School Districts (2026)

The Cleveland area has a wide range of school options. The Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) serves the city proper, while surrounding suburbs have their own highly-rated districts. Ohio also has a robust charter school system and school choice programs that allow inter-district enrollment in some cases.

The highest-rated districts in the Cleveland metro include: Solon City Schools (consistently top-ranked in Ohio), Chagrin Falls Exempted Village, Orange City Schools, Beachwood City Schools, Rocky River City Schools, Bay Village City Schools, and Westlake City Schools. These suburban districts regularly score above state averages on standardized tests and offer strong extracurricular programs.

CMSD has undergone significant reform since the Cleveland Plan (2012). The district operates specialized schools including the MC2 STEM High School, Cleveland School of the Arts, and the John Hay Campus. The Say Yes to Education Cleveland program provides tuition assistance for CMSD graduates attending Ohio colleges. While overall test scores lag suburban districts, several individual schools perform well.

Cleveland has strong private school options including University School, Laurel School, Hawken School, St. Ignatius High School, and Beaumont School. Charter schools like Breakthrough Schools (Intergenerational and E Prep campuses) have earned national recognition. The EdChoice Scholarship program provides tuition assistance for students in underperforming public school zones.

If schools are your top priority, the western suburbs (Rocky River, Bay Village, Westlake, Avon) and eastern suburbs (Solon, Chagrin Falls, Orange) offer the highest ratings. Within the city, Tremont and Ohio City families often choose private or charter options. Lakewood City Schools offer a solid urban-suburban hybrid. Visit schools in person, as Ohio report cards don't capture everything about culture and fit.