LISBON — A near-perfect rating on the state Report Card has Beaver Local School District officials pleased with results.

The district was one of two in Columbiana County to earn 4.5 stars overall and the only one to earn a 4 or 5 star rating in all categories measured by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW).

“This is just one snapshot of the district but it is always good when that snapshot is one that highlights the hard work people are doing on a daily basis,” District Superintendent Eric Lowe said.

Each year the ODEW rates all public schools in the state on a variety of metrics using a five-star rating system.

Lowe said that the state identifies the 20 most comparable districts in the state based on socioeconomic, education, population, and enrollment, among other factors.

Beaver Local was one of four in that comparison to receive 4.5 stars and was once again the only one to achieve a 4 or 5 star rating in every category, he added.

Beaver Local was also fourth in the performance index among those schools, he said.

The district’s Report Card results were presented to the Board of Education this month during its regular meeting.

Also during the meeting Lowe shared that the district is focusing on attendance.

He said the district remained relatively stagnant and did not show growth in chronic absenteeism.

He added that another focus will be on using data and projections to push students to grow in their achievement levels.

“Our focus remains on helping students reach their maximum potential. We are grateful for the commitment of our staff, who tirelessly work to help each student become their best self. We’re committed to helping every student thrive, and we’re so thankful for the daily hard work of our staff, students, and families. We extend our thanks to all members of our school community–students, staff, and families–for their efforts in making this a truly terrific place to learn and grow,” Lowe said after the meeting.

Also during the meeting the board heard from Middle School Principal Jake Walgate, who shared that beginning Nov. 14 fifth grade students will work with the Hancock County Savings Bank on Financial Literacy.

“They will come into the school once a month, November through March and provide lessons. At the end of the program they come back for a celebration for the hard work the students put in,” he said of the bank.

He added that students are still being rewarded for good attendance through the 10 percent club.

He explained that students who miss less than 10 percent of school will have the opportunity to be selected to attend a Pirates game on May 14.

Currently, 49 out of 102 students have less than two absences through September, he said.

The board then approved several personnel matters during the meeting, including many people as volunteers and awarding supplemental contracts for basketball and wrestling.

The board also approved the hiring of Bailey Scott as speech language pathologist and the retirement resignation of fifth grade teacher Lisa Staley.

At the close of the meeting Board President Greg Eisenhart said he appreciates the everyone’s hard that made the Report Card achievement possible.

He also thanked Staley for her many years of service to Beaver Local and wished her well in her retirement at the end of the school year.