Education and Schools in Cincinnati

The Greater Cincinnati area consists of many public school districts, some of which have a better reputation than others. Parents considering moving their families to Cincinnati are therefore advised to research their options well before making any decisions and choosing a neighbourhood. 

Options for private schools in Cincinnati are limited primarily to religious-based education. For expats who find neither of these options satisfactory, homeschooling is an option worth considering.

Read Education and Schools in the USA to learn more about the public education system.

Public schools in Cincinnati

Expat children can attend public school free of charge in the US. Placement at a public school is determined by geographical location, meaning that students attend the school in the zone where they reside. New arrivals with children will therefore want to ensure that they move to a good schooling district.

Interesting mentions for expat parents are the Fairview-Clifton German Language School, the Academy of Multilingual Immersion Studies (AMIS) which teaches in Spanish, and the Academy of World Languages (AWL) which teaches a diversity of languages and also offers English as a Second Language. All of these magnet schools are primary schools: Fairview-Clifton is K–6, and AMIS and AWL are K–8.

Useful links

•  Academy of Multilingual Immersion Studies
•  Academy of World Languages
•  Fairview-Clifton German Language School

Private and international schools in Cincinnati

Cincinnati is home to numerous private schools, most of which offer education through a religious lens. Some are single-sex schools, but most are co-educational.

Each school has its own admission requirements, which may involve tests and personal interviews. Competition for a place at the best private schools can be fierce, and expats should apply well in advance as places may be limited.

Arab and Muslim parents may be interested in checking out the El-Sewedy International Academy of Cincinnati, which aims to blend the Ohio Learning Standards and Model Curriculum with Qur'an, Arabic and Islamic Studies.

There are very few international-curriculum schools within Cincinnati itself. Expats planning to send their children to one will most likely need to search further afield in Ohio, Kentucky or Indiana.

Useful links

• El-Sewedy International Academy of Cincinnati

Homeschooling in Cincinnati

Homeschooling is becoming increasingly popular in the US. Parents who choose homeschooling for their children often do so because of its flexibility. When it comes to homeschooling, state regulations vary. In Ohio, parents must notify their school district's superintendent before beginning the homeschooling process.

Special-needs education in Cincinnati

Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) has a Student Services Department which manages special education. This department offers services to students from the ages of 3 to 21. These services are provided regardless of whether a child attends a public or private school.

The department manages students with special needs systematically following their 'Pyramid of Interventions'. This model conceptualises intervention as consisting of three tiers, with tier one being low-intensity interventions and tier three being high-intensity interventions. Each tier lists possible problems a student in that tier might encounter, as well as potential solutions. If solutions provided by a particular tier prove inadequate, interventions from the next highest tier are considered.

Useful links

• Check out the Cincinnati Public Schools Department of Student Services for more on the services the department offers. 

Tutors in Cincinnati

Tutors are available in Cincinnati and can be hired on a short or long-term basis. Parents can approach an individual tutor or one of the city's large tutoring companies. These companies will assign a personal tutor based on client needs.

Expat children can benefit from tutoring in several ways. Firstly, non-English speakers can benefit from tutors who help them improve their English while maintaining their mother tongue. In addition, tutors are an excellent resource for assisting children to catch up with the curriculum in their new school.