Ohio has 9 of the healthiest schools in the US for 2025, ranking shows. Here’s why

The National Alliance for a Healthier Generation just released its 2025 list of America’s Healthiest Schools, and nine Ohio schools made the cut.

The America’s Healthiest Schools award recognizes schools across the nation for outstanding commitment to student, staff, and family health and well-being.

The award spotlights those schools that implement best practices in several key categories each year and the recognition highlights programs and investments that have meaningful impacts on the health and success of students and educators.

Criteria for America’s Healthiest Schools Award

To be named one of “America’s Healthiest Schools,” a school must demonstrate achievement in one or more of the following areas:

• Health services: Providing access to nursing, medical, and mental health services.
• Local wellness policy: Building and enforcing policies that support overall wellness.
• Access to food: Expanding access to healthy foods and beverages for students.
• Physical education: Ensuring regular physical activity and quality PE programs.
• Health education: Robust curricula that teach students about physical and mental health.
• Social-emotional learning:: Supporting emotional well-being, positive school climates, and mental health.
• Tobacco-free: Maintaining environments where tobacco use is strictly prohibited.
• Staff well-being: Promoting health, wellness, and support for school staff members.
• Family and community engagement: Involving families and the local community in creating a healthier school environment.

Here’s how it works

Schools apply or are nominated based on their practices and achievements during the previous academic year. Each one must demonstrate measurable improvements and follow evidence-based strategies, often using self-assessment tools aligned with national standards.

The schools are recognized in the specific categories where they excel, and some may even earn awards in multiple areas. Those schools are then named “All-Star Schools” for earning recognition in all available categories for the year.

What Ohio schools are the healthiest?

Of all the Ohio schools listed, Upper Arlington stood out, with five of its schools making the list, an indication that health and wellness initiatives there are consistent across grade levels.

• Forest Park Middle School – Springfield
• Hastings Middle School – Upper Arlington
• Olentangy Shanahan Middle School – Lewis Center
• Olentangy Berlin Middle School – Delaware
• Bluffsview Elementary School – Columbus
• Greensview Elementary School – Upper Arlington
• Windermere Elementary School – Upper Arlington
• Tremont Elementary School – Upper Arlington
• Wickliffe Progressive Elementary School – Upper Arlington

What states have the healthiest schools overall?

For the 2025 cycle, more than 1,100 schools in 34 states and Washington, D.C. received honors, with 168 schools receiving All-Star distinction.

• California (282 schools)
• Texas (173 schools)
• Kentucky (134 schools)
• South Carolina (105 schools)

Ohio’s nine honorees show how the state continues to make strides toward healthier learning environments. These recognitions prove that the state is investing, at least somewhat, in the wellness of its students, faculty and staff.

Does the criteria feel complete or do you think there should be added factors? Email me at srose@ledger-enquirer.com or find me on social media.