Total enrollment
26,447
+1,952 (+8%) vs SY 2020-21
Fairfield County
Ohio · Public K-12
Public K-12 schools in Fairfield County number 47, teaching approximately 26,447 Ohio students against a population of 163,453. By level, that breaks down as 24 elementary, 11 middle, and 11 high schools.
4-year change in Fairfield County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
45
+1 (+2%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Fairfield County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Ohio | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 26,447 | #15 of 88 | #380 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 45 | #18 of 88 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 18.6:1 | #79 of 88 | #2,505 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 41.2% | #58 of 78 | #2,039 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 51.3% | #12 of 88 | #1,041 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.
Fairfield County school rankings
Residents
163,453
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
47
9 districts
Enrollment
26,447
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$90,966
Above Ohio avg
Free/reduced lunch
41.2%
Below Ohio avg
Elementary
24
10,796 students
Middle
11
6,902 students
High
11
8,749 students
Combined / other
1
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Pickerington Local
11,729 students · 9 districts in Fairfield County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Fairfield 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+
32.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.8%
civilian labor
Median age
40
23.8% under 18
Test scores in Fairfield County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 39 schools ranked. Ohio state average: 59.8%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Toll Gate Middle School· 85.4%
- Berne Union Elementary School· 83.7%
- Diley Middle School· 79.6%
- Fairfield Union High School· 79.6%
- Sycamore Creek Elementary School· 79.3%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
Cities in Fairfield County
About Fairfield County
Fairfield County is a middle-population Ohio county of about 163,453 residents, home to 47 public schools and roughly 26,447 students.
Zooming out, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $90,966, roughly 32% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 6% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 30% higher than the Ohio median.
In terms of grade levels, Fairfield County comprises 24 elementary schools (10,796 students), 11 middle schools (6,902), 11 high schools (8,749), and 1 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Fairfield County is Pickerington Local, which alone enrolls about 11,729 students.
Looking at the last 4 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 26,447 students, grew 8% from the 24,495 reported in SY 2020-21. Fairfield County now counts 45 public schools, up from 44 in SY 2020-21.
On this page, the community for Fairfield County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data