WHY WE BUILT IT
Why City River
We believe students stand strongest when their academic skills, physical health, and moral compass are developed together. City River starts from that belief.
A school we’re building with you.
City River is new by design. That means we get to ask what a high school should look like for students today, what every student should have access to, and how academics, creativity, movement, and character can fit together in one school day. Then we build the answers together with students, families, educators, and the broader Cleveland community.
Being new means there is room to listen, experiment, learn, and evolve. Families who join City River in these first years help shape what it becomes.
Questions families ask
Why City River works this way.
How can students finish rigorous college-preparatory work before 5:00 PM?
Time to practice, revise, ask questions, and get help is built into the day. Teachers can see where a student is stuck and respond before the student leaves campus. The work stays challenging, and the longer school day gives students the support to finish most of their work at school.
Is structured work time just a study hall?
During structured work time, students complete assigned work that deepens their understanding of the material covered in class.
Does an extended day mean students sit in class longer?
No. The City River Model balances intellectual work with movement, the arts, meals, relationships, and reflection. Changing modes throughout the day helps students stay engaged and recognizes that healthy bodies and creative practice support strong minds.
Why are movement and meals part of the academic model?
Students learn best when they are nourished, active, and able to focus. City River plans to provide a healthy breakfast and scratch-cooked lunch each day. Morning movement begins at 8:00 AM, with options including volleyball, basketball, soccer, yoga, dance, strength training, and informal play-to-learn groups. These are part of how students learn to care for their bodies over time.
What does character development look like in practice?
Character is developed through the choices students make each day: how they respond to difficulty, participate in a community, repair harm, reflect, and engage with people whose experiences differ from their own. City River’s partnership with Facing History & Ourselves will help weave identity, history, ethics, and civic responsibility into school life.
What does diverse by design mean?
City River intends to bring together students across race, gender, income, religion, and neighborhood. Students should learn alongside peers who share parts of their experience and peers who do not, deepening their understanding of themselves, Cleveland, and the wider world.
How are students graded?
City River uses a traditional grading system.
What tests will students take?
City River students take traditional unit tests in their courses, along with Ohio's end-of-course exams in core subjects. We also use the PSAT and SAT to see how students' learning compares with their peers across the country, and to make sure they are ready for these exams as part of the college admissions process. Our goal is to ensure our students are on track to be college ready by graduation.
How will families hear about their student's progress?
Families receive report cards. In the fall and winter, students also lead conferences with their families and teachers to share their progress.
How do teachers know when a student needs support?
Teachers assess learning each day and every week to see where students are succeeding and where they need more support. This guides our work in class and the support we provide in small-group tutoring.
How can families learn more before applications open?
Families can join Prospective Families, attend a community conversation or admissions event, and email Admissions@CityRiverHS.org with questions. These conversations also help the founding team understand what matters most to Cleveland families.
Is City River right for you?
City River might be right for you if…
You are curious about more than one thing. You may love math and theater, soccer and science, writing and making things. You don’t want to be defined by a single strength or identity.
You embrace struggle. The discomfort of learning something new, or of pushing past what you already do well, is what it feels like to get better.
You want to learn alongside people who are different from you. Your classmates will come from many backgrounds, and each brings skills and perspectives you can learn from.
You want to build something with us. Some traditions, programs, and routines will be created alongside the first students, and you and your family will have a chance to help shape them.
Opening fall 2027 • Prospective Families
Be ready when the founding class opens.
Applications for our founding class are open. Start yours today, or join our email list for updates.