Summary

The Massillon City School district has a tradition of reform, evidenced by improvement efforts that have been underway for more than a decade. The district benefits from a strong community connection, forged through the town’s dedication to the high school football team and continuing to grow as the Massillon school district mobilizes stakeholders behind efforts to improve academic rigor and raise the standards of student achievement.

Massillon undertook the complex task of school improvement using the Ohio Improvement Process (OIP) and the tools provided by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE). New district leadership was brought on board to spur the change process, but a serious financial crisis slowed improvement efforts. Once the district’s finances had been stabilized, district leaders could proceed with the campaign to improve educational outcomes for all learners. Despite the improvement initiatives in Massillon, student accountability scores declined, reflecting a general trend in Ohio’s public schools. Recent gains reflected in metrics from school year 2017-18, however, indicate signs of improvement, and the Massillon school district remains passionately committed to the improvement process.