Seven of the area’s large school districts reported more than 100 cases this fall — Beavercreek, Lebanon, Springboro, Centerville, Miamisburg, Northmont and Troy. But even Beavercreek’s total of 230 COVID cases (144 students and 86 staff) was not among the 10 highest in the state. Cincinnati Public Schools (600) and Lakota (580) reported the most cases.
On the other hand, hundreds of small individual schools didn’t report a single case to health officials all fall, according to ODH data. Locally, those included the Richard Allen and Montgomery Prep charter schools, as well as the Mother Brunner and Salem Christian religious schools, among many others.
In some instances, schools reported zero cases because their students and staff were working remotely all fall. The state health order only requires schools to report cases involving students or staff who “engaged in on-site instruction, activities, or support services.”
But there were issues with data accuracy and consistency all fall. Some schools reported cases involving remote students anyway. Others reported cases dating back earlier than Sept. 7. Some failed to report cases until weeks after they happened, causing lags and jumps in the data.
The current data posted on the ODH website lists zero COVID cases all fall for any schools in Preble, Knox, Harrison and Vinton counties, even though all four of those counties’ schools had confirmed cases listed in previous weeks’ releases.
Statewide, schools reported over 36,000 COVID-19 cases to ODH this fall — more than 22,000 students and 14,000 school employees. State and local health officials said the vast majority of those cases were contracted outside of schools, adding that schools did a good job with mask and distancing efforts to limit COVID spread.
Most local schools end their holiday breaks and begin classes again on Monday (Jan. 4). But several schools are doing those first days or weeks of classes online. They’re trying to add a buffer between holiday gatherings with a possible risk of coronavirus exposure, and the first day of mixing hundreds of students and staff inside school buildings.
Brookville pushed back their in-person return by two days, to Jan. 6, while Centerville schools are doing two full weeks online before an in-person return Jan. 19.
Combined number of student/staff COVID cases reported at all Dayton-area schools since Sept. 7
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
135 — Centerville
125 — Miamisburg
120 — Northmont
76 — Kettering
71 — Oakwood
71 — Huber Heights
70 — Dayton
69 — Vandalia-Butler
62 — Mad River
60 — West Carrollton
48 — Alter HS
44 — Miami Valley CTC
39 — Brookville
34 — Carroll HS
31 — Dayton Christian
26 — New Lebanon
22 — Spring Valley Academy
19 — Valley View
19 — Incarnation (Centerville)
18 — Trotwood-Madison
17 — Montgomery Co. ESC
17 — Northridge
16 — Chaminade Julienne
13 — Bishop Leibold (both)
11 — St. Charles (Kettering)
11 — Temple Christian (Dayton)
9 — Miami Valley School … Gloria Dei Montessori
8 — St. Helen (Dayton) … Dayton Regional STEM School
7 — Ascension (Kettering) … St. Peter (Huber Hts) … East Dayton Christian
6 — Pathway School … Holy Angels (Dayton) … St. Albert (Kettering) … Dayton Early College Academy
5 — St. Christopher (Vandalia)
3 — Our Lady of the Rosary (Dayton) … Miami Valley Academies
2 — St. Anthony (Dayton) … Trotwood Prep and Fitness … Dayton Leadership Academies … Horizon Science Downtown … Klepinger School … Emerson Academy
1 — North Dayton School … Immaculate Conception (Dayton) … Liberty HS (Dayton)
0 — Jefferson Twp., Horizon Science Academy, City Day School, DECA Prep, Richard Allen, Dayton SMART, Montgomery Prep, Summit Academy Dayton, Dayton Business Tech HS, Urban Early College Network, Gem City HS, Mother Brunner, St. Benedict the Moor, Dominion Academy, Salem Christian, Huber Heights Christian, Hillel Academy, Bethel Baptist, Covenant Christian, Germantown Christian, Alexandria Montessori, Creative World of Montessori, Dayton Montessori Society, Montessori Center of South Dayton, The Goddard School, AJP Academy, Allen-James Academy, Longfield Prep, Meadowcrest Academy, Thessaloniansa Academy, Unlocking Potential Academy, Center for Adolescent Services
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GREENE COUNTY
230 — Beavercreek
99 — Fairborn
62 — Bellbrook
47 — Xenia
34 — Legacy Christian
34 — Greene Co. JVS
26 — Greeneview
5 — St. Luke
5 — Greene Co. ESC
4 — Cedar Cliff
3 — St. Brigid
3 — Bethlehem Lutheran
1 — Yellow Springs
1 — Fairborn Digital Academy
0 — Summit Academy Xenia, Dayton Islamic School, Bright Beginnings, Creative World of Montessori Beavercreek, Solid Rock Academy, Spark Ling Academy, Turner Learning Center
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MIAMI COUNTY
102 — Troy
89 — Tipp City
80 — Piqua
63 — Milton-Union
62 — Bethel
45 — Upper Valley Career Center
40 — Covington
33 — Miami East
26 — Newton
21 — Troy Christian HS
15 — Troy Christian Elem
9 — Piqua Catholic
6 — St. Patrick
4 — Miami Co. ESC
3 — Piqua Christian
3 — Nicholas School
1 — Piqua SDA School
0 — Miami Montessori, Christ the King, Willow Farms
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NORTHERN WARREN COUNTY
190 — Lebanon
162 — Springboro
71 — Franklin
64 — Carlisle
47 — Waynesville
46 — Warren Co. JVS
33 — Bishop Fenwick
32 — Warren Co. ESC
31 — Middletown Christian
3 — CHESS Christian
3 — CinDay Academy
0 — Lebanon Christian
Source: Ohio Department of Health
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