The Ross Local School District in Butler County, Ohio, will close Ross Intermediate School at the start of the 2026-27 school year. The decision, approved by the school board, is a response to declining student enrollment and uncertainty over state education funding. The closure will affect approximately 340 students currently in the fourth and fifth grades.
District officials have stated that this measure is necessary to maintain financial stability and preserve the quality of education for its students. The plan involves reassigning the affected students to other schools within the district, a move aimed at consolidating resources and preparing for future financial challenges.
Key Takeaways
- Ross Intermediate School in Butler County is scheduled to close before the 2026-27 academic year.
- The closure impacts about 340 students in the fourth and fifth grades.
- Officials have identified declining enrollment and unpredictable state funding as the main reasons for the decision.
- Students will be relocated to Morgan Elementary, Elda Elementary, and Ross Middle School.
- The district is exploring new uses for the school building, including administrative offices.
Details of the School Realignment Plan
The Ross Local School District board approved the grade realignment plan during a meeting on September 18. This strategic restructuring will directly change the school assignments for hundreds of young students. The plan is set to be implemented in two years, giving the district time to prepare for the transition.
Under the new structure, all fourth-grade students who would have attended Ross Intermediate will be moved to either Morgan Elementary or Elda Elementary. Concurrently, all fifth-grade students will transition to Ross Middle School, joining older students in a different academic environment.
This realignment effectively eliminates the need for a separate intermediate school building, which currently serves only these two grade levels. District leaders framed the decision as a proactive step to ensure long-term operational health.
Enrollment by the Numbers
- 2024-25 School Year: 2,294 students
- 2022-23 School Year: 2,527 students
- 2020-21 School Year: 2,564 students
According to state data, the district has seen a decline of over 270 students in just four years, representing more than a 10% drop in total enrollment.
Financial Pressures and State Funding Uncertainty
A primary driver behind the closure is the district's concern over what it calls "unpredictable funding conditions" from the state of Ohio. Superintendent Bill Rice explained that making sound financial decisions is critical given the current legislative climate in Columbus.
“This was not a decision we took lightly, but one we felt was necessary to ensure the long-term stability of our district,” said Ross school board president Greg Young. “We believe this realignment is the right step to preserve the quality of education our families expect while preparing for ever-changing funding methods from the state.”
The district's concerns are tied to recent changes in how Ohio funds its public schools. A bipartisan effort known as the Fair School Funding Plan was signed into law in 2021, aiming to create a more equitable system. However, the state's recently approved budget for 2026-27 deviated from this plan, creating financial uncertainty for many of Ohio's more than 3,000 public schools.
The Fair School Funding Plan Context
The Fair School Funding Plan was developed over several years to replace a model that the Ohio Supreme Court declared unconstitutional in 1997. It was designed to calculate the actual base cost of educating a student in each district. The formula considers local factors like property values and resident income to determine how much state aid is needed to fill the gap, ensuring schools in less affluent areas receive adequate support.
Superintendent Rice noted the anxiety felt by education leaders across the state. “Everyone in public education is nervous about what's coming out of Columbus,” he said, adding that he perceives a lack of support for public education from the current state legislature. He described Ross Intermediate School as a "luxury we can't afford right now."
Future Use of the Ross Intermediate Building
While the school will no longer house students after the spring of 2026, the district has begun to formulate plans for the facility. A final decision on the building's long-term use has not been made, but initial proposals are focused on centralizing district operations.
Current plans suggest transforming the building into a central hub for the district. This would include a new District Welcome Center for new families and consolidated administrative offices. This move would bring various district departments, which may currently be spread across different locations, under one roof.
Superintendent Rice emphasized that the process is about more than just closing a school.
“We’re not just closing a building – we’re planning for the future, with care, strategy, and community partnership at the heart of everything we do," Rice stated in a public announcement.
The district has committed to presenting a detailed and finalized plan for the facility's future to the community by early 2026. This timeline allows for thorough planning and community input before the transition takes place.
District Performance and Community Impact
Despite the financial challenges and declining enrollment, the Ross Local School District remains one of the higher-performing districts in its region. According to the most recent 2025 report cards issued by the Ohio Department of Education, the district earned an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.
This high rating indicates strong academic performance and student progress, a standard the district aims to maintain through its consolidation efforts. Officials argue that by making difficult decisions now, they can better protect the quality of classroom instruction and student services in the long run.
The closure of a neighborhood school is often a difficult event for a community. The district has acknowledged this and is working to ensure a smooth transition for the approximately 340 students and their families who will be affected by the change in the 2026-27 school year.
