By JAN McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
For the third year, Bowling Green City School District has exceeded state standards and scored 4.5 out of a possible five stars on the state report card system.
The results for the 2025-26 school year are proof that BG School District offers a “great education to students and great value to our community,” Superintendent Ted Haselman said Tuesday evening during a board of education meeting. “I believe our state report card shows just that.”
The only district in Wood County to score higher was Perrysburg, reaching an overall rating of 5 stars. Bowling Green and Eastwood both achieved the next highest 4.5 stars. Scoring at 4 stars were Northwood and Otsego, and at 3.5 stars were Lake, North Baltimore and Rossford. The lowest score in the county went to Elmwood with 3 stars.
Only public schools are scored on the state report card system.
In addition to showing consistency, the scores also showed improvement by Bowling Green students, Haselman said.
The superintendent highlighted some of those successes. The measure that determines a student’s year-to-year growth, ranked BGCS in the top 4% of all Ohio school districts. The overall rating points ranked the district in the top 12% of all Ohio school districts. And the district’s third grade literacy proficiency improved 14% from 63% to 77%.
More specific data from the state testing results will be presented during next month’s school board meeting.
Haselman also reminded that while the state report card identifies the quality education provided at BG Schools, that the annual testing does not measure all successes of students. To see some of those, he recommended community members check out the “BGCS Quality Profile” put out by the district earlier this year. https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1776716040/bgcsk12ohus/l51nl2eg441qg4kg1k63/BGCSQualityProfile2026WEB.pdf.
In response to the state testing results being released this morning, Haselman posted the following letter on the district’s website today:
“Today, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) officially released the Ohio School Report Card from the 2025-26 school year. The Report Card results are based on student assessments given last school year along with other measured indicators. Every public school in Ohio receives a School Report Card. (Only public schools are measured.)
“Ohio School Report Cards provide parents, caregivers, community members, educators, and district leaders information about district and school performance — to celebrate successes and identify areas for improvement. The information provides transparent reporting to drive local conversations on continuous improvement and identifying needed supports. The 2026 District Report Card provides an overview and explanation of six key components: Achievement, Progress, Gap Closing, Early Literacy, Graduation Rate, and College, Career, Workforce, and Military Readiness (CCWMR).
“Districts and schools receive an overall rating of 1 to 5 stars, in half-star increments, with 5 stars being the highest.
“Bowling Green City Schools (BGCS) has again achieved an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. This is the district’s third straight year earning an overall rating of 4.5-stars.
“The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce describes an overall 4.5-star rating as “exceeds state standards.”
“When reviewing the Student Growth Index, the measure that determines a student’s year-to-year growth, BGCS ranked in the top 4% of all Ohio school districts.
“When reviewing the Overall Rating Points, the number that determines the star rating for a district, BGCS’ Overall Rating Points ranked the district in the top 12% of all Ohio school districts.
“Four of the district’s five school buildings improved their overall rating and the fifth school (Conneaut Elementary) remained a 5-star, the highest rating possible.
“After thoroughly reviewing the entire Report Card and analyzing the data much more deeply, there are many examples indicating the students of Bowling Green City Schools receive a quality education.
“Below is a breakdown of each DEW Report Card component.
● “An area in which the district’s Report Card was strong was in the area of Progress. This component measures year-to-year academic growth of our students and is measured by looking at the current achievement of a group of students compared to prior achievement results on Ohio’s State Tests. The state expects each student to “grow” or show one year’s worth of growth in a tested subject. For example, if a student’s reading level is 4.5, a year’s worth of growth would show an ending reading level of 5.5 and would equate to a component score of a 3-star rating. In Progress, for the third consecutive year, the district earned a 5-star rating. This high rating indicates our students are achieving more than expected growth and is described by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce as “significant evidence the district exceeded student growth expectations by a larger magnitude.” Bowling Green students are showing more than a year’s worth of growth.
● “The Report Card area of Gap Closing was another strong area for BGCS. Ensuring success for every child means that schools must close gaps that exist in the achievement between groups of students based on factors such as income, race, ethnicity, or disability. Our district’s student demographic determines the district’s subgroups once thresholds have been met (a specific number of students in the population demographic). In Gap Closing BGCS received a 5-star rating, an improvement from the 4-star earned last year. It is important we close these gaps ensuring all students show achievement, and this component rating is proof that we are doing just that. The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce describes the 5-star rating as “significantly exceeds state standards in closing educational gaps.”
● “In the Graduation component the district earned a 5-star rating with 97.1% (up from 95.3%) of our Bobcats graduating in four years. This is an improvement from last year’s 4-star rating. This high rating indicates BGCS supports our students until the end of their K-12 educational career. The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce describes the 4-star rating as “significantly exceeds state standards in graduation rates.”
● “The Achievement component represents whether student performance on state tests met established thresholds and how well students performed on tests overall. BGCS earned a 4-star rating for this report card component for the third consecutive year. The district’s Performance Index score, a score within the overall calculation of the Achievement component rating, increased from the previous year’s reporting for the second consecutive year. According to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce this rating indicates the district “exceeds state standards in academic achievement.”
● “The College, Career, Workforce, and Military Readiness (CCWMR) measure shows how well our schools are preparing students for life after graduation. The CCWMR looks beyond test scores to see whether students are ready for the next step—whether that’s earning college credit, earning qualifying scores in Advanced Placement courses, completing an apprenticeship, gaining industry credentials, entering the workforce, or enlisting in the military. This measure highlights our commitment to giving every student multiple pathways to success after high school. The district earned a 4-star rating for the CCWMR component for the second consecutive year. The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce describes this rating as “the district is exceeding state standards in post-secondary readiness.”
● “The Early Literacy component shows how school districts are working to support struggling readers in kindergarten through grade 3. BGCS has worked extensively over the last few years to increase our K-3 Literacy Achievement and we recognize this remains an area of growth and improvement. The district’s grade 3 literacy proficiency improved 14% from 63% to 77%.
“All three Bowling Green elementary schools increased their individual star rating in this component. However, overall the district again earned a 3-star rating on this component. The district’s rating meets the state’s expectation however we will continue our efforts to improve the literacy of our youngest learners.
“There is no doubt this Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Report Card data is proof that Bowling Green City Schools continues to make progress and continuous improvement. The district is very proud of our accomplishment and I hope you as a community member are as well. The ratings in our Ohio State Report Card are a result of everyone’s hard work.
“To view the district’s Report Card online, visit reportcard.education.ohio.gov. To review the state’s Guide to the 2025-2026 Ohio School Report Cards, click Report Card Guide.
“While the Ohio State Report Card is important and a measurement tool of our district, we know Bowling Green City Schools does so much more than what can be reported on a district report card.
“Last spring, the district published the second edition of our Quality Profile, a document highlighting what sets BGCS apart and outlines the well-rounded education we provide to our students. To learn more about the district and to view the BGCS Quality Profile, click here https://resources.finalsite.net/images/v1776716040/bgcsk12ohus/l51nl2eg441qg4kg1k63/BGCSQualityProfile2026WEB.pdf.
“I look forward to continuing the work, side by side with all staff, parents, and community stakeholders, to improve the experience and education of Bowling Green City Schools’ students.”
