(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) Director Stephen D. Dackin today announced the first group of Ohio schools to be honored through the new Governor’s Science of Reading Recognition Program.
A total of 47 schools across the state were recognized for their exemplary work aligning their curriculum with the Science of Reading, embracing professional development for teachers, and raising literacy achievement among their students.
“Reading is the key to learning. Reading is the key to life. With this new recognition, we celebrate the schools throughout Ohio that are going above and beyond to bring the Science of Reading into their classrooms,” said Governor DeWine. “We know that the Science of Reading is the best way kids learn how to read. As more of our children become proficient readers, they will be more prepared to thrive in the classroom, in the workforce, and in life.”
“In many of our schools that were early adopters of the Science of Reading, we’re already seeing tremendous results. More students are reading at grade level and literacy achievement is improving,” said Director Dackin. “Every day, more schools are becoming fully aligned with the Science of Reading. While this kind of change takes time, the reward for our students will be well worth it. We are excited to be able to recognize Ohio schools that are leading the way in this effort.”
Governor DeWine announced the Science of Reading Recognition Program as part of his 2025 State of the State Address on March 12.
During his remarks, the Governor highlighted one of the first schools receiving the recognition – Austintown Elementary School in Mahoning County. In addition to being fully aligned with the Science of Reading, Austintown Elementary was one of just 13 schools in Ohio awarded the Each Child Reads grant to support the early identification of and intervention for young students with dyslexia. Teachers there have worked to refine their methods to identify where and when students need help with reading and provide targeted support when necessary.
“Their focus on literacy achievement is making a real difference for their students. In two years, they more than doubled the number of kindergarten students who are on-track with reading. And the district’s third grade reading proficiency rate is now at nearly 84%, which is 12 percentage points higher than their pre-pandemic levels,” Governor DeWine said during his remarks. He also took time in his address to recognize and congratulate Austintown Local School District Superintendent Timothy Kelty and Austintown Elementary School Principal Catherine Dorbish.
The full list of inaugural Science of Reading Recognition Program honorees includes:
- Applewood Elementary School, Brunswick City School District (Brunswick, Ohio)
- Ashland Middle School, Ashland City School District (Ashland, Ohio)
- Austintown Elementary School, Austintown Local School District (Youngstown, Ohio)
- Bataan Memorial Primary School, Port Clinton City School District (Port Clinton, Ohio)
- Belle Aire Intermediate School, Washington Court House City School District (Washington Court House, Ohio)
- Brunswick Memorial Elementary School, Brunswick City School District (Brunswick, Ohio)
- Buckeye Valley East Elementary School, Buckeye Valley Local School District (Ashley, Ohio)
- Charles Huber Elementary School, Huber Heights City School District (Huber Heights, Ohio)
- Cherry Hill Primary School, Washington Court House City School District (Washington Court House, Ohio)
- Cloverleaf Elementary School, Cloverleaf Local School District (Seville, Ohio)
- Crestview Elementary School, Brunswick City School District (Brunswick, Ohio)
- Cuyahoga Heights Elementary School, Cuyahoga Heights Local School District (Cuyahoga Heights, Ohio)
- Eastern Heights Elementary School, Elyria City School District (Elyria, Ohio)
- Ely Elementary School, Elyria City School District (Elyria, Ohio)
- Emerson Elementary School, Lakewood City School District (Lakewood, Ohio)
- Garfield Elementary School, Heath City School District (Heath, Ohio)
- Hamilton Elementary School, Hamilton Local School District (Columbus, Ohio)
- Hamilton Elementary School, Elyria City School District (Elyria, Ohio)
- Harold Schnell Elementary School, West Carrollton City School District (West Carrollton, Ohio)
- Hayes Elementary School, Lakewood City School District (Lakewood, Ohio)
- Helen Arnold Community Learning Center, Akron Public School District (Akron, Ohio)
- Hickory Ridge Elementary School, Brunswick City School District (Brunswick, Ohio)
- Huntington Elementary School, Brunswick City School District (Brunswick, Ohio)
- Liberty Elementary School, North Ridgeville City School District (North Ridgeville, Ohio)
- Lincoln Elementary School, Lakewood City School District (Lakewood, Ohio)
- Milton-Union Elementary School, Milton-Union Exempted Village School District (West Milton, Ohio)
- Minster Elementary School, Minster Local School District (Minster, Ohio)
- Monticello Elementary School, Huber Heights City School District (Huber Heights, Ohio)
- New London High School, New London Local School District (New London, Ohio)
- Northridge Elementary School, Northridge Local School District (Dayton, Ohio)
- Northwood Elementary School, Elyria City School District (Elyria, Ohio)
- Oberlin Elementary School, Oberlin City School District (Oberlin, Ohio)
- Orrville Elementary School, Orrville City School District (Orrville, Ohio)
- Perry Elementary School, East Muskingum Local School District (Zanesville, Ohio)
- Primary Elementary School, Galion City School District (Galion, Ohio)
- Putman Elementary School, Blanchester Local School District (Blanchester, Ohio)
- Rimer Community Learning Center, Akron City School District (Akron, Ohio)
- Roosevelt Elementary School, Lakewood City School District (Lakewood, Ohio)
- Sandusky Early Learning Academy, Sandusky City School District (Sandusky, Ohio)
- Schumacher Community Learning Center, Akron City School District (Akron, Ohio)
- Valley Forge Elementary School, Huber Heights City School District (Huber Heights, Ohio)
- Walter Kidder Elementary School, Brunswick City School District (Brunswick, Ohio)
- Warrensville Heights Early Learning Center, Warrensville Heights City School District (Warrensville Heights, Ohio)
- West Main Elementary School, Ravenna City School District (Ravenna, Ohio)
- Westwood Elementary School, Elyria City School District (Elyria, Ohio)
- Wheelersburg Elementary School, Wheelersburg Local School District (Wheelersburg, Ohio)
- Willowville Elementary School, West Clermont Local School District (Batavia, Ohio)
The Governor’s Science of Reading Recognition Program will honor a new group of schools each year.
About the Science of Reading
Based on decades of brain research and literacy development, the Science of Reading informs the most effective strategies for teaching students how to read. Governor DeWine has long supported the implementation of Science of Reading practices in all Ohio educational settings, including early childhood education, K-12 education, and higher education.