Northern Local

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.

Thornville, Ohio - 5 schools

An equity score of 35/100 ranks Northern Local #583 of 806 districts in Ohio (state average 46). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $11,808 per pupil, Northern Local ranks #785 of 966 Ohio districts by per-pupil spending (Ohio districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

2,226
Total Enrollment
5
Schools
$11,808
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Northern Local operates 5 public schools serving 2,226 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Ohio. The school portfolio breaks down into 3 combined, 1 high, 1 elementary schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Perry County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,808 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 966 Ohio districts by per-pupil spending. See how Ohio compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 39.4% local, 44.7% state, and 15.9% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 35/100, ranked #583 of 806 in Ohio against a state average of 46, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 5 schools offering Advanced Placement (1 AP courses district-wide), a 435.8:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, and 32.7% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 95.7% White, 1.3% Hispanic or Latino, 0.7% Asian across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Somerset Elementary School, with a diversity index of 9.5/100.

Its largest campus is Sheridan High School, enrolling 711 students (33% of the district's total enrollment).

Sheridan High School accounts for 31.9% of all Northern Local student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Northern Local-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

Northern Local school enrollment varies 2.7× across entities

Northern Local school enrollment ranges from 264 students (lowest) to 711 students (highest), a spread of 447 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

Northern Local student-counselor ratio is 436:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

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

Northern Local chronic absenteeism rate is 32.7% — 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?

15.9%
Federal
44.7%
State
39.4%
Local

Funding Equity

35
Equity Score
583 / 806
State Rank
46
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 5 schools in Northern Local.

White 95.7%
Hispanic or Latino 1.3%
African American 0.6%
Asian 0.7%
Multiracial 1.5%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 8.4/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Northern Local's schools, below the Ohio average of 35.3.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Somerset Elementary School 9.5
  2. 2 Thornville Elementary School 8.9
  3. 3 Glenford Elementary School 8.5
  4. 4 Sheridan High School 8.2
  5. 5 Sheridan Middle School 6.8

Programs & Resources

1 / 5
Schools with AP
1 AP courses total
435.8:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
32.7%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Northern Local

School Enrollment
Sheridan High School
711
Sheridan Middle School
516
Thornville Elementary School
351
Glenford Elementary School
320
Somerset Elementary School
264

How Northern Local Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Ohio districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Wilmington City Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Hillsboro City Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Buckeye Local Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Bellefontaine City Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Cloverleaf Local Similar size Higher spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Northern Local'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 Northern Local →
Cincinnati Public Schools
35,585 students · 65 schools · $18,181/pupil
Compare vs Northern Local →
Cleveland Municipal
33,998 students · 95 schools · $21,661/pupil
Compare vs Northern Local →
Olentangy Local
23,281 students · 27 schools · $13,879/pupil
Compare vs Northern Local →
Toledo City
21,814 students · 57 schools · $18,515/pupil
Compare vs Northern Local →

Compare Northern Local

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 Northern Local?

Northern Local has 5 schools, including 1 high, 3 combined, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 2,226 students.

How much does Northern Local spend per student?

Northern Local spends $11,808 per student. The district has an equity score of 35/100, ranking #583 in Ohio.

What is the demographic composition of Northern Local?

Northern Local students are 95.7% White, 1.3% Hispanic or Latino, 0.7% Asian, 0.6% African American, averaged across 5 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Northern Local?

Northern Local has an equity score of 35/100, ranking #583 out of 806 districts in Ohio.