Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) has reached an unprecedented milestone,meeting state standards and earning a 3-star rating on the Ohio State Report Card for the first time in its history.This significant accomplishment, achieved under the leadership of CEO Dr. Warren Morgan, signals a dramatic shift in the District's trajectory.
Dr. Warren Morgan, CMSD CEO: "This achievement is a testament to the incredible dedication of our educators,staff, scholars, community partners and families. This three-star rating represents a significant shift for CMSD aswe are meeting state standards for the first time ever and continue striving towards a future of excellence. This is just the beginning of our journey as we continue our charge of ensuring every scholar in our District has the opportunity to succeed and thrive."
The District’s strategic priorities and core measures will build on this momentum, signaling that while the 3-starrating is an important milestone, the District’s work is far from done. The District will celebrate the efforts of thosewho made this happen while highlighting the plans for continued growth.
Sara Elaqad, Chair of the CMSD Board of Education: "This is a proud moment for our District, and it is truly areflection of what is possible when a community comes together with a shared vision. Our Board remainsfocused on supporting the continued growth of CMSD and ensuring that we provide the resources necessary tosustain this momentum. The road ahead is promising, and this 3-star rating ‘meeting state standards’ is just thebeginning of an even brighter future for our scholars and their families.
As a strong advocate for public education and the Cleveland’s youth, Mayor Justin Bibb acknowledges theDistrict’s progress and collective efforts behind this achievement.
Mayor Justin Bibb, City of Cleveland: “This is truly an exciting time for CMSD, and I want to thank Dr. Morgan,the board, the students, families, and all the educators throughout the District for their hard work and dedicationto ensure that we deliver the high-quality education every Cleveland student deserves. This recognition highlightsthe progress we have made, and we will continue build upon that momentum to provide all students with the safeand supportive school and community environment they need to thrive.”
The District’s leadership also emphasized the importance of this moment in shifting the narrative and paving theway for a brighter future for its students through classroom instruction.
Dr. Selena Florence, CMSD Chief Academic Officer: "We’ve implemented targeted interventions to bettersupport our scholars' individual learning needs, and we’ve emphasized high-quality instruction across everyclassroom. Our 3-star rating is a direct reflection of the consistent progress we’ve made in providing equitableaccess to high-quality education for every scholar. We are more committed than ever to accelerating this growthand pushing beyond 3 stars in the years to come."
Meeting state standards is the culmination of a collective effort, including focused improvements incurriculum, student support, and equity initiatives. It signals a departure from CMSD’s previous ratings andmarks the district’s emergence as a rising star in Ohio’s education system.
Quenton Davis, Principal and President of Cleveland Council of Administrators and Supervisors(CCAS): “The amount of dedication and effort that goes into curriculum and instruction from our educatorsand school leaders is truly remarkable. It is a collective responsibility that requires everyone to worktogether with a shared focus on providing the best possible learning experiences for our scholars. I amincredibly proud of how far we’ve come, and to see that hard work reflected in our District meeting statestandards is an accomplishment we all share. Together, we’ve moved the needle, and this 3-star rating isproof of what we can achieve when we commit to excellence.”
Dr. Ray Hart, Executive Director, Council of the Great City Schools: “Congratulations to the ClevelandMetropolitan School District for this phenomenal achievement. The data clearly demonstrates thatstudents in Cleveland have made substantial progress, however, such progress did not just happen. Theskilled leadership in the District; the focused governance of the board of education; and the dedication ofthe District’s students, teachers, and staff made this happen. While there is still work to be done, theimproved student outcomes have put the District in a strong position to maintain its forward momentum.”