Ohio education officials say 85% of public school districts in Ohio now rank effective, excellent or excellent with distinction.
It's a record percentage for the state. Ohio introduced changes since last year to its grading system to give districts two additional ways to get credit for the progress of students who are improving but not yet proficient.
The number of Ohio's 610 districts statewide that ranked effective or above rose from 486 in 2006-2007 to 518 in 2007-2008.
Seventy-two districts moved into the new high-ranking category. It was the third consecutive year when the Ohio Department of Education had no district in academic emergency. State Superintendent Susan Tave Zelman says the data reflect the hard work of Ohio's students, parents, teachers and administrators.