TOP SCHOOL — Pugliese West kindergarten students Wayne Lytle (left) and Wesson O’Donnell work in class. Five Steubenville City School District facilities were included in the 2025 U.S. News and World Report rankings of the best elementary and middle schools. — Contribution
STEUBENVILLE — U.S. News & World Report releases its latest rankings for educational success, and Steubenville City Schools once again makes the list.
All four elementary schools, including East Garfield, McKinley STEM Academy, Pugliese West, Wells Academy and Harding Middle School, were named Best Elementary Schools and Best Middle Schools in 2025 because they were among the top 40 schools, according to the publication. It is said that he was chosen. Percent in Ohio. A total of 59,128 private, public, K-8, and public high schools will be considered for the ranking, and each Steubenville school will display a Best Elementary School or Best Middle School badge to commemorate the designation. I am eligible.
“We are extremely proud that our school has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as some of the top performing schools in Ohio. , our staff, and our families. It is a testament to the strong commitment to academic excellence and community collaboration that characterizes Steubenville City Schools.” Superintendent Melinda Young said.
“It is a tremendous honor for all four elementary schools, East Garfield, McKinley STEM Academy, Pugliese West, and Wells Academy, as well as Harding Middle School, to be ranked among the best schools in the state. “These outstanding rankings, including third place in the school district and Harding Middle School’s 2024 National Blue Ribbon School selection, highlight the extraordinary efforts of everyone involved in our district’s success.” she continued.
“At Steubenville City Schools, we strive to provide a collaborative, innovative, and high-quality education for all of our students. This recognition confirms that we continue to raise our standards and ensure that our students are well-prepared for future success.” We are grateful for the unwavering support and dedication of our educators, students, families, and community partners and look forward to continuing our tradition of excellence.”
Wells Academy placed third in the state, followed by Pugliese West in sixth place, McKinley STEM in ninth place, East Garfield in 114th place in the elementary school category and Harding in 113th place in the middle school category.
Wells Principal Tommy Kotsanis was thrilled with the performance of the 347 PK-4 students and said it was a concerted effort to achieve success.
“Receiving this honor means that our efforts have been recognized. Whenever our school is recognized for its achievements, we are extremely proud of the recognition. Our students The collaborative efforts of our staff, parents, and school board have contributed greatly to our success, and we will celebrate this milestone together.” Kotsanis said. “Being recognized as a top-performing school affirms our unwavering commitment to academic excellence at Wells Academy. This honor reflects the hard work and dedication of our students, staff, and community. ”
He added that Wells School has been recognized numerous times for its high performance and each recognition is considered an important honor that reflects the hard work and dedication of the entire school community.
Pugliese West Principal Lynnett Gorman said she was thrilled that the school, which enrolls 457 students from kindergarten through fourth grade, was included on the list.
“We are always honored when the efforts of our students and staff are recognized.” Gorman said. “While it is always an honor to be recognized, our main focus is on our students and implementing instructional practices that help them learn to read and write and become successful students and community members.”
She added that Pugliese West has received a lot of praise. In 2022, the school was rated as an overall 5-star building in Ohio, nationally recognized as a 2018 ESEA Outstanding Title I School, and named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2021.
McKinley STEM Academy Principal Donnie Reeves said the school, which has 176 students, was named to the list for the first time.
“McKinley STEM is honored and excited to be recognized.” Reeves continued. “This award shows the hard work and dedication of our teachers and staff here every day.”
East Garfield Principal Tricia Saccoccia said she was pleased that her school was chosen and was recognized for its commitment to the success of its students and staff.
“We are very proud to announce that our school, East Garfield Elementary School, has received the prestigious Best Public Elementary School Badge from U.S. News & World Report. This honor is a recognition of our students, teachers, and It reflects the hard work and dedication of our staff, and the entire community. It is a testament to the supportive learning environment we have built together and motivates us to continue striving for excellence. ” Mr. Saccoccia commented. “375 With more than 1,000 students, we are committed to providing an excellent education that develops the potential of every child. This recognition not only celebrates our achievements, but also shapes our students’ futures. It is also a reminder of the importance of education above me. We are thrilled to join a select group of schools that have achieved this honor. It only fuels our passion for daily improvement and innovation. I would like to thank everyone who gave – East is successful.”
HMS principal Brian Mills said he was proud and felt a sense of accomplishment for his school to be included in the rankings.
“We set our goals every year through self-reflection and data analysis, so being ranked among the top schools in the state is extremely rewarding.” Mr. Mills said. “Harding Middle School takes pride in our hard work, and every accolade that comes with it gives us a sense of gratitude for those who made this all possible. , which recognizes the involvement of families. The success is the result of the efforts of all key stakeholders and it shows that we have support from all directions.”
Harding Middle School enrolls 787 students in grades 5-8 and was recognized as a 2024 National Blue Ribbon School. Other honors include being named SREB School That Work Pacesetter School, 2023-24 Project Lead the Way Distinguished School and Distinguished Launch School. .
U.S. News’ updated rankings use the same methodology for all grade levels covered, with schools based on the percentage of students scoring proficient or above on state math and reading/language arts assessments. Evaluated. This formula incorporates the assessment score itself and test results based on socio-economic demographics. While there are no national rankings, there are clear elementary and middle school rankings calculated at the state and district level, as well as state rankings specific to charter schools, officials explained.
K-8 rankings are based entirely on publicly available data from the U.S. Department of Education, and ranks are assigned in descending order of overall score. Combined with the 17,656 public high schools ranked this year by U.S. News, that means 89,090 state ranks were assigned across elementary, middle and high school rankings.
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