Lima City

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Lima, Ohio - 9 schools

An equity score of 67/100 ranks Lima City #94 of 806 districts in Ohio (state average 46). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $18,078 per pupil, Lima City ranks #124 of 966 Ohio districts by per-pupil spending (Ohio districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

3,394
Total Enrollment
9
Schools
$18,078
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Lima City operates 9 public schools serving 3,394 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Ohio. The school portfolio breaks down into 4 combined, 3 elementary, 1 high, 1 middle schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Allen County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $18,078 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 966 Ohio districts by per-pupil spending. See how Ohio compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 18.9% local, 59.5% state, and 21.6% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 67/100, ranked #94 of 806 in Ohio against a state average of 46, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 287.5:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 39.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 39.1% African American, 31.1% White, 8.1% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Freedom Elementary School, with a diversity index of 71.3/100.

Its largest campus is Lima Senior High School, enrolling 1,004 students (30% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Lima South Science-Technology Magnet K-8, at 172 students, a 6x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Lima Senior High School accounts for 29.6% of all Lima City student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Lima City-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Lima City school enrollment varies 5.8× across entities

Lima City school enrollment ranges from 172 students (lowest) to 1,004 students (highest), a spread of 832 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Lima City student-counselor ratio is 288:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Lima City is typically wider than the Lima City-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Lima City chronic absenteeism rate is 39.9% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

21.6%
Federal
59.5%
State
18.9%
Local

Funding Equity

67
Equity Score
94 / 806
State Rank
46
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 9 schools in Lima City.

White 31.1%
Hispanic or Latino 8.1%
African American 39.1%
Multiracial 21.1%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 69.0/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Lima City's schools, above the Ohio average of 35.3.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Freedom Elementary School 71.3
  2. 2 Lima North Middle School 70.3
  3. 3 Lima West Middle School 70.2
  4. 4 Lima Senior High School 69.4
  5. 5 Heritage Elementary School 69.4

Programs & Resources

287.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
39.9%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Lima City

School Enrollment
Lima Senior High School
1,004
Heritage Elementary School
448
Liberty Arts Magnet K-8
343
Lima West Middle School
334
Lima North Middle School
321
Independence Elementary School
272
Unity Elementary School
241
Freedom Elementary School
235
Lima South Science-Technology Magnet K-8
172

How Lima City Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Ohio districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Fremont City Similar size Lower spending More locally funded
Lake Local Similar size Lower spending More locally funded
Highland Local Similar size Lower spending More locally funded
West Carrollton City Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Nordonia Hills City Similar size Similar spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Lima City's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Ohio

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Columbus City Schools District
45,338 students · 118 schools · $20,324/pupil
Compare vs Lima City →
Cincinnati Public Schools
35,585 students · 65 schools · $18,181/pupil
Compare vs Lima City →
Cleveland Municipal
33,998 students · 95 schools · $21,661/pupil
Compare vs Lima City →
Olentangy Local
23,281 students · 27 schools · $13,879/pupil
Compare vs Lima City →
Toledo City
21,814 students · 57 schools · $18,515/pupil
Compare vs Lima City →

Compare Lima City

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Columbus City Schools District →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Lima City?

Lima City has 9 schools, including 1 high, 4 combined, 3 elementary, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 3,394 students.

How much does Lima City spend per student?

Lima City spends $18,078 per student. The district has an equity score of 67/100, ranking #94 in Ohio.

What is the demographic composition of Lima City?

Lima City students are 39.1% African American, 31.1% White, 8.1% Hispanic or Latino, 0.4% Asian, averaged across 9 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Lima City?

Lima City has an equity score of 67/100, ranking #94 out of 806 districts in Ohio.