West Branch 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.

Beloit, Ohio - 6 schools

An equity score of 40/100 ranks West Branch Local #497 of 806 districts in Ohio (state average 46). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $12,047 per pupil, West Branch Local ranks #751 of 966 Ohio districts by per-pupil spending (Ohio districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,781
Total Enrollment
6
Schools
$12,047
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

West Branch Local operates 6 public schools serving 1,781 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Ohio. The school portfolio breaks down into 3 combined, 3 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 Mahoning County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,047 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 31.2% local, 53.2% state, and 15.7% 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 40/100, ranked #497 of 806 in Ohio against a state average of 46, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 6 schools offering Advanced Placement (3 AP courses district-wide), a 294.9:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 16.2% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 93.7% White, 2.7% Hispanic or Latino, 0.5% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is West Branch Preschool, with a diversity index of 20.4/100.

Its largest campus is West Branch High School, enrolling 634 students (32% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is West Branch Digital Academy, at 10 students, a 63x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

West Branch High School accounts for 31.9% of all West Branch Local student enrollment

That dominant concentration means West Branch Local-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. 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

West Branch Local school enrollment varies 63× across entities

West Branch Local school enrollment ranges from 10 students (lowest) to 634 students (highest), a spread of 624 students. That ratio is an extreme outlier spread — among the widest gaps observed anywhere in this dataset. 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

West Branch Local student-counselor ratio is 295:1 — 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 West Branch Local is typically wider than the West Branch Local-aggregate figure suggests.

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

West Branch Local chronic absenteeism rate is 16.2% — 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 West Branch Local is typically wider than the West Branch 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?

15.7%
Federal
53.2%
State
31.2%
Local

Funding Equity

40
Equity Score
497 / 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 6 schools in West Branch Local.

White 93.7%
Hispanic or Latino 2.7%
Multiracial 2.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 11.8/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 West Branch Preschool 20.4
  2. 2 West Branch Early Learning Center 15.1
  3. 3 West Branch High School 13.9
  4. 4 West Branch Middle School 9.5
  5. 5 West Branch Digital Academy 0.0

Programs & Resources

1 / 6
Schools with AP
3 AP courses total
294.9:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
16.2%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in West Branch Local

School Enrollment
West Branch High School
634
West Branch Middle School
627
West Branch Early Learning Center
374
West Branch Intermediate School
252
West Branch Preschool
90
West Branch Digital Academy
10

How West Branch Local Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Ohio districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Madeira City Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Poland Local Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Springfield Local Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Hubbard Exempted Village Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Warrensville Heights City Similar size Higher spending More locally funded

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

Compare West Branch 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 West Branch Local?

West Branch Local has 6 schools, including 3 combined, 3 elementary. Total enrollment is 1,781 students.

How much does West Branch Local spend per student?

West Branch Local spends $12,047 per student. The district has an equity score of 40/100, ranking #497 in Ohio.

What is the demographic composition of West Branch Local?

West Branch Local students are 93.7% White, 2.7% Hispanic or Latino, 0.5% African American, 0.5% Asian, averaged across 6 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for West Branch Local?

West Branch Local has an equity score of 40/100, ranking #497 out of 806 districts in Ohio.