Dayton Schools
Every district in the metro in one place. All four counties, ranked by grade. Plus the Catholic, Christian, Montessori, independent, and STEM schools families ask about.
Sorted by city and grade band
Pick a city to see its full public elementary, middle/junior high, and high school lineup. Plus verified private options nearby.
Every district across the four counties we serve
All 40 traditional districts in Montgomery, Greene, Miami, and Warren counties, listed alphabetically by city. Grades reflect current Niche.com overall district ratings. In this metro the district often picks the suburb, and the price, before the house does.
Beavercreek City Schools
Beavercreek · Greene County · Grades PreK-12
A-
The most popular choice for WPAFB officers, the county's largest district (~8,100 students) with strong academics and athletics.
Visit district website →Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Local Schools
Bellbrook · Greene County · Grades PreK-12
A
Highest-rated district in Greene County, ~2,900 students in an affluent, quiet suburb southeast of Dayton.
Visit district website →Bradford Exempted Village Schools
Bradford · Miami County · Grades PreK-12
C
A small district (~510 students) whose village straddles the Miami-Darke county line.
Visit district website →Brookville Local Schools
Brookville · Montgomery County · Grades PreK-12
A-
Small NW district (~1,500 students) with a ~95% graduation rate and a tight small-town feel.
Visit district website →Carlisle Local Schools
Carlisle · Warren County · Grades PreK-12
B-
Small district (~1,600 students) serving Carlisle and nearby townships, home of the Carlisle Indians.
Visit district website →Miami East Local Schools
Casstown · Miami County · Grades PreK-12
A-
Among the highest academically rated in the county, a ~1,330-student rural district east of Troy.
Visit district website →Cedar Cliff Local Schools
Cedarville · Greene County · Grades PreK-12
B+
Small rural district (~570 students) in eastern Greene County, home to Cedarville University.
Visit district website →Centerville City Schools
Centerville · Montgomery County · Grades PreK-12
A
Large southern suburb (~8,300 students) that is consistently one of the top districts in the state.
Visit district website →Northmont City Schools
Clayton · Montgomery County · Grades PreK-12
B+
Serves ~4,700 students across Clayton, Englewood, and Union in the northwest suburbs.
Visit district website →Covington Exempted Village Schools
Covington · Miami County · Grades PreK-12
B+
Small rural district (~780 students) in western Miami County.
Visit district website →Dayton Public Schools
Dayton · Montgomery County · Grades PreK-12
C-
The urban core district, largest in the county (~12,700 students, ~29 schools), with several specialized magnet programs.
Visit district website →Fairborn City Schools
Fairborn · Greene County · Grades PreK-12
B-
Closest district to the WPAFB main gate (~3,000 students), the practical, diverse choice for base families.
Visit district website →Franklin City Schools
Franklin · Warren County · Grades PreK-12
B-
A ~2,600-student district along the Great Miami River, home of the Franklin Wildcats.
Visit district website →Valley View Local Schools
Germantown · Montgomery County · Grades PreK-12
B
A ~1,800-student district on one consolidated K-12 campus in Germantown, southwest Montgomery County.
Visit district website →Northridge Local Schools
Harrison Township · Montgomery County · Grades PreK-12
C
Small district (~1,650 students) just north of Dayton, not to be confused with Northmont.
Visit district website →Huber Heights City Schools
Huber Heights · Montgomery County · Grades PreK-12
C+
Affordable, growing area northeast of Dayton near WPAFB (~5,600 students) with strong community programs.
Visit district website →Greeneview Local Schools
Jamestown · Greene County · Grades PreK-12
B
Rural district (~1,260 students) covering the Jamestown and Silvercreek area of southeastern Greene County.
Visit district website →Jefferson Township Local Schools
Jefferson Township · Montgomery County · Grades PreK-12
C+
One of Ohio's smallest districts (~280 students), southwest of Dayton.
Visit district website →Kettering City Schools
Kettering · Montgomery County · Grades PreK-12
A-
Big, well-regarded suburb (~7,600 students) directly south of Dayton with strong STEM programs and deep community support.
Visit district website →Kings Local Schools
Kings Mills · Warren County · Grades PreK-12
A
High-performing (~4,000 students) near Kings Island, Cincinnati-oriented southern Warren County.
Visit district website →Lebanon City Schools
Lebanon · Warren County · Grades PreK-12
B+
The Warren County seat, roughly midway between Dayton and Cincinnati, drawing commuters to both.
Visit district website →Little Miami Local Schools
Maineville · Warren County · Grades PreK-12
B+
Fast-growing Cincinnati-exurb district along the Little Miami River (Maineville, Morrow, South Lebanon).
Visit district website →Mason City Schools
Mason · Warren County · Grades PreK-12
A+
One of the top-rated districts in the state (~10,000 students), but firmly on the Cincinnati side of Warren County.
Visit district website →Miamisburg City Schools
Miamisburg · Montgomery County · Grades PreK-12
B
Solid ~4,700-student district south of Dayton near the Austin Landing job hub. Strong extracurriculars.
Visit district website →New Lebanon Local Schools
New Lebanon · Montgomery County · Grades PreK-12
B
Small western district (~1,100 students), the Dixie schools, with an affordable, rural feel.
Visit district website →Oakwood City Schools
Oakwood · Montgomery County · Grades PreK-12
A+
The metro's most prestigious district, small (~2,000 students), nationally recognized, and a perennial top-10 in Ohio.
Visit district website →Piqua City Schools
Piqua · Miami County · Grades PreK-12
B-
A ~3,000-student urban district in far northern Miami County, about 30 minutes north of Dayton.
Visit district website →Newton Local Schools
Pleasant Hill · Miami County · Grades PreK-12
B+
The county's smallest district (~650 students) with strong test-proficiency scores, in northwestern Miami County.
Visit district website →Mad River Local Schools
Riverside · Montgomery County · Grades PreK-12
B-
Roughly 3,750 students in Riverside, immediately adjacent to Wright-Patterson AFB.
Visit district website →Springboro Community City Schools
Springboro · Warren County · Grades PreK-12
A-
The flagship Dayton-side Warren County district, fast-growing (~6,200 students), top-rated, and consistently in demand.
Visit district website →Bethel Local Schools
Tipp City · Miami County · Grades PreK-12
B-
One of the fastest-growing districts in the county (~2,000 students), in southern Miami County near Huber Heights.
Visit district website →Tipp City Exempted Village Schools
Tipp City · Miami County · Grades PreK-12
A
Top-rated in Miami County, home of Tippecanoe High School, ~2,300 students, small-town feel ~15 minutes north of Dayton.
Visit district website →Trotwood-Madison City Schools
Trotwood · Montgomery County · Grades PreK-12
C-
About 2,400 students northwest of Dayton; more affordable housing with an improving-district story.
Visit district website →Troy City Schools
Troy · Miami County · Grades PreK-12
B+
The county's largest district (~4,100 students), about 20 minutes north of Dayton on I-75.
Visit district website →Vandalia-Butler City Schools
Vandalia · Montgomery County · Grades PreK-12
B+
North of Dayton by the airport and WPAFB, home of Butler High School. Convenient for base and airport families.
Visit district website →Wayne Local Schools
Waynesville · Warren County · Grades PreK-12
A
Small, high-rated rural district (~1,600 students) serving Waynesville, the "Antiques Capital of the Midwest."
Visit district website →West Carrollton City Schools
West Carrollton · Montgomery County · Grades PreK-12
B-
About 3,200 students southwest of Dayton along the Great Miami River (also serves Moraine).
Visit district website →Milton-Union Exempted Village Schools
West Milton · Miami County · Grades PreK-12
C+
A ~1,340-student rural district (the Bulldogs) in southwestern Miami County.
Visit district website →Xenia Community City Schools
Xenia · Greene County · Grades PreK-12
C+
The Greene County seat (~3,600 students across 8 buildings), about 15 miles east of Dayton with affordable housing.
Visit district website →Yellow Springs Exempted Village Schools
Yellow Springs · Greene County · Grades PreK-12
B
Small district (~610 students) in the progressive village of Yellow Springs, home to Antioch College.
Visit district website →Catholic, Christian, Montessori, independent, and Jewish options
Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School
Dayton · Grades 9 to 12
Ohio's 2025 CAPE Blue Ribbon School and the top-ranked private school in the region. 21 sports, AP courses.
Visit school website →Archbishop Alter High School
Kettering · Grades 9 to 12
Top Catholic college-prep high school (opened 1962). Strong academics and competitive athletics.
Visit school website →Archbishop Carroll High School
Riverside · Grades 9 to 12
Co-ed Catholic high school (opened 1961) with an Ohio Purple Star military-friendly designation.
Visit school website →Incarnation Catholic School
Centerville · Grades PreK-8
One of the largest Catholic parish grade schools in the metro (~950 students).
Visit school website →Bishop Leibold School
Miamisburg · Grades PreK-8
Consolidated parish school on two campuses (PreK-2 in Miamisburg, 3-8 in Miami Township).
Visit school website →St. Albert the Great Catholic School
Kettering · Grades PreK-8
Small parish school (~200 students) with a low student-teacher ratio.
Visit school website →Our Lady of the Rosary School
Dayton · Grades K-8
A 130-plus-year-old parish school in the St. Gabriel the Archangel family.
Visit school website →St. Helen School
Riverside · Grades PreK-8
Serves Beavercreek, Fairborn, Huber Heights, and Riverside families, including Wright-Patterson AFB.
Visit school website →Montessori School of Dayton
Kettering · Grades PreK-8
The area's largest private Montessori school (founded 1964). Authentic AMI-aligned program.
Visit school website →Gloria Dei Montessori School
Dayton · Grades PreK-8
Authentic Montessori program (~90 students) through 8th grade.
Visit school website →The Miami Montessori School
Troy · Grades PreK-6
Established Montessori school with Lower and Upper Elementary programs serving the northern metro.
Visit school website →Dayton Montessori Society
Huber Heights · Grades PreK-5
Small wooded-campus Montessori school near WPAFB, ages 3 to 12.
Visit school website →Dayton Christian Schools
Miamisburg · Grades PreK-12
One of the largest non-denominational Christian schools in Ohio, PreK through 12 on a large campus.
Visit school website →Dominion Academy of Dayton
Dayton · Grades K-12
Classical Christian college-prep (founded 1998) with rigorous academics and a small ~7:1 ratio.
Visit school website →Legacy Christian Academy
Xenia · Grades PreK-12
Non-denominational Christian school (~590 students); roughly 86% of graduates head to four-year colleges.
Visit school website →Spring Valley Academy
Centerville · Grades PreK-12
Seventh-day Adventist K-12 school (founded 1968), affiliated with Kettering Health.
Visit school website →Temple Christian School
Dayton · Grades PreK-12
A ~175-student Baptist Christian school, a ministry of Cornerstone Baptist Temple.
Visit school website →The Miami Valley School
Dayton · Grades PreK-12
Dayton's only independent, nonsectarian college-prep school (founded 1964), ~480 students, known for its Immersion Method.
Visit school website →Hillel Academy of Dayton
Oakwood · Grades K-6
Located in Oakwood, a K-6 school emphasizing Jewish values, ethics, and strong academics.
Visit school website →Tuition-free STEM options, open across district lines
These are public schools, most are Ohio STEM- or STEAM-designated. That admit students from across the region regardless of where you buy. A real option to weigh alongside your home district.
Dayton Regional STEM School
Kettering · Grades 6 to 12
Tuition-free public STEM community school, designated since 2008; ~770 students drawn from 35+ districts across 7 counties.
Visit school website →Thurgood Marshall STEM High School
Dayton · Grades 9 to 12
Dayton Public Schools' STEM-designated high school, with pathways in Engineering, IT, and Bio-Medical sciences.
Visit school website →Dayton Early College Academy (DECA)
Dayton · Grades 9 to 12
Tuition-free public early-college charter with a STEM-equivalent designation and a Sinclair/UD partnership.
Visit school website →Community STE[A]M Academy
Xenia · Grades K-10
Tuition-free independent public school in Xenia using project-based, STEAM-focused learning.
Visit school website →North Dayton School of Discovery
Dayton · Grades K-8
Tuition-free public charter (National Heritage Academies) with a science-and-discovery theme.
Visit school website →Global Impact STEM Academy
Springfield · Grades 6 to 12
Tuition-free early-college STEM magnet with an agriculture and food-science emphasis, just north of the metro in Clark County.
Visit school website →Dayton schools, answered
What are the best public school districts in the Dayton area?
By Niche.com district grades, Oakwood (A+) leads the metro and ranks among the top districts statewide. Right behind it is a tight A-tier: Centerville, Bellbrook-Sugarcreek, Tipp City, and Wayne Local (Waynesville). Then Springboro, Beavercreek, Kettering, Brookville, and Miami East at A-. Beavercreek stays the most popular choice for Wright-Patterson AFB officers because it pairs strong schools with a short commute to base.
Which counties and districts does this guide cover?
All four counties in the Dayton metro: Montgomery (16 districts including Dayton, Kettering, Centerville, Oakwood, and Miamisburg), Greene (Beavercreek, Bellbrook-Sugarcreek, Fairborn, Xenia, and more), Miami (Tipp City, Troy, Piqua, and the smaller northern districts), and the Warren County side (Springboro, Franklin, Carlisle, plus the Cincinnati-oriented Mason and Kings). That is roughly 40 public districts in total.
Does the school district change what a home costs?
Significantly. Districts like Oakwood, Centerville, Springboro, and Bellbrook-Sugarcreek carry both a purchase-price premium and higher effective property taxes. In Ohio, school funding is the biggest driver of the local tax rate. Use the Compare Neighborhoods tool to see median prices next to school ratings before you anchor on a district.
What private school options does Dayton have?
A deep bench for a metro this size. Chaminade Julienne, Ohio's 2025 CAPE Blue Ribbon School. And Archbishop Alter and Archbishop Carroll anchor the Catholic high schools, with large parish K-8 schools like Incarnation and Bishop Leibold. Dayton Christian, Dominion Academy, Legacy Christian, and Spring Valley cover Christian K-12; the Montessori School of Dayton (founded 1964) leads several authentic Montessori programs; The Miami Valley School is the area's independent college-prep option; and Hillel Academy in Oakwood offers a Jewish K-6 program.
Are there STEM schools in the Dayton area?
Yes, several tuition-free public STEM schools that admit students across district lines. The Dayton Regional STEM School in Kettering has been Ohio STEM-designated since 2008; Dayton Public runs Thurgood Marshall STEM High School; Dayton Early College Academy (DECA) is an early-college STEM model with Sinclair and UD; and Community STE[A]M Academy serves Xenia. Global Impact STEM Academy in Springfield is commutable from the north metro.
How should I use school ratings when picking a neighborhood?
Treat the letter grade as a starting filter, not a verdict. Grades summarize a lot into one letter, and the right fit depends on your kids and priorities. Shortlist two or three districts, then look at what your budget buys in each and what the commute costs you. Chris can tell you which specific streets feed which schools.
Tools that pair with this one
Pick the district before the house.
Chris helps families shop schools-first. Which streets feed which buildings, and where the same budget lands in a stronger district.