Speak about a city filled with museums, beautiful parks, and unique attractions at every turn, and Cincinnati, Ohio, should come readily to mind.
This city has everything for families, couples, friends, or anyone to enjoy, day or night. Whether you're a history buff or modernist, there's something for you.
The cost of living is very low for a city with so much to offer, which may be one of the reasons so many people are flocking to the city.
So what about families wanting to move to the lovely city with their children and needing to know about the education system?
The largest cluster of high profile schools is in the Cincinnati City School District. Some of the country's best schools are there too.
To learn more about the city and its education system, continue reading this guide to Cincinnati schools, with depth, not just fluff.
Public Schools
Cincinnati Public Schools is one of 22 districts comprising close to 200 public schools located in Greater Cincinnati.
It is the vastest school district in the city and third overall in size across Ohio.
An average of 36,000 students from pre-K to 12th grade are served in 65 schools encompassing just over 90 square miles in the largest district, Cincinnati City Schools.
The public Cincinnati schools have a strict criterion that they are mandated to strive for annually.
At the pre-K and Kindergarten level, readiness is very important as those are the formative years, and success in school generally depends on what children acquire then.
Next is third-grade reading and math scores in the elementary category, followed by preparation to handle middle school.
That entails getting students proficient sixth-grade reading and math scores, followed by Algebra I and English 9 scores.
That sets the tone for high school students who now have the ACT, Advanced Placement Courses, and overall readiness to graduate on their plate.
The system has qualified to ensure that the graduation rate gets high and remains that way.
Ultimately it boils down to what the public school system refers to as the three Es.
That is, Enrollment, Enlistment, and employment, meaning aloha should leave the Cincinnati schools qualified for college, the military, or the workforce.
School Districts
Twenty-two school districts serve in the Hamilton County area, including Cincinnati Public Schools District.
It is a mixture of high-ranking and struggling institutions, but overall, it has the most successful schools of any city in Ohio.
Additionally, Indian Hill Exempted Village School District was nominated in the top ten school districts in America.
However, the city's testing averages are below the state's because all test scores are combined.
To the state board's credit, the city has grown exponentially over the years, and they have been readjusting to accommodate every student's needs.
Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) is growing the most rapidly in the state, ahead of all big districts inside cities, and enrolled approximately 20 percent more students over a decade up to 2020.
CPS gives households top-notch academic options and a variety of educational strategies.
The district takes an ingenious approach to education through hiring proficient and caring educators and an extensive array of coordinated coalitions.
It has expedited the accomplishments of students to the most extraordinary degree in many years, guaranteeing that the students evolve and advance to college, the military, and the job world.
High schools
Three Cincinnati Public Schools high schools are consistently named among the top one thousand schools in the nation.
Reputable magazines and news organizations usually nominate the Cincinnati schools Withrow University High, Walnut Hills, and Clark Montessori.
Additionally, the United States Department of Education gave a National Blue Ribbon to one of the Cincinnati schools.
The awardee, Robert A. Taft Information Technology High School, falls into the Cincinnati Public Schools District.
Indian Hill High School has been able to nab the top spot in Ohio.
Princeton High School in Sharonville operates above-average and serves more than 1,500 students in grades 9-12.
St. Xavier High School is one of the best in the state and entire country and is part of a network of Roman Catholic schools for boys across the country.
The school is diverse, excels in sports, academics, clubs and activities, college preparation, and top-rated teachers.
Anderson High School is also top-rated among Cincinnati schools. With more than 1,200 students enrolled each school year up to 12th grade.
Except for diversity, where the school is average, it is graded as excellent in every academic and activity area. Even food at the school has an A rating.
Middle Schools
More than 46,000 students at the middle school level are served in the close to seventy public middle schools in Hamilton County, OH.
Middle school students in that school district have an average score of 50 percent in math and an average of just over 50 percent and reading.
The state average is just under 60 percent, showing that several middle schools in Cincinnati are performing below the state’s average.
Unfortunately, most middle schools in Hamilton County fall into the lower half of the Ohio public middle schools ranking system.
Nonetheless, there are schools that do quite excellent not only in the district but statewide. These high-ranking public schools are Indian Hill Middle and Wyoming Middle.
In the meantime, there is one teacher to every twenty-one students in the Hamilton County School District, which is three more than the state average.
Princeton Community Middle School serves just over 1,400 students from grades 6-8.
Nearly 70 percent of the students utilize the free or discounted lunch program. In-state test scores, the school excels in Algebra 1.
However, it averages less than 50 percent in science, mathematics, and language.
Another school, Colerain Middle, has only a little over 600 students average from sixth to eighth.
The school falls below the state average when it comes to proficiency in mathematics. They usually score less than 50 percent, while in language arts and reading, they also score below 50 percent.
Colerain Middle School has a minority enrollment of just under 50 percent each year; this is higher than the state average of 30 percent. Minority enrollment is mainly black.
Elementary Schools
The elementary school system in Cincinnati, Ohio, is divided into neighborhood schools and magnet schools.
One of the major differences between both sets of schools is that one is chosen for you based on where you live/zip code, while the students' parents are allowed to make the selection for the other, which is magnet schools.
The options for magnet schools include development techniques like Montessori and an emphasis on content, languages, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), and preparation for tertiary education.
There is a guide for magnet schools that entails details on the online lottery application method for the program.
Citywide, East, and West categorize magnet elementary schools in the Cincinnati City Public Schools district.
These programs are offered to pupils residing all over the district or either side of it.
Students with disabilities can participate in magnet programs.
Most elementary schools serve students from the preschool to sixth-grade level, while a small number extends to the with grade.
With less than 600 students enrolled each year, Carson Elementary School serves children up to grade 6.
Hyde Park Elementary School is one of the high-performance Cincinnati schools.
When it comes to mathematics proficiency, the school averages 90 percent and more than 80 percent in reading proficiency. Their minority enrollment, which is mainly Black students, is in the region of 30 percent.
High proficiency in math and reading keeps Maddux Elementary School high on many parents’ radar. Also, the enrollment remains low at just over 500 students each year.
Private Schools
Nearly 35,000 students are served by private institutions in Cincinnati annually.
The acceptance rate averages 90 percent, and minority enrollment is below 30 percent.
Learning environments are enhanced through the low students to each teacher average. More than 60 percent of the schools are linked to a religious entity, mainly Christian and Catholic.
Christian Schools
While it is not always easy to obtain metrics for some Christian schools, the records indicate that they turn out well-rounded students. They are involved in sports, clubs, and a myriad of activities.
Christian school students are also required to participate in religious studies and prayer, and the majority graduate to four-year colleges.
Calvary Christian School, while not being the most diverse, nails it when it comes to academics, clubs and activities, sports, college preparation, and teachers. More than 90 percent of the students move on to college.
Charter Schools
More than 20 charter Cincinnati schools help students reach a higher level of college readiness in the city.
The tuition-free programs were approved in 1997 and had been producing high-level learners for the most part. Others have not been meeting the mark, like Phoenix Community Learning Center.
Officially named Phoenix Community Learning Center, just under 500 students are enrolled from kindergarten to 11th grade, but teacher availability is one to 27 students.
This affects test scores drastically, which average 20 percent proficiency in both math and reading.
Boarding Schools
Cincinnati schools offer wide-ranging boarding options. From boys or girls only to therapeutic boarding institutions, students have their pick of the lot.
Some are military boarding schools that may not be directly affiliated with the military but offer a similar structure. The majority of the boarding facilities are, however, religious.
Summer Schools
From performing arts to science and technology, summer programs are available each year everywhere across the state.
Whether students are seeking to boost their knowledge or catch up on credits, they will not be short of options. There are also religious camps in the selections.
Overall, if you choose to relocate to Cincinnati, Ohio, you will find scores of Cincinnati schools that are operating above average.
Once you know what type of program you'd like your child enrolled in, selecting the school, whether private or public, becomes much easier.