Education System in Ravenna
The first school was held in 1875 in the sod house of Erastus Smith, founder of Ravenna, with Mrs. Smith acting as the teacher. Classes were later held in the dugout of George Adams in 1885. The first school building was constructed in 1886. After a harsh winter a new school was needed, so in 1888 a new brick school was completed. Miss Ella Pool was Ravenna High's first graduate in 1893. In 1927, land was purchased for a new grade school building, it was named the East Ward. In 1945, the entire high school was destroyed by a fire. Classes were held in the city auditorium for the next few years while a new junior/senior high school was being built. A new high school was built on the west side of town in 1968. The East Ward was closed in 1979, with K-6 students attending the previous Junior-Senior High School on Grand Avenue. In 1996, a new elementary school was constructed next to the high school and the old elementary school was demolished.
Ravenna Elementary School
The elementary school has many opportunities for students of all abilities. These include Title I programs, special education services, accelerated reader, and a 90-minute block reading program. Technology applications are also a strong focus at all grade levels. In 2021, students from kindergarten through junior high transitioned fully into a 1-to-1 laptop system to support the program previously implemented in the high school. Ravenna Elementary offers small class numbers and caring, dedicated teachers. All students have access to physical education and music classes.
Ravenna High School
Ravenna High School is a Class C-2/D-1 school in the Louplatte Conference. Ravenna Public School remains on the cutting edge of technology with the continual update of technology equipment and the employment of a full-time technology specialist. In August 2011, Ravenna Public Schools implemented a 1-to-1 Laptop Learning Program where students in grades 7-12 were assigned their own laptop for educational use. The district has complete wireless Internet access, and each classroom has distance learning capabilities with the four mobile distance learning units each featuring high definition LifeSize audio and video capabilities. Every classroom also features a smart board or smart projector.
Ravenna High School offers college and dual credit classes and a wide variety of college prep and CTE (career and technical education) classes are offered.
Extracurricular Activities
Ravenna Public Schools offers an outstanding variety of extracurricular activities. Students regularly participate and compete in local, state and national competitions. Recent accomplishments:
- Nine consecutive State One Act Championships appearances (2013-present)
- Nine VEX Robotics world qualifying robotics teams in eleven years
- 12 team and 11 individual total NSAA state champions
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To access the school's YouTube page, click here.