Cheviot School

Cheviot School is a PK–8 elementary and middle school serving 570 students on Harrison Avenue on Cincinnati's west side, part of Cincinnati Public Schools. The district itself ranks in the 21st percentile of Ohio districts, yet Cheviot ranks 831st of 1,560 Ohio elementary schools — the 47th percentile, or 2 stars — the highest mark the school has reached in a decade and well above its own district's norm. Among the nearby CPS elementary schools, including Covedale School, Dater Montessori School, James N. Gamble Montessori Elementary School, Westwood School, and Midway School, Cheviot leads them all — and it is the only one of the group that spans PK–8.

On state tests, Cheviot beats its district in all nine tested grade-and-subject combinations and lands close to the state average overall (about 61% proficient versus roughly 62% statewide) — a notable result for a school inside a low-rated district. Third grade is the standout: 87.3% proficient in math and 83.3% in ELA, both far above state averages and above even the higher-rated Oak Hills Local schools such as Charles W Springmyer Elementary School, John Foster Dulles Elementary School, and Oakdale Elementary School. Fourth and sixth grade math are the soft spots, trailing the state by about 19–21 points, and the school shows a recurring pattern of sharp drops between third and fourth grade.

The biggest concern is attendance: 47.8% of students are chronically absent, above the district's 44.6% and roughly 21 points above the neighborhood median of about 27%, compared with 10–13% at those Oak Hills schools. The encouraging news is how well Cheviot serves students with higher needs — special education students rank in the 79th percentile (4 stars, up from the 36th percentile the prior two years) and low-income students in the 63rd, both above Cheviot's own overall rank. English language learners, at the 38th percentile, are the group to watch. Classes are relatively small, at 15.6 students per teacher.