Centerville schools, student earn honors

District receives high ranking, student wins character award

Centerville City Schools got two honors this month – one a high ranking for districtwide excellence, and another to recognize an individual student’s character.

Centerville was the highest ranked public school district in the Dayton area in Niche.com’s annual rankings, and was listed 16th of 609 Ohio school districts by Niche, which includes parent and student input in their rankings.

Centerville Superintendent Tom Henderson said the district is proud that it is repeatedly identified as a top performer. He credited a supportive community of families, a hard-working staff that helps children at all levels, and high-achieving students.

“Our graduates have distinguished themselves on college entrance exams, earned National Merit Scholarships and millions of dollars in college and university scholarships, and have entered college or the job market prepared for success,” Henderson said.

Niche’s rankings are 50 percent academics, 10 percent each absenteeism/discipline, teacher pay/attendance, racial/economic diversity, and parent/student opinion, with sports, activities and staffing/spending making up the final 10 percent.

Centerville earned grades of A+ in academics, teachers and the absentee/discipline areas. Their only grade that was not an “A” was a “B” for its racial/economic diversity.

Rounding out the top 10 Dayton-area school districts in Niche’s rankings were Oakwood (No. 26 in Ohio), Minster (34), Kettering (46), Bellbrook (49), Beavercreek (63), Springboro (68), Lebanon (69), Newton (74) and Cedar Cliff (75).

One individual Centerville student earned her own honor – Watts Middle School eighth-grader Hannah Matthews won the Heroes of Character Award from the Character Council of Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

Matthews was one of only five students recognized in that Ohio-Kentucky region, and will be honored March 15. She was nominated by English teacher Jeanette Marshall, who said Matthews has a great impact on her peers.

Matthews participates in girls’ ensemble, choir and lunch buddies. She also serves as a student helper in the Watts Writing Lab and has participated with the Centerville Coed Dance Team for nine years, serving as co-captain multiple times.

“I try to do things like help someone get to class or offer to help with their books because those small things can make a difference,” said Matthews, who thanked teachers, family and friends who have “helped me become a better person.”

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