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Cincinnati Public Schools improved to a three-star overall rating on Ohio’s latest School Report Card, up from 2.5 stars in each of the previous two school years. The rating places CPS in the state’s “meeting state standards” category for the first time under the current star-rating system. The district’s Progress rating increased from two stars to four stars, while CPS leaders said additional work remains in areas including student achievement and post-graduation pathways.
Cincinnati Public Schools reaches three-star rating on Ohio report card
The Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) recently earned a three-star rating on the latest Ohio School Report Card.
This marks an improvement from the district’s 2.5-star rating in each of the previous two school years.
This feat for the CPS is the first time under the current state rating system, meaning the district is now considered to be meeting state standards.
CPS improves overall rating
The rating was shared during the Cincinnati Public Schools Board of Education’s meeting Monday evening, with Superintendent Shauna Murphy announcing the district’s results.
The district’s overall rating increased from 2.5 stars to three stars. The improvement comes after CPS received 2.5 stars in both the 2023–24 and 2024–25 school years.
The district’s largest gain came in the ‘Progress’ component of the report card. CPS improved from two stars in that category last year to four stars this year.
The Progress measure evaluates how much students improve academically over time based on state testing.
See the result here.
District leaders celebrate progress
CPS board members credited students, families, teachers, staff and community partners for the improvement.
Board members also said the new rating represents progress while emphasizing that additional work remains.
The district plans to continue focusing on student achievement, including third-grade reading performance and pathways that prepare students for college, careers and the workforce.
Board members also discussed the need to strengthen career and technical education opportunities for students who may pursue employment or vocational pathways after high school, according to a report by Fox19.
Here are some notable districts in Ohio and their rating:
District |
2025–26 overall rating |
State standard |
| Akron Public Schools | ⭐⭐⭐ 3.0 | Meets |
| Canton City School District | ⭐⭐½ 2.5 | Below |
| Cincinnati Public Schools | ⭐⭐⭐ 3.0 | Meets |
| Cleveland Metropolitan School District | ⭐⭐½ 2.5 | Below |
| Columbus City Schools | ⭐⭐½ 2.5 | Below |
| Dayton Public Schools | ⭐⭐½ 2.5 | Below |
| Toledo Public Schools | ⭐⭐ 2.0 | Below |
| Youngstown City School District | ⭐⭐⭐ 3.0 | Meets |
More work remains
Although the three-star rating moves CPS into the state’s “meeting state standards” category, district leaders said the report card also highlights areas that need continued attention.
The district is expected to provide more details on the individual report card components, including areas of improvement and categories where CPS continues to fall short of its goals.
Murphy is scheduled to provide a briefing Tuesday afternoon outlining the district’s results and areas requiring further intervention.
The new rating marks a notable change from last year’s report card. In 2024–25, CPS received 2.5 stars overall and remained below Ohio’s three-star benchmark.
“I want to say thank you to the board for all of your dedication, hard work, your push your drive…Every single person who touches Cincinnati Public Schools. [To] Our partners, we definitely could not do it without you so thank you we are super super excited for this new information,..This is really important to all of us. It’s something that we’ve been talking about and working on,” said CPS Superintendent Shauna Murphy.
FAQs
What does three stars mean for CPS?
A three-star rating means the district is considered to be meeting Ohio’s state standards. CPS had remained below that benchmark in the previous two report cards.
Which CPS report card category improved the most?
The district’s Progress rating increased from two stars to four stars. The category measures academic growth and student improvement over time.
Is three stars the highest rating CPS can receive?
No. Ohio’s School Report Card uses a five-star scale. A three-star rating places CPS in the state’s “meeting state standards” category.
How does CPS compare with other Ohio districts?
Cincinnati Public Schools received a three-star overall rating on the 2025–26 Ohio School Report Card. Columbus City Schools received 2.5 stars, while Princeton City Schools received four stars. Ohio’s report-card system considers three stars to mean a district meets state standards, four stars to mean it exceeds state standards and five stars to mean it significantly exceeds state standards.
