Public schools in Dayton, OH
83 open public schools with an address in Dayton, operated by 33 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
83
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
30,423
81 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
17.4:1
Ohio median 17:1
Charter schools
22
1 magnet · 5 virtual
An overview of Dayton public schools
The federal directory lists 83 public schools in Dayton, OH: 43 elementary, 9 middle, 18 high, 13 combined or other. The 81 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 30,423 students, an average of 376 per school. The largest campus is Belmont High School (1,153 students), and the largest elementary school is Deca Prep (950).
Dayton City operates the most schools here (29), and 11 regular districts have at least one Dayton campus, plus 22 charter, service, or other agencies. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 17.4:1, similar to the statewide school median of 17:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 22 charter schools, 1 magnet school, 5 virtual schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 22 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 6 of 22 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 33% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Dayton
Dayton City
Public school district
29 schools in Dayton
Mad River Local
Public school district
9 schools in Dayton
Oakwood City
Public school district
5 schools in Dayton
Centerville City
Public school district
4 schools in Dayton · 12 total
Northridge Local
Public school district
4 schools in Dayton
Jefferson Township Local
Public school district
2 schools in Dayton
Kettering City School District
Public school district
2 schools in Dayton · 13 total
Northmont City
Public school district
2 schools in Dayton · 9 total
Vandalia-Butler City
Public school district
2 schools in Dayton · 6 total
Alliance Community Schools Inc. dba Dayton Leadership Acade
Independent charter agency
1 school in Dayton
City Day Community School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Dayton
Dayton Business Technology High School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Dayton
Dayton Career Tech High School dba Riverscape Career Tech
Independent charter agency
1 school in Dayton
Dayton Early College Academy Inc
Independent charter agency
1 school in Dayton
Dayton SMART Elementary School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Dayton
Deca Prep
Independent charter agency
1 school in Dayton
Emerson Academy
Independent charter agency
1 school in Dayton
Engage High School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Dayton
Five Rivers Career Prep High School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Dayton
Gem City Career Prep High School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Dayton
Horizon Science Academy Dayton Downtown
Independent charter agency
1 school in Dayton
Horizon Science Academy Dayton High School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Dayton
Horizon Science Academy-Dayton
Independent charter agency
1 school in Dayton
Huber Heights City
Public school district
1 school in Dayton · 9 total
Klepinger Community School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Dayton
Liberty High School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Dayton
Miami Valley Academies
Independent charter agency
1 school in Dayton
Miamisburg City
Public school district
1 school in Dayton · 11 total
Montgomery Preparatory Academy
Independent charter agency
1 school in Dayton
North Dayton School of Discovery
Independent charter agency
1 school in Dayton
Pathway School of Discovery
Independent charter agency
1 school in Dayton
Richard Allen Preparatory
Independent charter agency
1 school in Dayton
Summit Academy School?Dayton
Independent charter agency
1 school in Dayton
Elementary schools in Dayton
43| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alliance Community Schools Inc. dba Dayton Leadership Acade Alliance Community Schools Inc. dba Dayton Leadership Acade · Charter | KG–08 | 552 | 20.4:1 | |
| Bauer Primary School Miamisburg City | KG–02 | 311 | 18.1:1 | |
| Belle Haven Elementary School Dayton City | PK–06 | 473 | 20.6:1 | |
| Beverly Gardens Elementary School Mad River Local | KG–04 | 388 | 18.5:1 | |
| Blairwood Elementary School Jefferson Township Local | KG–06 | 148 | 13.5:1 | |
| Brantwood Elementary School Mad River Local | KG–04 | 365 | 19.2:1 | |
| Charity Adams Earley Girls Academy Dayton City | PK–08 | 376 | 17.9:1 | |
| City Day Community School City Day Community School · Charter | KG–08 | 170 | 24.3:1 | |
| Cleveland Elementary School Dayton City | PK–06 | 404 | 18.4:1 | |
| Dayton SMART Elementary School Dayton SMART Elementary School · Charter | KG–06 | 94 | 15.7:1 | |
| Deca Prep Deca Prep · Charter | KG–08 | 950 | 17.4:1 | |
| Dr John Hole Elementary School Centerville City | 02–05 | 376 | 17.9:1 | |
| Driscoll Elementary School Centerville City | 02–05 | 269 | 15.5:1 | |
| Eastmont Elementary School Dayton City | PK–06 | 414 | 21.8:1 | |
| Edison Elementary School Dayton City | PK–06 | 357 | 17.9:1 | |
| Emerson Academy Emerson Academy · Charter | KG–08 | 674 | 17.4:1 | |
| Fairview Elementary School Dayton City | PK–06 | 474 | 20.6:1 | |
| Harman Elementary School Oakwood City | 01–06 | 403 | 16.1:1 | |
| Horace Mann Elementary School Dayton City | PK–06 | 385 | 16.7:1 | |
| Horizon Science Academy Dayton Downtown Horizon Science Academy Dayton Downtown · Charter | KG–08 | 188 | 17.1:1 | |
| Horizon Science Academy-Dayton Horizon Science Academy-Dayton · Charter | KG–05 | 182 | 11.4:1 | |
| Julian & Marjorie Lange School Elementary School Oakwood City | KG–KG | 130 | 14.8:1 | |
| Kemp Elementary School Dayton City | PK–06 | 422 | 21.1:1 | |
| Kiser Elementary School Dayton City | PK–06 | — | — | |
| Klepinger Community School Klepinger Community School · Charter | KG–08 | 540 | 38.6:1 | |
| Louise Troy Elementary School Dayton City | PK–06 | 316 | 16.6:1 | |
| Miami Valley Academies Miami Valley Academies · Charter | KG–08 | 118 | 10.7:1 | |
| Montgomery Preparatory Academy Montgomery Preparatory Academy · Charter | KG–08 | 237 | 16.9:1 | |
| Normandy Elementary School Centerville City | 02–05 | 495 | 19:1 | |
| North Dayton School of Discovery North Dayton School of Discovery · Charter | KG–08 | 586 | 11.4:1 | |
| Northridge Elementary School Northridge Local | PK–05 | 796 | 19:1 | |
| Northwood Elementary School Northmont City | 02–07 | 362 | 16.5:1 | |
| Pathway School of Discovery Pathway School of Discovery · Charter | KG–08 | 843 | 16.9:1 | |
| Richard Allen Preparatory Richard Allen Preparatory · Charter | KG–08 | 374 | 13.9:1 | |
| River's Edge Montessori Elementary School Dayton City | PK–07 | 552 | 19:1 | |
| Roosevelt Elementary School Dayton City | PK–06 | 414 | 17.3:1 | |
| Ruskin Elementary School Dayton City | PK–06 | 553 | 19.8:1 | |
| Saville Elementary School Mad River Local | KG–04 | 367 | 15.3:1 | |
| Smith Elementary School Oakwood City | PK–06 | 494 | 15:1 | |
| Smith Intermediate School Vandalia-Butler City | 03–05 | 642 | 17.8:1 | |
| Valerie Elementary School Dayton City | PK–06 | 566 | 19.5:1 | |
| Virginia Stevenson Elementary School Mad River Local | KG–04 | 290 | 16.1:1 | |
| Westwood Elementary School Dayton City | PK–06 | 352 | 20.7:1 |
Middle schools in Dayton
9| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edwin Joel Brown Middle School Dayton City | 07–08 | 326 | 12.5:1 | |
| Hadley E Watts Middle School Centerville City | 06–08 | 777 | 17.5:1 | |
| Kettering City Schools MCESC Remote Learning Center Kettering City School District · Virtual | 06–06 | 1 | — | |
| Mad River Middle School Mad River Local | 05–09 | 562 | 15.9:1 | |
| Northridge Middle School Northridge Local | 06–08 | 355 | 14.8:1 | |
| Oakwood Junior High School Oakwood City | 07–08 | 319 | 11.8:1 | |
| Spinning Hills Middle School (5-6) Mad River Local | 05–06 | 515 | 19.1:1 | |
| Wogaman Middle School Dayton City | 07–08 | 318 | 13.3:1 | |
| Wright Brothers Middle School Dayton City | 07–08 | 374 | 17.8:1 |
High schools in Dayton
18| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont High School Dayton City | 08–12 | 1,153 | 19.9:1 | |
| David H. Ponitz Career Technology Center Dayton City | 09–12 | 785 | 19.1:1 | |
| Dayton Business Technology High School Dayton Business Technology High School · Charter | 09–12 | 62 | 6.2:1 | |
| Dayton Career Tech High School dba Riverscape Career Tech Dayton Career Tech High School dba Riverscape Career Tech · Charter | 09–12 | 145 | 16.1:1 | |
| Dayton Early College Academy Inc Dayton Early College Academy Inc · Charter | 09–12 | 327 | 15.5:1 | |
| Dunbar Early College High School Dayton City | 09–12 | 542 | 19.4:1 | |
| Engage High School Engage High School · Charter | 09–12 | 30 | 8:1 | |
| Five Rivers Career Prep High School Five Rivers Career Prep High School · Charter | 09–12 | 95 | 19:1 | |
| Gem City Career Prep High School Gem City Career Prep High School · Charter | 09–12 | 144 | 18:1 | |
| Horizon Science Academy Dayton High School Horizon Science Academy Dayton High School · Charter | 06–12 | 300 | 12:1 | |
| Jefferson Jr./Sr. High School Jefferson Township Local | 07–12 | 128 | 18.3:1 | |
| Meadowdale High School Dayton City | 09–12 | 479 | 11.1:1 | |
| Mound Street Academy Dayton City | 08–12 | 156 | 12:1 | |
| Northridge High School Northridge Local | 09–12 | 493 | 18.3:1 | |
| Oakwood High School Oakwood City | 09–12 | 656 | 18.7:1 | |
| Stebbins High School Mad River Local | 09–12 | 1,092 | 18.2:1 | |
| Stivers School For The Arts Dayton City · Magnet | 07–12 | 837 | 17.4:1 | |
| Thurgood Marshall High School Dayton City | 09–12 | 548 | 17.7:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Dayton
13| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3Ea Northridge Local · Virtual | 08–11 | 3 | — | |
| Alternative School at Jackson Center Dayton City | 08–11 | — | — | |
| Inspire Academy a Personal Learning Center for ALL Dayton City | 10–11 | 0 | 0:1 | |
| Kettering Early Childhood Education Center Kettering City School District | PK–PK | 120 | 16:1 | |
| Liberty High School Liberty High School · Charter | 09–11 | 382 | 38.2:1 | |
| Mad River Early Childhood Center Mad River Local | PK–PK | 149 | 21.3:1 | |
| Mad River Local Schools Remote Learning Center Mad River Local · Virtual | 04–12 | 28 | — | |
| Northmont Online Academy Northmont City · Virtual | 04–12 | 7 | — | |
| Robert H Studebaker Huber Heights City | PK–PK | 181 | 22.6:1 | |
| Rosa Parks Early Learning Center Dayton City | PK–PK | 229 | 10.9:1 | |
| Summit Academy School?Dayton Summit Academy School?Dayton · Charter | KG–12 | 90 | 12.9:1 | |
| The International School Dayton City | PK–10 | 313 | 9.5:1 | |
| Vandalia-Butler Online Learning School Vandalia-Butler City · Virtual | KG–12 | 0 | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White33.9%
- Hispanic8.7%
- Black47.5%
- Asian1.8%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial7.8%
Enrollment-weighted across 79 Dayton schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (30,423 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Dayton
How many public schools are in Dayton, OH?
The current NCES directory lists 83 open public schools with a location address in Dayton: 43 elementary, 9 middle, 18 high, 13 combined or other. Together they reported 30,423 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Dayton?
Schools with an address in Dayton belong to 33 education agencies, led by Dayton City (29 schools), Mad River Local (9 schools), Oakwood City (5 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Dayton?
Belmont High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Dayton, with 1,153 students in 2024–25 (grades 08–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Dayton?
Yes. 22 of the 83 public schools in Dayton are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Alliance Community Schools Inc. dba Dayton Leadership Acade, City Day Community School, Dayton Business Technology High School. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Dayton schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Dayton public schools is 17.4:1, similar to the Ohio school median of 17:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Dayton guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Ohio cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Ohio cities