Education Options in Cincinnati: Finding the Right Fit

Understanding Education Options in Cincinnati: Finding the Right Fit

Cincinnati’s education options are diverse and crucial for the community’s future. Finding the best school in Cincinnati is essential for ensuring children receive a quality education suitable to their needs.

Cincinnati offers a variety of educational options, including public neighborhood and magnet schools, charter schools, private institutions, and homeschooling. Programs like EdChoice provide scholarships for private education, while Cincinnati Preschool Promise supports early childhood learning for eligible families. Cincinnati families can confidently navigate the process of choosing the right school using the guide below.

Featured Schools

Bethany School

Ed Choice
As Ohio’s only Episcopal school, Bethany School is rooted in the Episcopal church traditions of respect for and coexistence with all faiths and a belief in the unique worth of all human beings. Serving grades K through 8, Bethany School aims to inspire within each student a love of learning, an appreciation for diversity, and a desire to explore what spirituality means to them.
513-771-7462
[email protected]
555 Albion Avenue (Glendale)
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How to Apply

DePaul Cristo Rey

Ed Choice
A Catholic college preparatory and career-focused high school in Cincinnati with 100 percent college acceptance. Financial eligibility is decided on a case-by-case basis after each family completes a financial aid form and submits the most recent tax return.
513-861-0600
3440 Central Parkway (Clifton)
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Gray Road Christian Academy

Ed Choice
Gray Road Christian Academy (GRCA) is a new, missional, Christ-centered, college-preparatory high school in Cincinnati, Ohio, that offers an accessible and affordable private-school education.
[email protected]
4826 Gray Road (Winton Hills)
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How to Apply

Mercy McAuley High School

Ed Choice
An all-girls college preparatory Catholic High School. Mercy McAuley’s education is diverse in formative experiences, innovative programs, experiential education, and off-campus service-learning opportunities.
513-681-1800
6000 Oakwood Avenue (College Hill)
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Mercy Montessori

Ed Choice
A leading Catholic school in Cincinnati, Mercy Montessori provides personalized education for preschoolers and students from kindergarten through 8th grade. Located in Walnut Hills, Mercy Montessori offers a child-centered curriculum based on faith-based education principles, indoor and outdoor classrooms, and engaging student activities. Mercy has a unique sliding-scale tuition model to accommodate families. Mercy is Ohio’s first and oldest Montessori school.
513-475-6700
2335 Grandview Avenue (Walnut Hills)
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Springer School and Center

Empowers students with learning disabilities to lead successful lives. Springer’s specialized curriculum and personalized learning strategies help students with learning disabilities build the educational, emotional, and social skills to succeed in the classroom—and everywhere else.
513-871-6080
2121 Madison Road (Hyde Park)
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The Seven Hills School

A private school that offers choices for preschool/early childhood education, elementary school, middle school, and high school. The Seven Hills School has two campuses. The average class size is 15 students, with a 9:1 student-teacher ratio. The Seven Hills School is ranked by Niche.com as the 2025 #1 Best Private K-12 School, #1 Best Private High School, #1 Best College Prep Private High School, and #1 Best High School for STEM in Greater Cincinnati.
513-728-2400
2726 Johnstone Place (Walnut Hills)
5400 Red Bank Road (Madisonville)
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Xavier Jesuit Academy

Provide young men in Bond Hill and nearby neighborhoods with a challenging and disciplined approach to education rooted in the Jesuit tradition. XJA is the only Jesuit Catholic elementary school in the Greater Cincinnati area.
1601 California Avenue (Bond Hill)
513-275-5501
[email protected]
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How to Apply

Water Lily Learning Center

Preschool Promise
Water Lily Learning Center is a Black woman-owned childcare provider allowing infants, toddlers, preschoolers, pre-kindergarteners, and school-aged children to learn in a safe, educational, creative, and fun atmosphere. Children and families can rest assured that Water Lily Learning Centers inspire learning, aid early childhood development, and prepare kids for the future.
513-808-9696
[email protected]
1607 Mansfield Street (Pendleton)
3559 Reading Road (Avondale)
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How to Apply

Education Options for Cincinnati Families

Cincinnati families have several educational choices, each with unique benefits and approaches to learning. This guide explores each option to help families find the best fit for their children’s education.

Community/Charter Schools

Community schools, often called charter schools nationally and in other states, are public schools created by Ohio law. They are independent of any school district and part of the state’s education program. Community schools are public schools of choice and are state and federally funded.
614-466-7058
[email protected]
View a list of Community Schools

Neighborhood Schools

Students in grades K-6 are automatically eligible to register and enroll in their assigned neighborhood elementary school based on the school’s attendance boundaries and the student’s home address.
513-363-0000
[email protected]
Find your district-assigned neighborhood school

Magnet Schools

CPS parents may choose a magnet school for their child from the area (East or West) where the family lives or pick a citywide magnet school (open to everyone living in the district). Parents must apply via an online lottery to have their child enter a magnet school or program. Applications to magnet schools are made a school year ahead via an online lottery application process.
513-363-0123
[email protected]

Citywide Magnet Programs

Arts

School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) — K to 12; K to 3 Magnet

Online Program

John G. Gilligan Digital Academy — K to 6 Magnet; 7 to 12 High School

World Language and Culture

Academy of Multilingual Immersion Studies (AMIS) — Preschool to 8 — Spanish; English as a Second Language
Academy of World Languages (AWL) — Preschool to 8 — Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian; English as a Second Language
Fairview-Clifton German Language School — Preschool to 6 — German

East Area Magnet Programs

Elementary College Preparatory

John P. Parker — 4 to 6 Magnet
Roselawn Condon — 4 to 8 Magnet

Montessori

North Avondale — Preschool to 6
Sands — Preschool to 6

Central Magnet Programs

Montessori

North Avondale — Preschool to 6
Parker Woods — Preschool to 6 *Students living in the Central Corridor may also attend Dater or Gamble Montessori Elementary

West Area Magnet Programs

Gifted and Exceptional

Cincinnati Gifted Academy West — 3 to 6 (at Cheviot School)

Global Community

Roberts Academy — Preschool to 8

Montessori

Dater — Preschool to 6
Gamble Montessori Elementary School — Preschool to 6

World Language and Culture

LEAP Academy (Language Enrichment and Academic Proficiency) — Preschool to 6

Open Enrollment

Every spring, each school district in Ohio may choose whether or not to accept students through open enrollment for the next school year. If you are interested in a specific district, contact the district’s enrollment office for more information. Open Enrollment allows students who live outside the boundaries of the Cincinnati Public School District — but in the state of Ohio — to enroll in CPS schools without paying tuition. Priority is always given to students who live within the CPS boundaries. Applications to the open enrollment lottery are submitted May 1st-31st.
If you have questions regarding open enrollment, contact the Area Coordinator for your region.

Chartered Nonpublic (Private) Schools

A Chartered Nonpublic school is a private school that holds a valid charter issued by the state board of education and maintains compliance with the Operating Standards for Ohio’s Schools. These schools are not supported by local or state tax dollars and require the family to pay tuition. Chartered Nonpublic schools are eligible for the Administrative Cost Reimbursement Program, Auxiliary Services Program, and Transportation services for students.
614-728-2678 or 877-644-6338
[email protected]

Nonchartered Nonpublic Schools

Nonchartered Nonpublic (NCNP) schools choose not to be chartered by the State of Ohio because of their deeply held religious beliefs.
614-728-2678 or 877-644-6338
[email protected]

Ed Choice

The Educational Choice Scholarship (EdChoice) Program allows students from designated public schools to attend participating private schools. The program also offers scholarships to kindergarten through 12th-grade students based on their household income level.
614-728-2678 or 877-644-6338
[email protected]
View a list of participating schools in Hamilton County

Home Schooling

Parents interested in educating their children at home may do so by notifying their local school district superintendents and meeting the requirements of Ohio law to homeschool.
614-728-2678
[email protected]

Additional Programs and Resources

4C for Children

A Child Care Resource & Referral Agency that supports everyone who cares for young children, from parents to child care providers, to ensure high-quality early education and care for all children. They are the only agency in 15 counties in Ohio that offers free child care referrals online and in person, and helps parents understand how to choose a quality option.
513-221-0033 or 800-256-1296
[email protected]

Preschool Promise

Many quality 3-, 4-, and 5-star preschools, childcare centers, and daycare centers offering Montessori, private, Catholic, and in-home education are enrolling new students. Families with a gross household income of up to 300% of the federal poverty level may be eligible to attend any step-up-to-quality location. Preschool Promise Tuition Assistance is available to eligible families to have some or all co-payments or tuition paid by Cincinnati Preschool Promise.
513-447-4277
[email protected]
View a list of participating preschools and childcare centers

Choosing the right educational path is important for Cincinnati families, with each option offering distinct advantages. Cincinnati’s diverse education options allow families to find environments that best support their children’s growth and success. With careful consideration of each school type’s benefits, parents can confidently select the path that aligns with their child’s needs and educational goals.

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Education Options Images provided by AdobeStock, Bethany School on Facebook, DePaul Cristo Rey on Facebook, Mercy McAuley on Facebook, Regeneration Schools on Facebook, Seven Hills School on Facebook, Springer School on Facebook, Xavier Jesuit Academy on Facebook, Water Lily on Facebook, Mercy Montessori’s Website