Total enrollment
5,682
-160 (-3%) vs SY 2020-21
Defiance County
Ohio · Public K-12
Defiance County's 14 public schools sit inside Ohio and collectively enroll about 5,682 K-12 students across 5 elementary, 4 middle, and 5 high.
4-year change in Defiance County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
14
+1 (+8%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Defiance County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Ohio | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 5,682 | #61 of 88 | #1,208 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 14 | #67 of 88 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 15.9:1 | #30 of 88 | #2,035 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 44.0% | #50 of 78 | #1,924 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 37.7% | #24 of 88 | #1,561 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Defiance County school rankings
Residents
38,343
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
14
5 districts
Enrollment
5,682
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$73,064
Above Ohio avg
Free/reduced lunch
44.0%
Below Ohio avg
Elementary
5
2,538 students
Middle
4
1,384 students
High
5
1,760 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Defiance City
2,344 students · 5 districts in Defiance County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Defiance County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
19.0%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.2%
civilian labor
Median age
41
22.5% under 18
Test scores in Defiance County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 14 schools ranked. Ohio state average: 59.8%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Ayersville Elementary School· 84.7%
- Hicksville High School· 82.0%
- Tinora High School· 81.3%
- Ayersville High School· 79.8%
- Hicksville Elementary School· 79.5%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Defiance Middle School· 56.7%
- Defiance Elementary School· 57.9%
- Defiance High School· 69.2%
- Fairview High School· 72.6%
- Tinora Middle School· 73.3%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Defiance Elementary School | Defiance | Elementary | KG-05 | 1,075 | · |
| Defiance High School | Defiance | High | 09-12 | 697 | · |
| Defiance Middle School | Defiance | Middle | 06-08 | 572 | · |
| Fairview Elementary School | Sherwood | Elementary | KG-05 | 411 | · |
| Hicksville Elementary School | Hicksville | Elementary | KG-04 | 375 | · |
| Tinora Elementary School | Defiance | Elementary | KG-04 | 355 | · |
| Ayersville High School | Defiance | High | 07-12 | 326 | · |
| Ayersville Elementary School | Defiance | Elementary | KG-06 | 322 | · |
| Tinora Middle School | Defiance | Middle | 05-08 | 313 | · |
| Hicksville Middle School | Hicksville | Middle | 05-08 | 282 | · |
| Tinora High School | Defiance | High | 09-12 | 272 | · |
| Fairview High School | Sherwood | High | 09-12 | 254 | · |
| Fairview Middle School | Sherwood | Middle | 06-08 | 217 | · |
| Hicksville High School | Hicksville | High | 09-12 | 211 | · |
Cities in Defiance County
About Defiance County
Defiance County is a sparse Ohio county of about 38,343 residents, home to 14 public schools and roughly 5,682 students.
Zooming out, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $73,064, about 19% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 5%. That income level is 5% above the Ohio median.
In terms of grade levels, Defiance County spans 5 elementary schools (2,538 students), 4 middle schools (1,384), and 5 high schools (1,760).
Defiance City dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 2,344 students on its own.
Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 5,682 students, fell 3% from the 5,842 reported in SY 2020-21. Over that span, Defiance County opened 1 school, going from 13 to 14.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Defiance County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data