Frequently Asked Questions

A Family Guide to Student Success

The Athletic Department’s mission is to provide opportunities for participation in competitive sports, where students learn the importance of sportsmanship, work ethic, priority setting, and teamwork. These values enable students to be better prepared for academic, physical, and social challenges.
Athletics Website

Ohio’s College Credit Plus can help you earn college and high school credits at the same time by taking college courses from community colleges or universities. The purpose of this program is to promote rigorous academic pursuits and to provide a wide variety of options to college-ready students. Taking a college course from a public college or university College Credit Plus is free. That means no cost for tuition, books, or fees if you attend public school in the state of Ohio. If you choose to attend a private college or are homeschooled, you may have limited costs. 

Food Service/School Lunch Information

Mad River Local Schools’ Gifted Program provides identified students with academic services at an advanced level and accelerated pace due to their ability to comprehend and process information. Services provide instruction in the core content areas of language arts, social studies, science, and math. Instruction is designed to meet students’ cognitive and academic needs at the appropriate level.

The state of Ohio defines a gifted student as one who “performs or shows potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared to others of their age, experience, or environment. Learn more about gifted students. 

Mad River Local Schools’ Gifted Program provides identified students with academic services at an advanced level and accelerated pace due to their ability to comprehend and process information. Services provide instruction in the core content areas of language arts, social studies, science, and math. Instruction is designed to meet students’ cognitive and academic needs at the appropriate level.

The state of Ohio defines a gifted student as one who “performs or shows potential for performing at remarkably high levels of accomplishment when compared to others of their age, experience, or environment. Learn more about gifted students.  

• Graduation Requirements

  English..................................................................................................................... 4 credits

  Mathematics............................................................................................................. 4 credits

              Must include one unit of Algebra II or its equivalent

  Social Studies .......................................................................................................... 3 credits

              1 Credit World Studies

              1 Credit U.S. History

              1 Credit Government

  Science .................................................................................................................... 3 credits

              1 Credit Physical Science

              1 Credit Biological Science

              1 Credit Advanced Science

  Health ................................................................................................................... 1/2 credit

  Physical Education................................................................................................. 1/2 credit

  Fine Arts (Art, Music, and/or Theater classes) ...................................................... 1 credit

  Educational Foundations ....................................................................................... 1/2 credit

  Educational Specialization ......................................................................................  1 credit

  Senior Pre-Professional Experience ......................................................................  1/2 credit

  Financial Literacy .................................................................................................. 1/2 credit

  Electives............................................................................................................. 2 1/2 credits

                                                              TOTAL..................................................... 21 credits

   

    *Students following a career-technical pathway are exempted from the fine arts requirements.

  **Students who are completers of a Career Tech Program do not need to take Senior Pre-Professional Experience or Financial Literacy. (This curriculum is covered within the Program)

When a disability is suspected in a student, either a parent, school district, or other agency can request an evaluation, also known as making a referral. Within 30 days of receiving the referral/request, Mad River will contact the parents and educational team to schedule a meeting to review the student’s academic or behavioral performance. Upon conclusion of that meeting, the district will provide the parents with a Prior Written Notice stating if the school will be initiating an evaluation or, if not, the reasoning for that decision.

The district must obtain written consent from the student’s parents before beginning an evaluation. An evaluation team comprised of parents, teachers, and a district representative will then determine what testing may be helpful in determining if the student has a disability. The team may also include a school psychologist and appropriate service providers and evaluations may also include academic record review, parent interviews, psychological testing, and data collected from interventions. Ohio law allows up to 60 days to complete the evaluation.

If it is determined that the student has a disability and requires specially designed instruction, the school has 30 days to develop an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

By law, children are reevaluated at least every three years to determine eligibility.

April is Month of the Military Child - Mad River Local Schools is very fortunate to be at the heart of serving the Wright Patterson Community. Military children play such an important role in the armed forces community. Regardless of military status or position, every child of military personnel deserves the love and support of their community.

In 1986, Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger designated April as the Month of the Military Child. Military bases, cities, and school districts around the world will honor these young American heroes with special events just for them.

As part of this month-long celebration, local communities are invited to take part in PurpleUp Day. PurpleUp Day is a day to show your support for the Military youth’s strength and sacrifices by donning the color purple. 

As a proud neighbor to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Mad River Local Schools understands the importance of recognizing our communities' Military children. We hope to give back what our military families have given us through events, STEM activities, and other programs. Thank you to all our military families for your service and sacrifice.

The Mad River Local School District provides special education services for students with disabilities to meet their specific needs through a continuum of programs and services as outlined in their Individual Education Program (IEP). The Special Education Department strives to provide balanced and comprehensive programs in order to give students knowledge, strategies, and opportunities to become problem solvers, decision-makers, and productive citizens for post-secondary opportunities.

For more information about Mad River's Special Education programs, please contact: 937-259-6603 

All Ohio students need to receive an equal opportunity to earn their high school diploma and the support needed to achieve this goal. The Ohio Department of Education (Department) commits to providing this support for national-origin minority English learner students. Ohio offers English learners multiple ways to meaningfully engage with and demonstrate their content knowledge. In doing so, the state provides specific accommodations on state tests, especially those that do not test English language proficiency.

Testing- Ohio Department of Education

The Mad River School District is proud to offer a strong STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) education for students from kindergarten through grade 12.

STEM in Mad River

In addition to STEM opportunities throughout the district, we offer STEM support through Project Lead the Way (PLTW) - a nationally recognized program that emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, innovation, and real-world problem-solving.

Elementary Schools:  Students use scientific, technological, and mathematical principles in real-life applications. They use what they know about what already exists (science, math, and technology) to create new ideas and products (engineering). The inquiry-based instructional program nurtures students’ spirit of curiosity, questioning, reflection, openness to new ideas, and respect for evidence.

Project Lead the Way (PLTW):  Based on a belief that “curiosity rules”, PLTW considers every classroom an innovation zone. Classrooms are transformed into spaces filled with the latest design software, advanced materials, and cutting-edge equipment. They buzz with project-based assignments, like programming robots and analyzing DNA samples.

Middle School: Students can enroll in PLTW’s Gateway to Technology units that explore energy, the environment, modeling, robotics, technology, and other STEM-related topics. The activities-oriented curriculum challenges and engages the natural curiosity of students while sparking an interest in STEM subjects and preparing students for further study in high school.

Stebbins High School:  Students can explore a variety of PLTW’s Pathway to Engineering courses, which explore the design process and link STEM principles to relevant problem-solving activities. Courses complement traditional mathematics and science courses and prepare students to pursue post-secondary education and careers in STEM-related fields.

Staff is involved in rigorous training in STEM principles as well as ongoing support in the courses they teach. PLTW’s hands-on, project-based program engages students on multiple levels, exposes them to subjects that they typically would not pursue, provides them with a strong foundation for achieving their academic goals in any chosen field of study and, if pursued, establishes a proven path to college and career success in STEM-related industries.

Current STEM Activities & Cultures

Senior Project
STEM Fellows
WAPFB Fifth Grade Program
Competitions
Robotics
21^st Century Learning PD
Inquiry-Based Instruction
Interdisciplinary Work
Lego Building
Individual Teachers & Projects
STEM Camp
Think TV
Modeling & Simulation Class
Ohio School Board Association Magazine Recognition for STEM Guitar Project
Guitar Building
Robotics Competition
Lego Building Competition
Interdisciplinary Instruction
WPAFB Research Lab Participation
STARBASE at WPAFB
Wizards of Wright
Middle School Science Teachers Science Projects for Elementary Students
Development of Process Skills throughout Curriculum
Comprehensive High School with Career Technical Education

The goal of Student Services is to eliminate or minimize barriers to student success in order that all students graduate from college career ready. We provide a variety of supports to ensure students’ academic, behavioral, and social-emotional success in school. In addition, we manage enrollment in the district as well as state and federal reporting requirements and student information.

The Student Services Office is located at 801 Old Harshman Rd. Riverside, OH 45431.  Office hours are from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday. 

The Student Services Department Includes: 

• Registration
• Address Changes
• Student Custodial and Legal Changes
• ESL
• Special Transfer Requests
• Discipline and Expulsion Hearings 
• Early Entrance to Kindergarten
• Home Schooling 
• Preschool
• Special Education

Student Services Website

For Grades K through 4, students are assigned a neighborhood school based on their home address.  Locate your child(ren)’s zoned area school through our school finder or by contacting the Student Service's Office at 259-6603.  To visit a school website, please choose a school through the "Select A School" button at the top right on every web page.