Southwest Licking Local

The Southwest Licking Local school district in Ohio comprises 7 schools, including 4 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 2 high schools, and 1 virtual high school. The district is known for its strong academic performance, with several standout schools that consistently rank among the top in the state.

Watkins Memorial High School is a standout, consistently ranked in the top 30% of Ohio high schools and earning a 4-star rating. The school boasts impressive test scores, with 84.4% proficiency in American Government and 83.8% in American History, significantly above state averages. Additionally, Watkins Memorial High School maintains a high graduation rate of 95.9%. Watkins Middle School is another high-performing school, ranking in the top 26% of Ohio middle schools and earning a 4-star rating. The school excels in 8th grade science, with 79.7% proficiency, and in Algebra I, with 100% proficiency.

The district also has a strong elementary school, Watkins Intermediate School, which is consistently ranked in the top 30% of Ohio elementary schools and has a 4-star rating. The school stands out for its impressive English Language Arts proficiency, with 81% in 5th grade, significantly higher than the state average. However, the district faces some challenges, such as the high chronic absenteeism rate at the virtual high school, SWL Digital Academy, which reaches 57.0%. Additionally, the district has a wide range of free/reduced lunch rates, from 22.95% at Kirkersville Elementary School to 45.49% at Pataskala Elementary School, suggesting potential socioeconomic disparities within the district.