Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) has been awarded a three‑star overall rating by the Ohio Department of Education, an improvement from the 2.5‑star rating the district earned last year. The three‑star rating indicates the district meets the state’s academic standards in areas such as academic growth, reading and literacy.

Local educators celebrate the gain

“We’ve had over $100 million worth of cuts within the past three years,” said Clayton Adams, vice president of organizing for the Cincinnati Federation of Teachers. “The staff in this district are doing more with less, and despite all those cuts, we were able to improve our state report card, which is something we’re very proud of.” Adams added that the rating shows CPS is moving in the right direction and highlighted collaboration with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce on gifted education and career‑tech programs.

Board members and parents echo pride

Long‑time board member Eve Bolton called the report card “a big win,” noting, “I’m so thrilled. I’ve even teared up because so many people have worked so hard for this, especially our kids. The card really is set up kind of against districts like ours, so achieving this is remarkable.”

Christian Davis, a CPS parent and founder of the Cincinnati Parent Empowerment Network, said many families feel proud of the district’s progress. “This really showcases the fact that the district has been very intentional about doing some hard investing into our children’s education behind the scenes,” Davis said.

Graduation rates remain a concern

While the overall rating rose, the report card gave CPS only one star for graduation rates, signaling a need for significant improvement in that area. District officials acknowledge the challenge and say they will continue to focus on strategies that keep students on track to graduate.

Implications for the upcoming levy vote

The new ratings arrive just weeks before Cincinnati voters decide on a property‑tax levy in November. Bolton warned that if the levy is rejected, the district could lose the momentum it has built and face additional cuts that would jeopardize recent gains.

Community members and school leaders alike are urging residents to support the levy, arguing that stable funding is essential to sustain and build on the improvements reflected in the three‑star rating.

Looking ahead

District leaders remain optimistic that the rating will help rally support for continued investment in education. They plan to use the report card as evidence of the district’s resilience and commitment to academic excellence, even in the face of fiscal constraints.

Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.