Thirteen Cleveland schools lauded for promising practices in urban education

Foundations’ report chronicles curriculum, instruction, shared vision

Release Date: 4/25/2008

The Cleveland and George Gund foundations today released a report, Cleveland Schools that are Making a Difference, which highlights 13 urban schools recognized by independent researchers for inspired leadership, thoughtful curriculum, innovative instructional practices and well-cultivated community and parental involvement.

Schools featured in the report are:

Louisa May Alcott (Cleveland Metropolitan School District – CMSD)
Citizens’ Academy (charter)
Cleveland School of the Arts (CMSD)
Benjamin Franklin (CMSD)
The Intergenerational School (charter)
Joseph Landis (CMSD)
Miles Park (CMSD)
Orchard School of Science (CMSD)
St. Francis (parochial)
St. Martin de Porres (private Catholic)
St. Thomas Aquinas (parochial)
SuccessTech (CMSD)
Urban Community School (private Catholic/Christian)

In 2007, the foundations engaged independent researchers to provide tangible evidence that quality education can be — and has been — created in a cross section of schools located in the City of Cleveland. The goal of the project was to identify, describe and share best practices that exist within Cleveland’s traditional public, private, parochial and charter schools that make a positive difference in students’ achievement.

To ensure independence and objectivity, the foundations contracted with the New York-based Institute for Student Achievement and the National Center for Restructuring Education, Schools and Teaching at Teachers College, Columbia University, to act as principal investigators. A local consulting firm, Candor LLC, provided analysis of student achievement data that was used to identify schools for this project.

All 13 schools selected for this report met several key criteria: they were operating in the 2004-05 school year; the majority of students were economically disadvantaged; and they were demonstrating progress in student achievement gains as evidenced from state report card data, value-added student achievement data, standardized test scores and graduation rates.

Researchers conducted site visits, reviewed data and interviewed students, teachers, principals and parents. They looked at six dimensions that research shows are critical factors in positively impacting student learning: shared vision; strong curriculum, quality and diverse instructional methods; use of multiple data types to drive instruction and student outcomes; presence of a nurturing, safe learning environment; and positive professional development opportunities for teachers and staff.

Dr. N. Gerry House, a nationally recognized urban education leader who currently serves as president and chief executive officer of the Institute for Student Achievement, said the report is unique for bringing together four types of schools — traditional public, private, parochial and charter — all serving the same student population. House spoke today at the Cleveland City Club, where the report was released.

“We hope that others, both within and beyond Cleveland, will learn from what these schools do,” House said.

The project evolved from the foundations’ larger strategy to help create a portfolio of new, excellent schools in Cleveland. Both the Cleveland and Gund foundations have dedicated substantial resources to support new schools in Cleveland. Foundation grants totaling $1.5 million have supported research, planning and start-up support for new schools in Cleveland, including the Cleveland School of Science and Medicine that opened in 2006, CMSD’s four single-sex elementary schools that opened in 2007 and two new science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) high schools scheduled to open this fall. The foundations granted another $1 million to open and staff the Office of New and Innovative Schools at CMSD, which will assume overall strategy and supervision of the District’s new opportunity schools, and have also supported various new Cleveland charter and private schools.

Helen W. Williams, program director for education for the Cleveland Foundation, said that while Cleveland is fortunate to have the high-performing schools highlighted in the report, the list is by no means exhaustive; there are several other schools in Cleveland that could easily be recognized for their achievements.

“This report shows that no single system or type of school — traditional public, private, parochial or charter — has a monopoly on effective education,” Williams said. “These 13 urban schools are remarkably similar in their commitment to and track record of making a significant difference in the lives of their students.

“As the report illustrates, these schools share common attributes that explain their success — quality principals, teachers, curricula and school cultures.”

Ann K. Mullin, senior program officer for The George Gund Foundation, said the intent of the study was to identify Cleveland schools that demonstrate successful outcomes for children.

“There are great schools in Cleveland,” Mullin said. “We wanted to show that Cleveland parents have some high quality options for their children: schools where children and adults feel safe; where principals and teachers and parents all work together for the benefit of their students; where students are held to high expectations and are prepared to be successful in higher education, the workplace and as contributing members of the community.”

The full report and executive summary are available on www.clevelandfoundation.org and www.gundfdn.org.

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Established in 1914, the Cleveland Foundation is the world's first community foundation and the nation’s third-largest today, with assets of $1.9 billion and 2006 grants surpassing $85 million. The foundation improves the lives of Greater Clevelanders in perpetuity by building community endowment, addressing needs through grantmaking, and providing leadership on vital issues. Currently the foundation proactively directs two-thirds of its flexible grant dollars to the community's greatest needs: economic transformation (including advanced energy and globalization), public school improvement, early childhood and youth development, neighborhoods and housing, and arts advancement.

The George Gund Foundation was established in 1952 by George Gund, former chairman of the Cleveland Trust Company. The Foundation funds programs that enhance our understanding of the physical and social environment in which we live and increase our ability to cope with its changing requirements. Grants are made quarterly in the areas of education, human services, economic and community development, environment and arts. Foundation commitments to date have totaled more than $506 million.