Lima Reporter

There were 331 pre-kindergarten students enrolled in Van Wert County schools in the 2023-24 school year, 1.2% less than the previous year, according to reports from the Ohio Department of Education & Workforce.

Van Wert Early Childhood Center welcomed most of the pre-kindergarten students in the county, registering 233 students.

Within Van Wert County schools, the highest student count was found in 10th grade, with the smallest class sizes seen in kindergarten.

Statewide, Van Wert County ranked 73rd in enrollment numbers, with a total of 4,189 students enrolled in the 2023-24 school year. It was also ranked 73rd the year before.

In 2022, Ohio saw an average student-to-teacher ratio of approximately 1:15, which is an improvement for the state and is lower than the national average of 1:16.

Despite the apparent improvement, this positive trend is overshadowed by a general decline in public school enrollments, which was accelerated by the pandemic. This decline, aligned with the steady number of teachers in the state over the last 10 years, has led to low student-to-teacher ratios.

School name	# of Pre-kindergarten Students Enrolled	% of Student Body	Total Enrollment
Van Wert Early Childhood Center	233	63.7	366
Crestview Early Childhood Center	98	60.1	163
Jefferson High School	0	0	226
Jefferson Middle School	0	0	244
Van Wert Elementary School	0	0	717
Van Wert Middle School	0	0	373
Van Wert High School	0	0	550
Crestview High School	0	0	239
Crestview Elementary School	0	0	328
Crestview Middle School	0	0	196
Lincolnview Junior-Senior High School	0	0	359
Lincolnview Elementary School	0	0	417