What will happen to the Cleveland Metropolitan School District buildings that closed this year?

Signal Cleveland will track each building through the steps of its reuse process. The final outcome will be different for each one. Some could be repurposed by developers as housing while others could be part of land swaps or other agreements that keep them in public hands. Some might eventually be demolished. But, in every case, it will take months – or even years – for renovations to get underway and the buildings to reopen with new uses. 

Have a question about a school? Or thoughts about the process? Email franziska@signalcleveland.org.

Check your neighborhood’s school below:

Catch up on how we got here

City and school district officials have said they want the 18 former schools reused in ways that benefit their neighborhoods. Last spring, city planners held listening sessions across Cleveland to get community input. Turnout for those meetings was modest, with around 230 residents contributing in total.

Reusing old school buildings is a challenging process. When CMSD closed buildings in the past, agreements with developers and nonprofits fell through because of funding challenges.

Ohio laws governing school buildings can also make the process tricky for districts. Technically, if a district wants to sell a building that has sat empty longer than a year, it has to offer the building to a charter school first. CMSD plans to use land swaps with the city as well as sale-leaseback agreements to get many of the buildings off district books. Currently, charter schools won’t receive any of the buildings, but that could change. 

This spring, the city sought proposals for 12 buildings, while others were set aside for public uses. Now those plans are beginning to take shape. The city has announced what teams it hopes will be able to redevelop nine buildings. Over the coming months, the district and the city will begin the process of voting on some of these agreements. 

Find details on each school

Collinwood High School 

  • Address: 15210 St. Clair Ave. 

Where the school is at in the process: 

The city chose Winn Development and First Interstate through a call for proposals process to transform the historic high school. The plan is to use a land-swap agreement with CMSD to first transfer the building and surrounding land to the city. The city will then sell or transfer the property to the developers once the project’s funding has come together. But neither the school board nor city council has voted to formalize the swap yet. 

Right now, Winn Development and First Interstate plan to convert the historic high school into mixed-income senior housing. Their plans call for keeping the high school’s auditorium but potentially demolishing the gym. Read the full proposal here. 

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Tremont Montessori 

  • Address: 2409 W. 10th St. 

Where the school is at in the process: 

The city chose the development firm Sustainable Community Associates to redevelop the large school building at the center of the Tremont neighborhood. The city’s plan is to use a land-swap agreement with CMSD to first transfer the land to the city. The city will then sell or transfer the property to the developer once the project’s funding has come together. But neither the school board nor city council has voted to formalize the swap yet. 

Right now, Sustainable Community Associates plans to turn parts of the landmark building into housing. It also hopes to “dedicate portions of the ground level to community-desired spaces that deliver material benefits to residents,” like a grocery store or art space, according to its proposal. Read the full document here. 

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Former Michael R. White Building

  • Address: 1000 E. 92 St. 

Where the school is at in the process: 

The city chose Third Space Action Lab,  a Glenville-based consulting group, to take ownership of the building. The plan is to use a land-swap agreement with CMSD to first transfer the land to the city. The city will then sell or transfer the property to the developer once the project’s funding has come together. But neither the school board nor city council has voted to formalize the swap yet. 

Third Space Action Lab plans to transform the building into a community space that could include low-cost office space for local businesses and nonprofits, a community kitchen and dedicated programming for kids and teens. Read the full proposal here. 

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Charles Mooney 

  • Address: 3213 Montclair Ave. 

Where the school is at in the process: 

The city chose a local developer, MCM Co., to redevelop the building. The plan is to use a land-swap agreement with CMSD to first transfer the land to the city. The city will then sell or transfer the property to the developer once the project’s funding has come together. But neither the school board nor city council has voted to formalize the swap yet. 

MCM plans to preserve most of the school’s historic architecture but convert it into apartments “designed to respond to existing neighborhood market needs.” It also hopes to include some commercial or community uses of the building. Those spaces, the firm says, will be guided by community input. Read the full proposal here. 

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Dike School of the Arts 

  • Address: 2501 E. 61st St.

Where the school is at in the process: 

The city chose the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority to redevelop Dike. The plan is to use a land-swap agreement with CMSD to first transfer the school and surrounding land to the city. The city will then sell or transfer it to the CMHA once the project’s funding has come together. But neither the school board nor city council has voted to formalize the swap yet. 

The Housing Authority plans to potentially demolish the building as part of its greater plan to redevelop the nearby King Kennedy housing community, according to the proposal it submitted to the city. Read the full plan here. 

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Hannah Gibbons-Nottingham Elementary

  • Address: 1401 Larchmont Road 

Where the school is at in the process: 

The city chose Rehoboth Cares Community Development Center to redevelop this school. The district plans to use a sale-leaseback agreement to transfer the building to the organization. That means it plans to sell the group the building but lease some of the space back for educational use. The agreement has not yet been voted on by the school board. 

The organization, affiliated with Rehoboth Temple Community Church, is from Collinwood, where the school is located. Rehoboth plans to reuse the building with minimal renovations, according to the proposal it submitted to the city. It will use the building to offer programming including early childhood education, resources for senior and community events space. Read the full proposal here. 

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Bolton 

  • Address: 9803 Quebec Ave.

Where the school is at in the process: 

The city chose Canopy Child Advocacy Center to reuse Bolton. The district plans to use a sale-leaseback agreement to transfer the building to the organization. That means it would sell the nonprofit the building but lease some of the space back for educational use. The agreement has not yet been voted on by the school board. 

Canopy Child Advocacy Center is a local nonprofit organization serving children and families affected by child abuse and neglect. The organization hopes to use Bolton as a new headquarters for its offices and services, including  play space for kids, interview rooms and behavioral health services.  Read the full proposal here. 

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Kenneth Clement Boys Leadership Academy 

  • Address: 14311 Woodworth Road 

Where the school is at in the process: 

The city chose the Finch Group to redevelop this school building. The plan is to use a land-swap agreement with CMSD to first transfer the land to the city. The city will then sell or transfer it to the developer once the project’s funding has come together. But neither the school board nor city council has voted to formalize the swap yet. 

The Finch Group plans to transform the former boys school into senior housing, according to the proposal it submitted to the city. It plans to demolish the school building but keep the gym as a common space for residents to use. Read the full proposal here. 

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Mary Church Terrell 

  • Address: 3595 Bosworth Road

Where the school is at in the process: 

The city chose a local developer, MCM Co., to redevelop the building and surrounding property. The plan is to use a land-swap agreement with CMSD to first transfer the land to the city. The city will then sell or transfer it to the developer once the project’s funding has come together. But neither the school board nor city council has voted to formalize the swap, yet. 

MCM plans to preserve most of the school’s historic architecture but convert it into market rate and starter rental housing. It also hopes to include some community space in the building’s auditorium. The group also plans to add 12 new single-family homes onto green space that is part of the  school property. Read the full proposal here. 

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Adlai Stevenson 

  • Address: 18300 Woda Ave.

Where the school is at in the process: 

The school was included in the city’s callout to developers and other groups, but the city has not yet chosen a team to redevelop the school. It did receive at least one proposal from a charter school management organization. 

For now, Adlai Stevenson will remain under CMSD ownership while the city and district work together to determine next steps. 

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Louisa May Alcott 

  • Address: 10308 Baltic Road

Where the school is at in the process: 

Alcott was included in the city’s callout to developers and other groups, but the city has not yet chosen a team to redevelop the school. It did receive at least one proposal from a charter school management organization. 

For now, CMSD will continue to own the school, and “conversations will continue between CMSD, the City, and other relevant stakeholders to determine best use and next steps moving forward,” according to a city spokesperson. 

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Alfred A. Benesch

  • Address: 5393 Quincy Ave.

Where the school is at in the process: 

Benesch was included in the city’s callout to developers and other groups, but the city did not receive any proposals specifically for the school. 

For now, CMSD will continue to own the school, and “conversations will continue between CMSD, the City, and other relevant stakeholders to determine best use and next steps moving forward,” according to a city spokesperson. 

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New Tech West (former Brooklawn Elementary)

  • Address: 11801 Worthington Ave.

Where the school is at in the process: 

The school board, at a Sept. 29, 2026, meeting, voted to swap this school with the city. The city will use the building for emergency services. In exchange, the district will receive city property that borders a number of East Side elementary schools. The next step is a city council vote on the land swap. A piece of legislation was introduced in council on Oct. 5 and referred to committee for review. 

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Valley View 

  • Address: 17200 Valleyview Ave.

Where the school is at in the process: 

The school board voted at a Sept. 29, 2026, meeting to swap this school in the West Park neighborhood with the city. The city will use it for emergency services. In exchange, the district will receive city property that borders a number of East Side elementary schools. The next step is for city council to vote on the land swap as well. A piece of legislation was introduced in council on Oct. 5 and referred to committee for review. 

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Miles School

  • Address: 11918 Miles Ave.

Where the school is at in the process: 

The school board voted at its meeting on Sept. 29, 2026, to sell Miles to the city for use as the headquarters of the Fire and Emergency Medical Services departments. It will, through the agreement, rent back part of Miles for a “School of One” site. Next, city council will have to vote to approve the agreement as well.  

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Euclid Park 

  • Address: 17914 Euclid Ave.

Where the school is at in the process: 

At a school board meeting in April of 2026, the district identified the former elementary school as a building that would stay under CMSD ownership. The district would use it, for example, as a swing site for students during construction projects. No further information about the building has been released. 

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Charles Dickens School 

  • Address:  13013 Corlett Ave.

Where the school is at in the process: 

At a school board meeting in April of 2026, the district identified the former elementary school as a building that could be part of a sale-leaseback agreement. But Dickens was not included in the call for proposals the city released in May, and no further information about the building has been released. 

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Mary B. Martin School

  • Address: 8200 Brookline Ave.

Where the school is at in the process: 

At a school board meeting in April, the district identified the former elementary school as a building that would stay under CMSD ownership for continued use by the district. The district would use the building, for example, as a swing site for students during construction projects. No further information about the building has been released.

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Stonebrook White Montessori 

  • Address: 975 E. Boulevard.

Where the school is at in the process: 

CMSD, which closed the school in May 2026, does not own the building. The local nonprofit Montessori Development Partnerships owns it. The group has already begun to convert the school into a hub for Montessori education, including tenants like Forest City Academy and Montessori Institute of Northeast Ohio. 

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K-12 Education Reporter (she/her)
I seek to cover the ways local schools are or aren’t serving Cleveland students and their families. I’m originally from Chicago and am eager to learn — and break down — the complexities of the K-12 education system in Cleveland, using the questions and information needs of community members as my guides along the way.