Total enrollment
14,235
-177 (-1%) vs SY 2020-21
Wayne County
Ohio · Public K-12
Wayne County operates 45 public K-12 schools inside Ohio, with combined enrollment of approximately 14,479 (about 322 students per school). That works out to 20 elementary, 9 middle, and 14 high schools.
4-year change in Wayne County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
41
-1 (-2%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Wayne County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Ohio | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 71.5% | #14 of 28 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 14,479 | #27 of 88 | #615 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 43 | #22 of 88 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 16.3:1 | #42 of 88 | #2,154 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 49.0% | #41 of 78 | #1,678 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 22.6% | #47 of 88 | #2,040 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.
Wayne County school rankings
Residents
116,588
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
45
15 districts
Enrollment
14,479
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$73,574
Above Ohio avg
Free/reduced lunch
49.0%
Above Ohio avg
Elementary
20
6,331 students
Middle
9
2,845 students
High
14
5,127 students
Combined / other
2
176 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Wooster City
3,222 students · 15 districts in Wayne County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Wayne 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+
25.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.3%
civilian labor
Median age
39
24.0% under 18
Test scores in Wayne County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 33 schools ranked. Ohio state average: 59.8%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Norwayne High School· 90.6%
- Chippewa Intermediate School· 86.0%
- Dalton High School· 85.5%
- Waynedale High School· 85.5%
- Triway High School· 82.8%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
Cities in Wayne County
About Wayne County
Wayne County is a medium-population county of about 116,588 residents in Ohio. Its public-school system teaches approximately 14,479 students across 45 schools.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show the median household earns about $73,574 a year, about 25% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the poverty rate is around 6%. That income level is 5% above the Ohio median.
On the school-mix side, Wayne County comprises 20 elementary schools (6,331 students), 9 middle schools (2,845), 14 high schools (5,127), and 2 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Wayne County is Wooster City, which alone enrolls about 3,222 students.
Trend over the past 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment held roughly steady: 14,412 students in SY 2020-21 versus 14,235 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Wayne County lost 1 school, going from 42 to 41.
On this page, the community for Wayne County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data