GILMOUR ACADEMY
Gilmour’s Montessori Toddler and Preschool programs teach children how to learn. Students then move seamlessly into Grades K-6, where they are provided endless possibilities to grow, with opportunities ranging from robotics to learning a new instrument each year, to service and nature-based learning. Students then progress to the Middle and Upper Schools to expand on this foundation. As an independent, Catholic school, Gilmour is rooted in its mission to educate the mind and empower the heart of every student. gilmour.org
HATHAWAY BROWN
For nearly 150 years, Hathaway Brown School has educated and empowered girls. The K-12 day school in Shaker Heights, Ohio is regionally and nationally recognized as a top girls’ school for their Learn for Life Signature Approach. Their model for education integrates distinguished academics, empowered girls, knowledge in action, and a celebrated community of students, alums, and faculty and parents. Learn more at HB.edu/edu
HAWKEN
Hawken’s Lower School program reflects the school’s dual commitment to academic and social curricula and focuses on building a strong foundation in basic academic skills with an increasing emphasis on personal responsibility. Recent renovations support not only Hawken’s commitment to truly knowing each student as a learner and individual, but also the school’s evolving personalized learning model. Every set of grade-level classrooms has access to an adjacent learning commons to support differentiated learning groups as well as collaborative and project-based
approaches to learning. hawken.edu
HERSHEY MONTESSORI SCHOOL
Hershey Montessori School prepares students to thrive in a rapidly changing world. Their Montessori approach to education is scientifically geared toward the student’s stages of natural child development. This allows students to discover their individual strengths and master challenging concepts based on personal growth and interests. Hershey’s Concord Campus educates children from birth through sixth grade and their Huntsburg Campus educates adolescents from seventh through 12th. Tuition assistance and transportation are available. hershey-montessori.org
JULIE BILLIART SCHOOLS
Julie Billiart Schools, a private, Catholic network of K-8 schools in Akron, Lyndhurst, and Westlake, educate and empower children with mild to moderate autism, ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, and other learning and social differences. JB celebrates potential, nurtures curiosity, and customizes teaching to their students’ unique learning styles. Students are surrounded by strategically designed classrooms, small student-to-teacher ratios, onsite therapies, and state-of-the-art technology. JB students are supported by onsite therapists and certified intervention specialists. juliebilliartschool.org
LAKE RIDGE ACADEMY
Lake Ridge Academy is an independent kindergarten through 12th college preparatory school. Strong academic programs, engaging faculty, and an 8:1 student-to-teacher ratio creates an educational environment that fuels a student’s passion for learning. Lower School students learn to think critically through a rich, hands-on curriculum that connects them to the natural world. Special emphasis is placed on social-emotional learning and cultural appreciation through world language classes. Their fall K-12 preview day will be Mon. Oct. 24. lakeridgeacademy.org
LAUREL SCHOOL
Laurel School is a nationally recognized independent day school for girls, Kindergarten through 12th, with a co-ed Early Childhood School. Laurel students come from over 70 communities in Northeast Ohio. Laurel has two campuses, the 11-acre Lyman Campus is in Shaker Heights and the 150-acre Butler Campus is in Russell Township. The Butler Campus is home to competitive athletics, full-time outdoor experiential learning for Grades 3-5, and Northeast Ohio’s first outdoor prekindergarten. Learn more about Laurel at its K-Grade 12 open house on October 6. Visit laurelschool.org/openhouse for more information and to RSVP.
MENLO PARK ACADEMY
Menlo Park Academy is the state’s only tuition-free school for gifted children in kindergarten through eighth grade. The school offers an innovative, accelerated curriculum, including nine high-school-credit classes, the opportunity to learn alongside like-minded peers, and a faculty dedicated to meeting the unique needs of gifted children. Students can explore their passions, build friendships, and find belonging as well as academic and social emotional success. Menlo Park Academy is the #1 charter elementary, #1 charter middle school, ranked #13 of all K through 5th grade Ohio public schools (niche.com). menloparkacademy.com
OUR SHEPHERD LUTHERAN SCHOOL
OSLS has been joyfully serving the community for four decades. They have a highly-educated and caring staff that engages students with innovative programs and hands-on learning while remaining dedicated to the faith formation of students in a loving, Christ-centered environment. They are a kindergarten through eighth grade Christian school housed in the Zion Lutheran Church campus and have a low teacher-student ratio resulting in a greater focus on individual student’s needs. oslpainesville.org
OUT OF THE BOX ACADEMY/THE GILDERSLEEVE SCHOOL
The first Gildersleeve School is in the North Hill neighborhood of Akron, Ohio. For generations, this neighborhood has welcomed waves of immigrants, and today’s residents come from Nepal, Myanmar, Congo and Afghanistan. After a lengthy discovery process to thoroughly understand the needs of the community, a Gildersleeve preschool was formed. The English as a Second Language (ESL) school builds on community strengths and nurtures student mental health with activities like yoga, meditation, music & sports. 1011 Gorge Blvd, Akron, 330-571-8878
ST. BARNABAS CATHOLIC SCHOOL
St. Barnabas Catholic School is a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence ranging from preschool through eighth grade. St. Barnabas is a family, fostering lifelong relationships and a spirit of loyalty and pride. They are dedicated to the spiritual, academic, social, physical and emotional development of all students. St. Barnabas offers STEM giving students valuable experiences in critical thinking, problem solving, engineering processes, creative design, and collaboration in a technology-rich environment. They offer extra-curricular activities such as athletic teams, a student-run TV station, academic teams, community service opportunities and leadership development programs. sbcatholicschool.com
ST. HILARY SCHOOL
The Future Begins Here. St. Hilary School in Fairlawn serves students in grades K-8 in a faith-based environment with a curriculum that challenges and accommodates diverse learning abilities. The average student-teacher ratio is 19:1. Special offerings include Spanish, French, Chinese, religion, art, music, physical education, technology, advanced math, and enrichment opportunities. Many extracurricular activities, as well as auxiliary, remedial, clinic, lunch, and extended care services, are available. Chromebooks, a makerspace and science lab put the school at the forefront of STEM learning. 330-867-8720, ext. 343, st-hilaryschool.org
ST. SEBASTIAN PARISH SCHOOL
St. Sebastian Parish School focuses on excellence in education and commitment to Christ. While its Christ-centered approach is its focus, their STEM designation from the state of Ohio puts the school at the forefront of education. Students participate in hands-on problem-based learning that is cross-curricular and features collaboration and critical thinking. They have the opportunity to learn about coding and 3D printing in the Technology Learning Lab and the 1:1 Chromebook program provides technology that personalizes the learning environment. The school continues to build its Catholic identity through faith education, celebration of Mass and the Sacraments and through the service of others. stsebastian.org
