Worthington Schools has significantly expanded its Title I program to serve more students facing economic challenges, adding three new schools to the federal assistance program as the district's population of economically disadvantaged students has grown from 26% to 34% over the past decade.
During a comprehensive presentation at Monday's Board of Education meeting, Director of Elementary Education Rob Messenheimer outlined how the district now serves nine schools through the federal Title I program, which provides additional resources to schools with higher populations of students from low-income families.
Growing Need Drives Program Expansion
The district has seen steady growth in students qualifying for free and reduced lunch benefits, rising from 31% last year to 34% this school year. This increase has brought additional federal funding—approximately $1.3 million annually—allowing the district to expand services.
Two years ago, Worthington added Worthington Estates and Granby Elementary to the program. This year, Worthington Way Middle School joined as the newest Title I school. The nine schools now receiving Title I support are:
- Brookside Elementary (Targeted Assistance)
- Colonial Hills Elementary (Targeted Assistance)
- Liberty Elementary (Targeted Assistance)
- Worthington Estates Elementary (Targeted Assistance)
- Granby Elementary (Targeted Assistance)
- Worthingway Middle School (Targeted Assistance)
- Worthington Park Elementary (School-wide)
- Perry Middle School (School-wide)
- Slate Hill Elementary (School-wide)
Understanding the School Rankings
The district uses free and reduced lunch eligibility as its primary measure for determining which schools receive Title I support. The data reveals significant variation across Worthington's neighborhood-based schools:
- Evening Street Elementary: 4% economically disadvantaged
- Slate Hill Elementary: Over 60% economically disadvantaged
Messenheimer explained that smaller, neighborhood-based schools tend to show greater demographic variation compared to larger schools drawing from multiple areas. The northeast quadrant of the district has shown the most consistent growth in economically disadvantaged populations.
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Two Levels of Support
Schools qualify for one of two Title I categories:
Targeted Assistance: These schools use Title I funds exclusively for students showing the greatest academic risk, identified through the district's Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) process.
School-wide Programs: Schools with over 40% economically disadvantaged students qualify for this designation, allowing Title I funds to support programming across the entire school. Three schools now qualify: Worthington Park, Perry Middle School, and Slate Hill Elementary. Worthington Park and Perry achieved this status for the first time this year.
How the Money is Used
The district receives federal Title I funding based on the number of economically disadvantaged students served. Following the program's "supplement not supplant" principle, these funds must provide additional services rather than replace existing programming.
The $1.3 million is primarily used to hire intervention staff—10.5 full-time equivalent teachers providing math and reading intervention across Title I schools. Additional funds support curriculum resources and instructional supplies.
Federal law requires 1% of Title I funding be dedicated to family engagement. Each participating school develops annual family engagement plans and hosts events like literacy nights and math nights to strengthen the home-school partnership.
Focus on Early Intervention
Worthington has chosen to prioritize elementary and middle schools in its Title I implementation, despite Kilbourne High School having an economically disadvantaged population that would qualify for services. This strategy reflects research showing the lasting impact of early intervention on student success.
"The impact that early intervention has on kids, not just while they're young, but over the entirety of their school career," Messenheimer explained to the board.
Addressing Board Questions
Board members asked detailed questions about the program's effectiveness and scope. Key points from the discussion:
- Student Selection: Title I intervention is based on academic risk assessment through MTSS data, not solely on economic status
- Comparison to Peers: Worthington's 34% economically disadvantaged rate is close to the state average of 36% and similar to other districts along the 270 corridor
- Program Effectiveness: While services look similar across targeted assistance and school-wide programs in Worthington, the additional staffing helps meet the higher level of need in affected schools
- Future Concerns: Federal funding uncertainty remains a concern, with potential changes to how Title I funds are distributed
Looking Ahead
The district continues to monitor demographic trends and may need to adjust programming as needs evolve. Board member questions about feeder patterns and demographic balance across schools reflect ongoing attention to ensuring equitable opportunities throughout the district.
With over one-third of Worthington students now qualifying as economically disadvantaged, the Title I program represents a critical tool for maintaining the district's commitment to supporting every student's success, regardless of their background.
The complete family engagement plans for all Title I schools will be posted on the district website by September 30th, and parents are encouraged to participate in quarterly meetings where they can provide feedback and learn more about programming in their schools.