Ohio high school college readiness is lower than many families assume. Only 17.6% of the class of 2025 earned a remediation-free score on the ACT or SAT, per the 2025-26 Ohio School Report Cards. That means a score in English, reading and math high enough to start in college-level courses without remedial classes. Dublin Jerome High School posted the highest rate among schools with at least 100 students in the class: 75.5%. Statewide, 56.2% of 2025 graduates went on to college, 43.7% to a four-year school.
The figures come from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce's report card data files (College, Career, Workforce and Military Readiness, released Sept. 2026). They cover each school's four-year graduation cohort for the class of 2025. Ohio's report cards don't publish average ACT or SAT scores, so this ranking uses the remediation-free rate.
Statewide, class of 2025
| Measure | Ohio |
|---|---|
| Graduation cohort | 136,372 |
| Remediation-free on the ACT or SAT | 17.6% |
| Took the ACT | 66.5% |
| Took the SAT | 17.4% |
| Earned 3+ on three or more AP tests (or 4+ on IB) | 7.9% |
| Earned an honors diploma | 19.5% |
| 2025 graduates enrolled in college | 56.2% |
| ...at a four-year college | 43.7% |
Source: Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, 2025-26 report card data (state file).
Top 25 Ohio high schools by ACT/SAT readiness
High schools with at least 100 students in the class of 2025 cohort.
| # | High school | District | Cohort | Remediation-free on ACT or SAT | 2025 grads at a 4-year college | 3+ AP/IB tests passed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dublin Jerome High School | Dublin City | 519 | 75.5% | 82.3% | 44.9% |
| 2 | Rocky River High School | Rocky River City | 225 | 71.1% | 75.3% | 41.8% |
| 3 | Walnut Hills High School | Cincinnati Public Schools | 413 | 70.9% | 90.0% | 63.0% |
| 4 | Mariemont High School | Mariemont City | 104 | 67.3% | 90.4% | 59.6% |
| 5 | Madeira High School | Madeira City | 119 | 65.5% | 76.7% | 60.5% |
| 6 | New Albany High School | New Albany-Plain Local | 442 | 64.5% | 83.0% | 41.2% |
| 7 | Oakwood High School | Oakwood City | 168 | 64.3% | 88.7% | 50.0% |
| 8 | Upper Arlington High School | Upper Arlington City | 477 | 64.2% | 82.2% | 48.8% |
| 9 | Orange High School | Orange City | 148 | 62.8% | 84.0% | 4.1% |
| 10 | Olentangy Liberty High School | Olentangy Local | 454 | 62.8% | 80.8% | 40.3% |
| 11 | Aurora High School | Aurora City | 238 | 62.2% | 81.1% | 47.5% |
| 12 | Solon High School | Solon City | 368 | 62.0% | 82.5% | 53.5% |
| 13 | Bexley High School | Bexley City | 188 | 61.2% | 79.9% | 53.7% |
| 14 | Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School | Brecksville-Broadview Heights City | 309 | 60.5% | 71.4% | 35.3% |
| 15 | Chagrin Falls High School | Chagrin Falls Exempted Village | 119 | 60.5% | 82.1% | 42.0% |
| 16 | Indian Hill High School | Indian Hill Exempted Village | 168 | 60.1% | 84.7% | 61.9% |
| 17 | William Mason High School | Mason City | 879 | 59.4% | 85.4% | 24.3% |
| 18 | Bay High School | Bay Village City | 162 | 58.0% | 83.0% | 38.3% |
| 19 | Hudson High School | Hudson City | 340 | 56.2% | 87.6% | 51.8% |
| 20 | Perrysburg High School | Perrysburg Exempted Village | 464 | 56.0% | 79.7% | 16.4% |
| 21 | Westlake High School | Westlake City | 247 | 54.7% | 77.8% | 34.0% |
| 22 | Olentangy High School | Olentangy Local | 451 | 53.9% | 77.3% | 36.1% |
| 23 | Highland High School | Highland Local | 273 | 53.8% | 73.2% | 35.5% |
| 24 | Beachwood High School | Beachwood City | 102 | 52.9% | 85.3% | 48.0% |
| 25 | Avon Lake High School | Avon Lake City | 296 | 52.4% | 70.1% | 37.2% |
Source: Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, 2025-26 building College, Career, Workforce and Military Readiness data. "3+ AP/IB tests passed" is the share of the cohort earning a 3 or higher on three or more AP exams or a 4 or higher on IB exams. 440 high schools had at least 100 students in the cohort; their median remediation-free rate was 13.7%.
Cuyahoga County has 8 of the top 25, more than any other county; Franklin and Hamilton have 4 each. Only 29 of the 440 schools had at least half their class score remediation-free, and 88 had fewer than 5%.
Where graduates went to college
Highest shares of 2025 graduates enrolling at a four-year college, among schools with at least 100 graduates:
| High school | District | 2025 graduates | At a 4-year college | Any college |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mariemont High School | Mariemont City | 104 | 90.4% | 92.3% |
| Walnut Hills High School | Cincinnati Public Schools | 408 | 90.0% | 90.4% |
| Oakwood High School | Oakwood City | 168 | 88.7% | 95.8% |
| Hudson High School | Hudson City | 338 | 87.6% | 89.3% |
| William Mason High School | Mason City | 883 | 85.4% | 88.0% |
| Beachwood High School | Beachwood City | 102 | 85.3% | 91.2% |
| Indian Hill High School | Indian Hill Exempted Village | 163 | 84.7% | 85.3% |
| Orange High School | Orange City | 144 | 84.0% | 89.6% |
| Revere High School | Revere Local | 247 | 83.8% | 86.2% |
| Canfield High School | Canfield Local | 164 | 83.5% | 89.0% |
Source: Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, 2025-26 report card data (postsecondary enrollment of 2025 graduates).
Reading these numbers
- Remediation-free requires all three subjects. A student who scores well in math but not reading doesn't count.
- Test-taking varies by school. The rate is calculated over the whole graduating cohort, so a school where many students don't take the ACT or SAT will post a lower rate.
- It's one of 11 ways Ohio counts a student as ready for college or career on its report cards; others include AP or IB scores, honors diplomas, dual enrollment credits, industry credentials and military enlistment.
What this means for you
- Your ACT or SAT can decide whether you start in remedial courses at an Ohio public college. Ohio State also requires a test score from Columbus applicants; see Ohio State admissions.
- Class rank matters more than test scores for state aid. The top 5% get the $5,000 Governor's Merit Scholarship and guaranteed admission to public main campuses.
- Compare your school's four-year college rate with the state's 43.7% to see how its graduates typically fare.