
Summit Academy Transition High School Dayton
1 school · 53 students
Horizon Science Academy-Dayton
1 school · 193 students
Gem City Career Prep High School
1 school · 123 students
Summit Academy Community School - Dayton
1 school · 73 students
Dayton Business Technology High School
1 school · 79 students
Dayton Early College Academy Inc
1 school · 343 students
Klepinger Community School
1 school · 541 students
Horizon Science Academy Dayton High School
1 school · 259 students
Horizon Science Academy Dayton Downtown
1 school · 203 students
DECA PREP
1 school · 938 students
Dayton SMART Elementary School
1 school · 84 students
Dayton Athletic Vocational Academy
1 school · 92 students
Liberty High School
1 school · 350 students
Montgomery Preparatory Academy
1 school · 249 students
Dayton Career Tech High School
1 school · 120 students
Centerville City
12 schools · 8,420 students
Dayton City
28 schools · 12,441 students
Kettering City School District
13 schools · 7,762 students
Miamisburg City
11 schools · 4,925 students
Oakwood City
5 schools · 2,030 students
Vandalia-Butler City
7 schools · 2,929 students
West Carrollton City
6 schools · 3,265 students
Jefferson Township Local
3 schools · 254 students
Mad River Local
9 schools · 3,750 students
Northmont City
8 schools · 4,667 students
Northridge Local
4 schools · 1,658 students
Huber Heights City
8 schools · 5,903 students
The Dayton School
1 school · 62 students
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in Ohio
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Dayton, Ohio
How many schools are in Dayton, Ohio?
Dayton has 102 schools, including 85 public and 17 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Dayton, Ohio?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Dayton is 5.9 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Dayton, Ohio?
The top-ranked school in Dayton on MySchoolScout is Harman Elementary School with a composite score of 9.6/10.
What is the best elementary school in Dayton, Ohio?
The top-ranked elementary school in Dayton on MySchoolScout is Harman Elementary School with a composite score of 9.6/10.
What is the best middle school in Dayton, Ohio?
The top-ranked middle school in Dayton on MySchoolScout is Oakwood Junior High School with a composite score of 9.6/10.
What is the best high school in Dayton, Ohio?
The top-ranked high school in Dayton on MySchoolScout is Oakwood High School with a composite score of 8.9/10.
How many school districts serve Dayton, Ohio?
Dayton is served by 35 school districts: City Day Community School, Richard Allen Preparatory, Alliance Community Schools Inc. Dba Dayton Leadership Acade, Pathway School of Discovery, North Dayton School of Discovery, Miami Valley Academies, Emerson Academy, Summit Academy Transition High School Dayton, Horizon Science Academy-dayton, Gem City Career Prep High School, Summit Academy Community School - Dayton, Dayton Business Technology High School, Dayton Early College Academy Inc, Klepinger Community School, Horizon Science Academy Dayton High School, Horizon Science Academy Dayton Downtown, Deca Prep, Dayton Smart Elementary School, Dayton Athletic Vocational Academy, Liberty High School, Montgomery Preparatory Academy, Dayton Career Tech High School, Centerville City, Dayton City, Kettering City School District, Miamisburg City, Oakwood City, Vandalia-butler City, West Carrollton City, Jefferson Township Local, Mad River Local, Northmont City, Northridge Local, Huber Heights City, The Dayton School.
What is the education level in Dayton, Ohio?
According to Census data, 29% of adults in Dayton have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Dayton, Ohio?
The median household income in Dayton is approximately $62,159 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Dayton, Ohio?
Yes, Dayton has 17 private schools alongside 85 public schools. The top-rated private school is The Miami Valley School with a score of 9.2/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Dayton, Ohio?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Dayton is 15.6:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Dayton, Ohio?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Ohio Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.