Ottawa Hills Local School District

Established in September 1925, the Ottawa Hills Local School District serves the village of Ottawa Hills in Lucas County, Ohio, operating as a public educational institution. The district is structured around two main facilities: an elementary school for grades K-6 and a combined junior/senior high school for grades 7-12. The current superintendent is Dr. Adam Fineske, who assumed the role on August 1, 2019, after a career in the neighboring Sylvania Schools district. Dr. Fineske holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and has a background as a teacher and administrator, reflecting a career centered on student development.

The district's operational funding is primarily sourced from local taxes, which constituted 73% of its revenue in the 2016-17 school year, supplemented by state (25.6%) and federal (1.4%) funds. Due to its socio-economic composition, with a residential tax base accounting for 98.4% of its resources, the district's state funding is capped, a significant factor given a 20% increase in student enrollment between 2018 and 2023. This financial structure necessitates periodic operating levies, approved by voters, to cover expenses, of which nearly 86% are allocated to personnel salaries and benefits. In early 2024, the district sought a 12.9 mill operating levy to generate over $2.3 million to maintain staffing and operational levels.

Serving approximately 1,035 to 1,077 students, the district maintains a student-teacher ratio of about 16-to-1. It is consistently recognized for high academic performance. For the 2023-2024 school year, it earned 5-star ratings across all categories on the Ohio School Report Cards and tied for the number one district ranking in the state. The district has also received accolades such as the Governor's Thomas Edison Award for Excellence in STEM Education and the Cognia School of Distinction award for its commitment to high-quality education. The educational offering is comprehensive, providing Advanced Placement courses and gifted programs, with a significant percentage of graduates attending universities like The Ohio State University and the University of Michigan.

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