An Ohio education department investigation found anomalies on standardized testing at dozens of schools across the state, including at a Newark elementary school.
After Columbus City Schools self-reported its own testing anomalies, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW) "proactively" directed its testing vendor to investigate the matter. The investigation found 52 unreported "significant" testing anomalies at dozens of public and charter schools around the state on tests administered in the spring of 2026, according to a Sept. 4 press release.
The Dispatch has reached out to ODEW about the nature of the anomalies and whether test results will be invalidated.
In central Ohio, the state found anomalies at Hillview Elementary School
in Newark City Schools in Licking County and at eight charter schools in Franklin County. The investigation also detected anomalies at every building except West Elementary in the Steubenville City Schools district in Jefferson County.
ODEW said the matter remains under ongoing investigation.
Dan Tierney, spokesperson for Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, told The Dispatch that the governor's office takes the integrity of standardized testing seriously.
“That shows by DEW taking this proactive step after learning about issues in Columbus the oversight is working well,” Tierney said.
Tierney added that the governor's office will work with the state legislature if "further guardrails" are needed.
Newark City Schools could not be immediately reached for comment.
The charter schools in Franklin County found to have testing anomalies were:
- Bessie Sherrod Price Preparatory Academy
- Columbus Performance Academy
- Columbus Preparatory and Fitness Academy
- Focus Learning Academy of Central Columbus
- Northland Preparatory and Fitness Academy
- Performance Academy Eastland
- South Scioto Academy
- Whitehall Preparatory and Fitness Academy
Six of the eight charter schools are under the Performance Academies corporate umbrella. Only Focus Learning Academy and Bessie Sherrod Price Preparatory Academy are not part of Performance Academies.
The Dispatch reached out to Performance Academies for comment.
Columbus City Schools anomalies involved students using technology during test
In July, The Dispatch reported that Columbus City Schools invalidated test scores in all subjects at Independence High School and Walnut Ridge High School after it self-reported problems with the results to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.
In letters sent to families, staff members "reported that cell phones and other smart technology were used during testing." In addition, "questions were also raised regarding Independence HS’s efforts to prepare adult proctors to administer testing and to prepare students for the assessments."
The letters also noted that the invalidation would not impact most spring graduates and the district would work with students who would be impacted.
Cole Behrens covers K-12 education and school districts in central Ohio. Have a tip? Contact Cole at cbehrens@dispatch.com or connect with him on X at @Colebehr_report
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio finds testing anomalies at dozens of schools, including in Newark
