NILES — Education is more than just data: it’s about community.

U.S. News and World Report ranked Niles Intermediate School (grades 3-5) as one of Ohio’s best elementary schools for 2021.

This year was the publication’s first time ranking elementary schools and with the Niles school ranked No. 371 out of 1,637 Ohio schools, it made the top 30 percent.

The schools are ranked based on student data (test scores, GPA), proficiency (reading, mathematics), overall attendance, graduation and how well they prepare their students for high school.

At Niles Intermediate, 74 percent of students scored at or above the proficient level for mathematics, and 69 percent scored at or above that level for reading. This equated to a “well-above expectations” ranking in overall academic performance. District informations shows the school has an 18-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio and 26 full-time teachers.

The district will be erecting a banner in the school cafeteria to signify the honor.

The Niles Board of Education held its meeting Tuesday at the intermediate school and invited all staff to attend.

The board also congratulated students from the entire district for their academic achievements, including a special shout-out for two Niles McKinley graduating seniors, Katherine Buttar and Logan Lewis, who were selected for Trumbull County’s annual Twenty Under 20 honors sponsored by the Tribune Chronicle, Kent State University at Trumbull and Akron Children’s Hospital Mahoning Valley.

Moving forward, the district is working on an after-school program to help fill the gaps in young students’ performance with mentoring due to the pandemic.

“Nationwide, we’re seeing learning gaps because of everything that we’ve experienced this past year and a half,” Superintendent Ann Marie Thigpen said. “Even those children who might already have been strong, we want to make sure that we enhance their education and for the students who are struggling, get them what they need. … I can’t say enough good things about the program.”

Thigpen emphasized how the school community can come together to improve education. More information on the after-school program will be revealed soon, she said.