Total enrollment
8,363
+291 (+4%) vs SY 2020-21
Mercer County
Ohio · Public K-12
The 22 public K-12 schools in Mercer County cover all standard grade bands (9 elementary, 6 middle, and 7 high), with combined enrollment around 9,242.
4-year change in Mercer County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
20
-1 (-5%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Mercer County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Ohio | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 80.2% | #6 of 28 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 9,242 | #39 of 88 | #860 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 22 | #42 of 88 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 16.6:1 | #49 of 88 | #2,221 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 36.8% | #64 of 78 | #2,221 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 14.7% | #65 of 88 | #2,353 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.
Mercer County school rankings
Residents
42,484
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
22
6 districts
Enrollment
9,242
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$76,782
Above Ohio avg
Free/reduced lunch
36.8%
Below Ohio avg
Elementary
9
4,641 students
Middle
6
1,894 students
High
7
2,707 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Celina City
3,694 students · 6 districts in Mercer County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Mercer 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+
21.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.8%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
1.6%
civilian labor
Median age
39
25.4% under 18
Test scores in Mercer County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 17 schools ranked. Ohio state average: 59.8%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Marion Local High School· 90.4%
- Marion Local Elementary School· 90.0%
- Fort Recovery High School· 89.1%
- St Henry Elementary School· 88.8%
- St Henry Middle School· 87.1%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Celina High School· 62.2%
- Celina Elementary School· 62.4%
- Celina Middle School· 63.4%
- Coldwater High School· 74.4%
- Parkway Middle School· 75.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Celina Elementary School | Celina | Elementary | KG-06 | 1,224 | · |
| Celina High School | Celina | High | 08-12 | 743 | · |
| Marion Local Elementary School | Maria Stein | Elementary | KG-08 | 710 | · |
| Coldwater Elementary School | Coldwater | Elementary | KG-04 | 667 | · |
| Celina Primary School | Celina | Elementary | KG-02 | 531 | · |
| Fort Recovery Elementary School | Fort Recovery | Elementary | PK-05 | 513 | · |
| St Henry Elementary School | Saint Henry | Elementary | PK-04 | 489 | · |
| Coldwater Middle School | Coldwater | Middle | 05-08 | 429 | · |
| Parkway Elementary School | Rockford | Elementary | PK-04 | 389 | · |
| Tri Star Career Compact | Celina | High | 11-12 | 382 | · |
| Coldwater High School | Coldwater | High | 09-12 | 380 | · |
| Celina Intermediate Elementary School | Celina | Middle | 05-06 | 348 | · |
| Celina Middle School | Celina | Middle | 07-08 | 348 | · |
| Marion Local High School | Maria Stein | High | 09-12 | 306 | · |
| Parkway High School | Rockford | High | 09-12 | 306 | · |
| St Henry Middle School | Saint Henry | Middle | 05-08 | 300 | · |
| St Henry High School | Saint Henry | High | 09-12 | 296 | · |
| Fort Recovery High School | Fort Recovery | High | 09-12 | 294 | · |
| Parkway Middle School | Rockford | Middle | 05-08 | 279 | · |
| Fort Recovery Middle School | Fort Recovery | Middle | 06-08 | 190 | · |
| Head Start | Celina | Elementary | PK-PK | 101 | · |
| Mercer County Head Start | Rockford | Elementary | PK-PK | 17 | · |
Cities in Mercer County
About Mercer County
Mercer County is a rural-scale county of about 42,484 residents in Ohio. Its public-school system enrolls approximately 9,242 students across 22 schools.
For perspective, census numbers show median household income runs near $76,782, about 22% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 6% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 10% above the Ohio median.
On the school-mix side, Mercer County spans 9 elementary schools (4,641 students), 6 middle schools (1,894), and 7 high schools (2,707).
Celina City is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 3,694 students across Mercer County.
Five-year track record. Total public-school enrollment in Mercer County has climbed 4% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 8,072 students to 8,363. Mercer County now counts 20 public schools, down from 21 in SY 2020-21.
On this page, the community for Mercer County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data