Author: Tanner Atha

We are proud to share that, once again for the third year in a row, Hilliard City Schools has been ranked #1 in the entire state of Ohio for the value-added component on the Ohio School Report Card. This recognition reflects the outstanding work of our teachers, staff, and students in ensuring that every learner makes meaningful academic growth each year, no matter where they begin.

Value-added is one of the most important measures of the impact a school district has on its students. It looks not just at test scores, but at how much progress students are making over time. Leading the state in this measure reaffirms what we know to be true—our students are learning and growing in powerful ways because of the commitment of our educators and the support of our community.

At the same time, we know there is more work to do. While our value-added ranking is a point of pride, the report card always points us to areas of potential growth, and this year is no exception. That tells us we must continue to focus on the bigger picture: not only how students grow while they are with us, but also how prepared they are when they leave us.

As part of our strategic planning, we are renewing our focus on graduation rates and post-graduation readiness, as well as readiness in literacy and mathematics. Whether our students choose college, career, or military service, we want them to leave Hilliard City Schools with the skills, confidence, and experiences they need to thrive.

This moment is both a celebration and a call to action. We celebrate the dedication of our staff, the resilience of our students, and the ongoing support of our families. And we recommit ourselves to ensuring every student graduates ready for the future.

Together, we can be proud of this achievement—and inspired to keep moving forward.

Emergency Notification with ParentSquare Test

With our transition to ParentSquare, this will now be the district’s official communication tool for bad weather delays and closings as well as any emergency announcements.

To ensure our system is working properly, we will conduct a test emergency notification on Thursday, September 18 at 5:00 p.m.. This message will be sent to all families and staff connected to Hilliard City Schools through ParentSquare.

This is only a test and no action is required. We appreciate your patience and support as we confirm that our safety protocols deliver timely and reliable information to our families.

Hilliard City Schools is proud to announce that Station Sixth Grade School, The Innovation Learning Center, The HUB, and Darby High School have been recognized as Apple Distinguished Schools for 2025–2028. This prestigious three-year designation is awarded to schools that demonstrate continuous innovation in teaching and learning with Apple technology.

With this honor, these four Hilliard schools join a global community of institutions using Apple products to inspire creativity, foster collaboration, and personalize learning. The recognition highlights the dedication of Hilliard’s educators in leveraging technology to create meaningful, future-ready learning experiences for students.

As Apple Distinguished Schools, Station, The Innovation Learning Center, The HUB, and Darby High School will continue to share their stories and collaborate with other recognized schools around the world. The designation also reflects the District’s ongoing commitment to providing cutting-edge resources and opportunities that prepare students for success in a rapidly changing world.

Hilliard City Schools congratulates our staff and students on this accomplishment and looks forward to the continued innovation it represents.

Hilliard City Schools puts a premium on innovative, individualized learning experiences. So when Amazon opened one of its signature Think Big Spaces at our Innovation Campus in 2019, we knew it would be a great fit.

Today, more than a dozen Think Big Spaces are active across the district, serving students from elementary through high school. These creative labs are embedded in our curriculum and designed to offer hands-on opportunities for students of all ages to explore technology, collaborate with peers, and engage in real-world problem solving.

As the name implies, these spaces are designed to grow ideas and knowledge. Even the furnishings are set up to encourage collaboration and creativity. The emphasis is on tech—cloud computing and other Amazon-supported tools—but the hands-on learning and open invitation to be curious make each Think Big Space an incubator for inspiration of all kinds. It’s the sort of synergy the best STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education strives for.

What students do in a Think Big Space varies from day to day. Some days feature workshops led by Amazon trainers on cloud computing fundamentals and emerging tech; other days, students dive into hands-on labs to tackle real-world or simulated challenges.

Competitions like hack-a-thons get students working in teams to solve problems creatively. Amazon also brings in guest speakers and panels featuring industry experts, and we occasionally open our doors to the community for tech nights and project showcases.

This is just one way the Hilliard City Schools is in action to support collaboration among government, education providers, and businesses to solve real-world problems, and it’s incredibly important to build these skills now that AI is a part of our day-to-day lives. We’re grateful Amazon is supporting students as they develop new solutions and ideas as Hilliard City Schools prepares students to be Ready for Tomorrow.

The skills students gain and the connections they forge through these Think Big Spaces can lead directly to careers in Central Ohio’s booming tech economy. But even if they follow a different path, the opportunity to explore, experiment, and think differently is priceless.

We’re thankful for Amazon’s continued partnership and the many ways it benefits our students. As a new school year begins, we’re especially excited to see our Think Big Spaces buzzing with big ideas, bold experiments, and bright futures.

Hilliard City Schools is proud to partner with the Stay in the Game and the Columbus Crew to raise awareness about the importance of school attendance.

Consistent attendance is the foundation for student success. Research shows that even missing just two days a month can have a lasting impact on a child’s learning and social development. Across Ohio, nearly 30% of students miss close to 20 days of school each year, leaving them at risk of falling behind.

Launched in 2019 by the Cleveland Browns Foundation, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, and Harvard’s Proving Ground, the Stay in the Game works with districts across the state to improve attendance through community partnerships, campaigns, and resources.

By teaming up with Stay in the Game and the Columbus Crew, Hilliard City Schools is joining a statewide movement to ensure students stay engaged, connected, and in school every day.

For more information about the Stay in the Game, visit stayinthegame.org

Welcome to ParentSquare! We are excited to adopt this new form of school-to-home communication. ParentSquare is designed to keep parents informed and facilitate participation at school. It provides a safe way for the school principal, teachers, staff, and parents/guardians to:

• Send and receive school and class information
• Share pictures and files
• See calendar items
• Sign up to volunteer
• and much more . . . all in one centralized place!

Parents – Getting Started video

All school/grade level and classroom information will now be sent to your computer or phone via email and/or text or you can download the free App.

The Help & Support question mark in the top right corner can help answer most of your questions. So, join in!

Need More Help with Parent Square? If you need to update your contact information such as email, phone number or other information, login to homeaccess.hboe.org to make updates. Be sure to use the same contact information in HomeAccess that you use for ParentSquare so your students are automatically connected to your account.

Other types of support needs? Submit a request: https://www.hilliardschools.org/new-help-desk/ or contact your student’s school in early August.