Public schools in Lima, OH
23 open public schools with an address in Lima, operated by 8 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
23
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
8,917
22 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
16:1
Ohio median 17:1
Charter schools
3
2 magnet · 1 virtual
An overview of Lima public schools
The federal directory lists 23 public schools in Lima, OH: 11 elementary, 4 middle, 8 high. The 22 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 8,917 students, an average of 405 per school. The largest campus is Lima Senior High School (1,004 students), and the largest elementary school is Bath Elementary School (727).
Lima City operates the most schools here (9), and 4 regular districts have at least one Lima campus, plus 4 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 16:1, lower than 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 3 charter schools, 2 magnet schools, 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 6 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 4 of 6 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 41% 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 Lima
Lima City
Public school district
9 schools in Lima
Bath Local
Public school district
4 schools in Lima
Shawnee Local
Public school district
4 schools in Lima
Perry Local
Public school district
2 schools in Lima
Apollo
Education service agency
1 school in Lima
Buckeye Community School - Lima
Independent charter agency
1 school in Lima
Heir Force Community School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Lima
West Central Learning Academy II
Independent charter agency
1 school in Lima
Elementary schools in Lima
11| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bath Elementary School Bath Local | PK–05 | 727 | 17.3:1 | |
| Elmwood Elementary School Shawnee Local | KG–02 | 508 | 20.3:1 | |
| Freedom Elementary School Lima City | PK–04 | 235 | 15.7:1 | |
| Heir Force Community School Heir Force Community School · Charter | KG–08 | 204 | 34:1 | |
| Heritage Elementary School Lima City | PK–04 | 448 | 18.1:1 | |
| Independence Elementary School Lima City | PK–04 | 272 | 18.1:1 | |
| Liberty Arts Magnet K-8 Lima City · Magnet | KG–08 | 343 | 17.2:1 | |
| Lima South Science-Technology Magnet K-8 Lima City · Magnet | KG–08 | 172 | 8.6:1 | |
| Maplewood Elementary School Shawnee Local | 03–04 | 346 | 19.2:1 | |
| Perry Elementary School Perry Local | KG–06 | 408 | 15.7:1 | |
| Unity Elementary School Lima City | PK–04 | 241 | 15.1:1 |
Middle schools in Lima
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bath Middle School Bath Local | 06–08 | 417 | 19.9:1 | |
| Lima North Middle School Lima City | 05–06 | 321 | 14:1 | |
| Lima West Middle School Lima City | 07–08 | 334 | 10.1:1 | |
| Shawnee Middle School Shawnee Local | 04–08 | 712 | 18.3:1 |
High schools in Lima
8| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apollo Career Center Apollo · Career and Technical School | 07–12 | 745 | 11.1:1 | |
| Bath Digital Academy Bath Local · Virtual | 10–12 | 7 | 7:1 | |
| Bath High School Bath Local | 09–12 | 437 | 14.6:1 | |
| Buckeye Community School - Lima Buckeye Community School - Lima · Charter | 09–12 | — | — | |
| Lima Senior High School Lima City | 09–12 | 1,004 | 14.9:1 | |
| Perry High School Perry Local | 07–12 | 296 | 16.4:1 | |
| Shawnee High School Shawnee Local | 08–12 | 673 | 18.7:1 | |
| West Central Learning Academy II West Central Learning Academy II · Charter | 09–12 | 67 | 11.2:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White59.4%
- Hispanic5.9%
- Black20.2%
- Asian1.1%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial13.2%
Enrollment-weighted across 22 Lima schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (8,917 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Lima
How many public schools are in Lima, OH?
The current NCES directory lists 23 open public schools with a location address in Lima: 11 elementary, 4 middle, 8 high. Together they reported 8,917 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Lima?
Schools with an address in Lima belong to 8 education agencies, led by Lima City (9 schools), Bath Local (4 schools), Shawnee Local (4 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Lima?
Lima Senior High School reported the largest high-school enrollment in Lima, with 1,004 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Lima?
Yes. 3 of the 23 public schools in Lima are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Buckeye Community School - Lima, Heir Force Community School, West Central Learning Academy II. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Lima schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Lima public schools is 16:1, lower than 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 Lima 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