Best Schools in Lorain, Ohio
29 schools · 18 Elementary · 5 Middle · 4 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Lorain?
Use this page to compare every school in Lorain 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.
Helen Steiner Rice ES
Elementary · Lorain City. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Hawthorne Elementary School
Elementary · Lorain City. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Larkmoor Elementary School
Elementary · Lorain City. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Lorain for 2026 are Helen Steiner Rice ES (7.7/10), Hawthorne Elementary School (7.0/10), and Larkmoor Elementary School (6.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 26 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
29
26 public · 3 private
Avg Score
4.9
out of 10
Median Home
$129,733
home value · ACS
Districts
9
serving the city
Schools
29
26 public · 3 private
Avg Score
4.9
out of 10
Median Home
$129,733
home value · ACS
Districts
9
serving the city
Top-Rated Schools in Lorain
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 26 rated schools; 29 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Helen Steiner Rice ES | 7.7 / 10 |
| 2 | Hawthorne Elementary School | 7.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Larkmoor Elementary School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Lorain Bilingual Preparatory Academy | 6.0 / 10 |
| 5 | Summit Academy Community School Alternative Learners-Lorain | 5.9 / 10 |
| 6 | Lorain Preparatory Academy | 5.8 / 10 |
| 7 | Horizon Science Academy Lorain | 5.6 / 10 |
| 8 | Washington Elementary School | 5.6 / 10 |
| 9 | Stevan Dohanos Elementary School | 5.4 / 10 |
| 10 | Frank Jacinto Elementary | 5.3 / 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
- 4.9/10
- Median household income
- $48,078
- Median home value
- $129,733
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 14%
- Avg commute
- 24 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 56%
10% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Lorain compares
Ohio rank
#424 of 444
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.3
below Ohio avg (6.2)
Median household income
$48k
68% of Ohio median
Schools in this city
29
9 districts draw attendance lines through Lorain
Lorain is not one school system. 9 districts cut across the city limits, and the largest still holds only 58% of the public campuses.
Lorain City is the largest slice at 15 of 26 public schools — not a majority. Choosing a Lorain address is choosing a district first.
Among 26 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 1.2 to 7.7 — the spread is inside Lorain, not a citywide average.
7 of the 26 public schools are charters (27%), so the district split is not the whole market.
- Lorain City15 public · 58%
- Clearview Local4 public · 15%
- Constellation Schools: Lorain Community Elementary1 public · 4%
- Constellation Schools: Lorain Community Middle1 public · 4%
- Horizon Science Academy Lorain1 public · 4%
About Schools in Lorain, Ohio
Lorain, Ohio has 25 ranked public schools spanning elementary through high school. The city's average school score is 4.1 out of 10, which signals to parents that school selection matters here — performance varies meaningfully across campuses, and where a child is assigned makes a real difference.
At the top of the range, New Beginnings leads the city with a 6.3 out of 10, the highest score among all 25 ranked schools. Lorain High School follows at 6.1, and Clearview High School posts a 5.9, making the high school tier Lorain's strongest performing segment overall. On the elementary side, Frank Jacinto Elementary earns a 5.8, the top elementary score in the city. Summit Academy Community School Alternative Learners-Lorain rounds out the top five at 5.5, offering a structured alternative program for students who need a different academic environment.
The concentration of top performers at the high school level is worth noting. Three of the five highest-rated schools are high schools, which suggests families approaching secondary school decisions have more competitive options to evaluate. Elementary performance is thinner — Frank Jacinto stands clearly ahead of most peers, but the gap between it and the city average is narrower than what appears at the high school level.
Practically, parents researching Lorain should treat school assignment as an active decision rather than a default. The more than two-point gap between the city's top school (6.3) and the average (4.1) is wide enough that placement has real academic stakes. Families with high school-age students should start their research at New Beginnings and Lorain High School. Elementary families have a clear standout in Frank Jacinto. For students who need non-traditional instruction, Summit Academy's alternative learners program provides a rated option inside city limits without requiring a longer commute.
Elementary Schools
18 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 284 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.7 |
| 2 | 222 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.0 |
| 3 | 450 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.5 |
| 4 | 270 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.0 |
| 5 | 75 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.9 |
| 6 | 457 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.8 |
| 7 | 289 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.6 |
| 8 | 285 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.4 |
| 9 | 307 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.3 |
| 10 | 268 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.2 |
Show all 18 elementary schools in Lorain
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 418 students · 6th–8th | 4.9 |
| 2 | 446 students · 6th–8th | 4.6 |
| 3 | 349 students · 6th–8th | 4.4 |
| 4 | 447 students · 5th–8th | 3.8 |
| 5 | 106 students · 5th–8th | 2.3 |
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 340 students · 9th–12th | 5.0 |
| 2 | 1,784 students · 9th–12th | 4.6 |
| 3 | 121 students · 9th–12th | 4.0 |
| 4 | 31 students · 6th–12th | 3.5 |
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 815 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.6 |
| 2 | 119 students · 9th–11th | 1.7 |
Schools in Lorain
Lorain, Ohio · 29 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$48,078
Median Home Value
$129,733
Median Rent
$838/mo
Population
69,194
College Educated
14%
Homeownership
56%
Avg Commute
24 min
Poverty Rate
26.8%
Community Profile
Lorain has a median household income of $48,078. It is a community where 14% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $129,733, with a median rent of $838/month. The area has a poverty rate of 26.8%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 24 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Ohio
- Elementary
- 18
- Middle
- 5
- High
- 4
- Other
- 2
Resources
School Districts (9)
Constellation Schools: Lorain Community Elementary
1 school · 121 students
Summit Academy Community School Alternative Learners-Lorain
1 school · 75 students
Constellation Schools: Lorain Community Middle
1 school · 106 students
Lorain Preparatory Academy
1 school · 457 students
Horizon Science Academy Lorain
1 school · 815 students
Lorain Bilingual Preparatory Academy
1 school · 270 students
Lorain City
15 schools · 6,058 students
Clearview Local
4 schools · 1,297 students
Lorain Preparatory High School
1 school · 119 students
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 Lorain, Ohio
How many schools are in Lorain, Ohio?
Lorain has 29 schools, including 26 public and 3 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Lorain, Ohio?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Lorain is 4.9 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 Lorain, Ohio?
The top-ranked school in Lorain on MySchoolScout is Helen Steiner Rice ES with a composite score of 7.7/10.
What is the best elementary school in Lorain, Ohio?
The top-ranked elementary school in Lorain on MySchoolScout is Helen Steiner Rice ES with a composite score of 7.7/10.
What is the best middle school in Lorain, Ohio?
The top-ranked middle school in Lorain on MySchoolScout is Southview Middle School with a composite score of 4.9/10.
What is the best high school in Lorain, Ohio?
The top-ranked high school in Lorain on MySchoolScout is Clearview High School with a composite score of 5.0/10.
How many school districts serve Lorain, Ohio?
Lorain is served by 9 school districts: Constellation Schools: Lorain Community Elementary, Summit Academy Community School Alternative Learners-Lorain, Constellation Schools: Lorain Community Middle, Lorain Preparatory Academy, Horizon Science Academy Lorain, Lorain Bilingual Preparatory Academy, Lorain City, Clearview Local, Lorain Preparatory High School.
What is the education level in Lorain, Ohio?
According to Census data, 14% of adults in Lorain have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Lorain, Ohio?
The median household income in Lorain is approximately $48,078 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Lorain, Ohio?
Yes, Lorain has 3 private schools alongside 26 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Anthony of Padua with a score of 7.6/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Lorain, Ohio?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Lorain is 20.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Lorain, 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.
Related reading
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- The Funding Paradox: Why the Federal School Choice Tax Credit Might Boost Your Local Public Schoolschool choice
- The New School Choice Map: Is Your State Participating in the Federal Tuition Tax Credit?data insights
- Moving for Schools: How to Find the Best Schools Before You Relocateguides
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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.