Most Cleveland school district students start school on Aug. 24. It marks the beginning of a year of transition for thousands of kids attending new schools after the district’s consolidation effort, which closed 18 buildings at the end of last year and merged others.
Kindergartners start on Aug. 28, and pre-K students start throughout the following week.
- School start and end times vary, and some have shifted this school year. Find them for each school here.
- Parents or caregivers who need to check their child’s enrollment can do so here or call 216-838-0000.
- Most schools will be hosting back-to-school meet-and-greet events in the afternoons and evenings on Aug. 20 and 21. Find the days and times for each school here.
- Children must be five years old on or before the first day of school to start kindergarten. The first day for CMSD kindergarten is Aug. 28.
ID badges for all students
This year, CMSD is issuing ID badges to all students in grades K-12. Those badges will double as their public library cards and RTA cards. Going forward, all students will also use them to swipe into school every morning as an added safety measure.
High schoolers will get their badges in the first couple of weeks, and all elementary school students will likely get them by the end of September, according to a recent CMSD board meeting.
CMSD student grades online
The district is still using an electronic grade book (often it is referred to as PowerSchool) where caregivers and parents can see their child’s progress, grades and communicate with teachers. Sign up to access the information from your computer or cell phone.
If caregivers and parents need help signing up for PowerSchool, they can reach out to their school or call 216-304-8473.
CMSD school transportation
The district is responsible for transporting thousands of students to school, with some riding traditional yellow schools buses, others picked up by contracted drivers or services, and some high school students taking Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority trains or buses.
Families can view their students’ bus stop and schedule starting Aug. 3 using the district bus tracker. The district is also sending all families a mailer the week of Aug. 10 with information about bus assignments and routing.
If a parent or caregiver doesn’t have this information or is having trouble logging into the district bus tracker, they should call 216-838-0000. That number is also the number to call if they have moved or enrolled their student since Aug. 3.
No cell phones in the classroom
The Ohio law that bars cell phones in the classroom is still in full effect. CMSD put policies in place to follow the law, though each school has set its own rules or methods for how to keep cell phones out of students’ hands during learning time. Some schools have special pouches for the phones, while others require they be kept in backpacks or in bins stored in a classroom.
