Southwest Licking Local

Pataskala, Ohio — 8 schools

4,794
Total Enrollment
8
Schools
$18,579
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, Other
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Southwest Licking Local operates 8 public schools serving 4,794 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Ohio. The school portfolio breaks down into 4 elementary, 3 other, 1 high schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 5,039 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Licking County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $18,579 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 56.0% local, 35.5% state, and 8.5% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $60,666 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 48/100, ranked #367 of 822 in Ohio against a state average of 46 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 8 schools offering Advanced Placement (5 AP courses district-wide), a 633.7:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 17.8% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 69.7% White, 14.4% Asian, 5.3% African American across the district's schools.

Watkins Memorial High School accounts for 27.7% of all Southwest Licking Local student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Southwest Licking 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

Southwest Licking Local school enrollment varies 19× across entities

Southwest Licking Local school enrollment ranges from 75 students (lowest) to 1,397 students (highest), a spread of 1,322 students. That spread reflects typical mixed-portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. 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

Southwest Licking Local student-counselor ratio is 634:1 — 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

Southwest Licking Local chronic absenteeism rate is 17.8% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

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 Variation between sub-units within Southwest Licking Local is typically wider than the Southwest Licking Local-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

8.5%
Federal
35.5%
State
56.0%
Local

Funding Equity

48
Equity Score
367 / 822
State Rank
46
State Average

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

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Licking County county, where this district is located.

$1,111
Studio/mo
$1,194
1 BR/mo
$1,430
2 BR/mo
$1,715
3 BR/mo
$1,927
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$60,666
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 8 schools in Southwest Licking Local.

White 69.7%
Hispanic or Latino 3.9%
African American 5.3%
Asian 14.4%
Multiracial 6.5%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 8
Schools with AP
5 AP courses total
633.7:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
17.8%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Southwest Licking Local

School Enrollment
Watkins Memorial High School
1,397
Watkins Middle School
1,147
Watkins Intermediate School
801
Etna Elementary
511
Kirkersville Elementary School
483
Pataskala Elementary School
457
Southwest Licking Early Learning Center
168
Swl Digital Academy
75

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 · $22,434/pupil
Compare vs Southwest Licking Local →
Cincinnati Public Schools
35,585 students · 65 schools · $20,319/pupil
Compare vs Southwest Licking Local →
Cleveland Municipal
33,998 students · 95 schools · $24,085/pupil
Compare vs Southwest Licking Local →
Olentangy Local
23,281 students · 27 schools · $16,456/pupil
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Toledo City
21,814 students · 57 schools · $20,102/pupil
Compare vs Southwest Licking Local →

Compare Southwest Licking 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 Southwest Licking Local?

Southwest Licking Local has 8 schools, including 1 high, 3 other, 4 elementary. Total enrollment is 4,794 students.

How much does Southwest Licking Local spend per student?

Southwest Licking Local spends $18,579 per student. The district has an equity score of 48/100, ranking #367 in Ohio.

What is the average teacher salary in Southwest Licking Local?

The average teacher salary in Southwest Licking Local is $60,666 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Southwest Licking Local?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Licking County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Southwest Licking Local?

Southwest Licking Local students are 69.7% White, 14.4% Asian, 5.3% African American, 3.9% Hispanic or Latino, averaged across 8 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Southwest Licking Local?

Southwest Licking Local has an equity score of 48/100, ranking #367 out of 822 districts in Ohio. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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