SALINEVILLE — The Utica Shale Academy exceeded expectations on the latest results of the 2024-2025 Ohio State Report Card.

The intent of the report card is to outline the progress made and where continued focus is needed. The state provides scores which include exceeding standards, meeting standards and not meeting standards, and the Salineville-based community school garnered high marks for progress, gap closing and graduation rate.

“We exceeded expectations on the state report card in three areas,” said Superintendent Bill Watson.

He noted that progress is always great, and students grew an average of two levels in reading and math based on the standards. The gap closing component evaluates how effectively schools are addressing achievement gaps among various student groups, focusing on performance expectations and annual goals. According to the state, USA earned 63.7 percent, which was above the state average of 33.8 percent. Meanwhile, the graduation rate yielded an 89.5-percent result, surpassing the state average of 44.3 percent.

But Watson said he measures success beyond the report card.

“The most important data that is not included–and that I care most about–is that we had 48 graduates last year, and 46 of them are employed in trades or going to a trade school,” he commented. “What’s important is that our students are successful after they leave here.”

USA is a dropout recovery and retention facility that focuses career-tech education for at-risk pupils and has had nearly 200 students graduate and more than 1,100 certifications being earned since 2021. All students receive blended learning with an online education through the Jefferson County Educational Service Center’s Virtual Learning Academy in addition to their training in career-tech courses.

Since beginning 11 years ago, it has expanded its student base from 50 to upwards of 170 students in addition to growing its campus with added facilities. It currently includes 148 students in grades 7-12, with the junior high pupils undergoing career exploration at the Williams Collaboration Center while freshmen through seniors gain hands-on learning in megatronics, hydraulics, pneumatics, AC/DC electric, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC’s), diesel mechanics and horticulture at the Hutson Building and Energy Training Center, as well as the exterior welding lab with a new interior welding lab currently under construction. All of the facilities are located along East Main Street and the Utica Shale Academy Community Center is housed on Church Street. Additionally, the Williams Collaboration Center offers medical services with certified health workers and licensed therapeutic behavior support counselors from organizations such as COMPASS 247, Avis Drug-Free World and Alta.

For more information, call 330-679-2000 or go online to uticashaleschool.com.