OHIO – Ohio is home to over 600 public school districts, ranging from massive urban systems with tens of thousands of students to small, rural districts serving tight-knit communities. In a state with such a diverse educational landscape, one district holds the unique distinction of being the absolute smallest. Located on a picturesque island in Lake Erie, the Kelleys Island Local School District is consistently recognized as the smallest school district in Ohio by student enrollment.
An Island Classroom: A Look at Kelleys Island, Ohio’s Smallest School District
A School District on Island Time:
- Location: The district is located on Kelleys Island, a popular tourist destination in Erie County, situated about four miles north of the mainland.
- Enrollment: The district’s enrollment is minimal, often fluctuating in the single digits from year to year. According to the most recent data from the National Center for Education Statistics, the district serves just a handful of students, with enrollment numbers as low as seven students reported for the 2023-2024 school year.
- One School for All: The entire district is comprised of a single, historic K-12 school, the Kelleys Island School, housed in the beautiful brick Estes Building, which was constructed in 1901.
Why Is It So Small?
The reason for the district’s tiny size is its geography. It serves only the year-round residents of Kelleys Island, a community that, while bustling in the summer, has a small permanent population. The school provides a unique, multi-grade-level educational experience, with teachers often instructing students from different grades in the same classroom. For high school students seeking more comprehensive or vocational programs, the district usually encourages them to take classes on the mainland at EHOVE Career Center…