Photo: Erik Drost · CC BY 4.0Cleveland’s public schools score below 80% of Ohio districts on tests and graduation
On the state math tests, 15% of Cleveland’s students scored proficient, below the Ohio average (52%). The grade covers the public school district serving Cleveland, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Ohio, not nationally.
From Ohio state tests taken in spring 2022, when 98% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Cleveland’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 318 Ohio towns with household incomes within a quarter of Cleveland’s, its schools beat 1%, lower than their 20% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Results trail the state
In spring 2022, 26% of tested students were proficient in reading and 15% in math, against 60% and 52% statewide; 98% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓
Graduation
71% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86% across Ohio. Districts ↓
Spending, and where it came from
The district spent $24,642 per student in FY2024, against $16,610 across Ohio. 24% of its revenue that year was federal (Ohio 12%), in the last year of pandemic relief. Districts ↓
64 elementary schools, then 30 high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Constellation Schools: Old Brooklyn Community Elementary, Horizon Science Acad Cleveland, Invictus High School, Intergenerational School The, Constellation Schools: Westpark Community Elementary, Innovation Academy West, Hope Academy Northcoast Campus, Constellation Schools: Puritas Community Elementary, Constellation Schools: Stockyard Community Elementary, Lake Erie International High School, Cleveland Academy for Scholarship Technology and Leadership, Constellation Schools: Puritas Community Middle, Northwest School of the Arts, Phoenix Village Academy Primary 2 dba Wings Academy 1, Horizon Science Academy-Denison Middle School, Horizon Science Academy-Cleveland Middle School, Constellation Schools: Westpark Community Middle, Menlo Park Academy, Constellation Schools: Madison Community Elementary, Constellation Schools: Old Brooklyn Community Middle, Promise Academy, Cleveland Arts and Social Sciences Academy, Harvard Avenue Performance Academy, Constellation Schools: Westside Community School of the Arts, Village Preparatory School Cliffs, Bella Academy of Excellence, Northeast Ohio College Preparatory School, Cleveland College Preparatory School, Constellation Schools: Stockyard Community Middle, Near West Intergenerational School, Regent High School, Old Brook High School, Southern Cleveland Drop Back Indba Innovative Career Academy, West Cleveland Drop Back In dba Frederick Douglass High Scho, Broadway Academy, Constellation Schools: Eastside Arts Academy, University of Cleveland Preparatory School, Cleveland Preparatory Academy, Stepstone Academy, Lake Erie College Preparatory School, Village Preparatory School Woodland Hills, West Park Bilingual Academy, East Academy, Lincoln Park Academy, East Preparatory Academy, Citizens Academy Southeast, Village Preparatory School Willard, Global Ambassadors Language Academy, Citizens Leadership Academy East, Orchard Park Academy, Ginn-Thompson School for Girls, St. Joseph Academy (private), Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School (private), St. Adalbert Catholic School (private), Metro Catholic School (private), Cleveland Central Catholic High School (private), St. Mark School (private), St. Martin de Porres School (private), St. Martin de Porres High School (private), Our Lady of Angels School (private), Al Ihsan School (private), Benedictine High School (private), Birchwood School of Hawken (private), St. Agatha - Aloysius School (private), St. Thomas Aquinas School (private), St. Stanislaus School (private), St. Ignatius of Antioch Elementary School (private), Ramah Christian Academy (private), Our Lady of Mount Carmel (private), Luther Memorial School (private), Holy Name Elementary (private), St. Mary Byzantine School (private), The Mastery School of Hawken (private), St. Rocco School (private), Cleveland Montessori (private), Holy Cross Lutheran School (private), Eleanor Gerson School (private), The Bridge Avenue School (private) and Briggs Academy (private) are in town. Cleveland Metro Remote School K-12, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. Every school ↓
Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.
What’s behind Cleveland’s grade
C−: better than 20% of Ohio school districts, #985 of 993 Ohio towns. Both inputs trail the Ohio average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Cleveland, with each school’s own grade.
Cleveland’s public schools are run by Cleveland Municipal School District, which also serves Bratenahl, Linndale and Newburgh Heights. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
The district
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well below the state in reading
Cleveland vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the Ohio towns that share Cleveland’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland | C− | Cleveland Municipal |
| Brook Park | B | Berea City |
| Shaker Heights | B | Shaker Heights City |
| East Cleveland | C− | East Cleveland City |
| Cuyahoga Heights | — | Cuyahoga Heights Local |
| Fairview Park | B+ | Fairview Park City |
| Brooklyn | C+ | Brooklyn City |
| Lakewood | B+ | Lakewood City |
| Cleveland Heights | C+ | Cleveland Heights-University Heights City |
| Bratenahl | C− | Cleveland Municipal |
| Euclid | C− | Euclid City |
| Garfield Heights | C | Garfield Heights City |
| Linndale | — | Cleveland Municipal |
| Warrensville Heights | C | Warrensville Heights City |
| Newburgh Heights | C− | Cleveland Municipal |
| Brooklyn Heights | A | Cuyahoga Heights Local |
| South Euclid | C+ | South Euclid-Lyndhurst City |
3 of the 16 neighbors share Cleveland Municipal with Cleveland, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.
Every school in Cleveland
172 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Ohio’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Questions about Cleveland’s schools
Are Cleveland’s schools good?
On Ohio’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Cleveland children attend score below 80% of Ohio’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C− Schools grade, #985 of 993 Ohio towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 1%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Cleveland in?
Cleveland Municipal School District, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 33,065 students in 93 schools (2024–25).
Where do Cleveland kids go to high school?
One of 30 high schools, depending on your address: John F Kennedy High School, Natividad Pagan International Newcomers Academy, Max S Hayes High School, Rhodes College and Career Academy, East Technical High School, John Marshall School of Information Technology, John Marshall School of Business and Civic Leadership, John Marshall School of Engineering, Garrett Morgan School of Leadership and Innovation, John Adams College & Career Academy, Harvey Rice Elementary School, Garrett Morgan School of Engineering & Innovation, Cleveland School of Science & Medicine, Cleveland School Of The Arts High School, Bard Early College Cleveland, Glenville High School, Ginn Academy, Rhodes School of Environmental Studies, Lincoln West School Of Global Studies, New Technology West, Cleveland High School for the Digital Arts, The School of One, Cleveland Early College High, Davis Aerospace & Maritime High School, Collinwood High School, Campus International High School, Cleveland School of Architecture & Design, MC^2 STEM High School, Lincoln West School of Science & Health and Facing History High School@Charles Mooney.
What is Cleveland’s graduation rate?
71% of the class of 2023 in Cleveland Municipal School District graduated in four years, against 86% across Ohio.
How much does Cleveland spend per student?
$24,642 in Cleveland Municipal School District (FY2024), against $16,610 across Ohio. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Cleveland?
Yes: St. Joseph Academy (catholic · all-girls, grades 9–12, 671 students), Villa Angela-St. Joseph High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 480 students), St. Adalbert Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 470 students), Metro Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 429 students), Cleveland Central Catholic High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 427 students), St. Mark School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 423 students), St. Martin de Porres School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 392 students), St. Martin de Porres High School (Catholic, grades 9–12, 385 students), Our Lady of Angels School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 282 students), Al Ihsan School (religious, grades K–12, 267 students), Benedictine High School (catholic · all-boys, grades 9–12, 265 students), Birchwood School of Hawken (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 254 students), St. Agatha - Aloysius School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 253 students), St. Thomas Aquinas School (Catholic, grades K–8, 249 students), St. Stanislaus School (Catholic, grades K–8, 244 students), St. Ignatius of Antioch Elementary School (Catholic, grades K–8, 221 students), Ramah Christian Academy (religious, grades K–8, 198 students), Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Catholic, grades PK–8, 197 students), Luther Memorial School (religious, grades PK–8, 188 students), Holy Name Elementary (Catholic, grades K–8, 176 students), St. Mary Byzantine School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 155 students), The Mastery School of Hawken (nonsectarian, grades 9–12, 125 students), St. Rocco School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 119 students), Cleveland Montessori (Catholic, grades PK–8, 100 students), Holy Cross Lutheran School (religious, grades K–8, 56 students), Eleanor Gerson School (special education, grades 7–12, 43 students), The Bridge Avenue School (religious, grades 5–8, 21 students) and Briggs Academy (nonsectarian · all-girls, grades 1, 2 students). Cleveland also has 51 charter schools, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Cleveland families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Cleveland → They have their own page.
School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Ohio. Stars are from neighbors.