Want to live somewhere affordable without sacrificing the quality of your child’s education? Greater Cincinnati may be perfect for you! The city is known for its low cost of living and great schools, including some of the country’s top-rated public schools along with excellent private schools. Here’s a look at the top Cincinnati school districts and the best schools in each one.
Indian Hill Exempted Village School District | Indian Hill, OH
- Ohio School Report Card
- Enrollment: 1,900
- Number of schools: 4
- Average teacher salary: $82,200
- Teachers with a master’s degree: 91.7%
- Teacher to student ratio: 13:1
Indian Hill is frequently named the best school district in Cincinnati. This wealthy school district doesn’t score well for supporting underserved students, but it has a low enrollment, extremely educated teachers, and a low teacher to student ratio. The district offers plenty of arts and athletics programs for students including the Indian Hill High School Theatre and the Indian Hill Braves football team. Activities and clubs include everything from chess, economics, and astronomy to anime, dance, and a gay-straight alliance.
The only high school in the district, Indian Hill High School, is ranked #149 nationally with an overall score of 99/100 by US News. It’s ranked the second-best high school in Cincinnati and the 5th best in Ohio with a 98% graduation rate. 83% of students took at least one AP exam.
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About the Area
Indian Hill is the top-rated school district in Cincinnati, although it comes at a premium. The village is also the most expensive real estate market in the region and it’s the 11th richest place in the U.S. with an average household income of $338,000. Indian Hill is entirely residential but close to shopping and entertainment in nearby Kenwood and Madeira.
Mason City School District | Mason, OH
- Ohio School Report Card
- Enrollment: 10,600
- Number of schools: 5
- Average teacher salary: $83,500
- Teachers with a master’s degree: 80.5%
- Teacher to student ratio: 21:1
The Mason City Schools district serves Mason and Deerfield Township. William Mason High School is Ohio’s largest high school by enrollment and named as one of the top 500 high schools in the nation by Newsweek. The high school boasts a high college readiness rating with almost 90% of graduates going on to college. William Mason HS is ranked the 10th best high school in Ohio by US News and 7th among top high schools in Cincinnati. More than 68% of students take at least one AP exam.
The district is one of several dozen in the state to publish a “quality profile” in addition to the Department of Education’s mandated district report card. This includes a handful of other Southwest Ohio districts like Indian Hill and Loveland who surveyed residents on what factors they value that are not represented on the state’s report card. The Mason City Schools 2019 Quality Profile offers insight into the district’s facilities, leadership, and mental wellness.
About the Area
Mason is nicknamed Ohio’s Largest Playground. The city is home to 30,000 about 22 miles northeast of Cincinnati and home to attractions like Kings Island and a large retail district. It’s one of the most expensive areas of Greater Cincinnati with a median home price of $298,000.
Sycamore Community School District | Blue Ash, OH
- Ohio School Report Card
- Enrollment: 5,700
- Number of schools: 7
- Average teacher salary: $74,400
- Teachers with a master’s degree: 70.5%
- Teacher to student ratio: 16:1
Sycamore Community Schools is a fairly small district that covers parts of Hamilton County including Blue Ash, Symmes Township, Montgomery, and parts of Sycamore Township. The Ohio Department of Education regularly awards the district its excellent rating, the highest a district can earn. The district has four elementary schools, two intermediate schools, and one high school. Sycamore Community Schools boasts an inclusive and empowering learning environment for students.
Sycamore High School is ranked among the top high schools in Cincinnati, coming in 9th from US News. Overall, it’s the 28th best high school in Ohio with 58% of students taking at least one AP course and 95% of students graduating. Students can participate in theater, choir, band, and a range of athletics programs. The district’s academics program includes programs for multilingual families and the Sycamore STEAM Aviation Station, a unique classroom on wheels that teaches kids math and science at school and in their neighborhoods.
About the Area
The district primarily serves the Blue Ash area, one of Cincinnati’s inner suburbs. The region offers plenty of nearby shopping and excellent work opportunities as well as the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash campus. The median home price in Blue Ash is $287,000.
Cincinnati Public Schools | Cincinnati, OH
- Ohio School Report Card
- Enrollment: 35,000
- Number of schools: 62
- Average teacher salary: $65,900
- Teachers with a master’s degree: 66%
- Teacher to student ratio: 16:1
CPS is the district serving the City of Cincinnati and it’s Ohio’s 3rd largest school district. The district covers 91 square miles of Greater Cincinnati to include the entire city limits along with Cheviot, Golf Manor, Amberley Village, most of Silverton, and large parts of Wyoming and Fairfax.
Along with traditional public schools, Cincinnati Public Schools has several magnet schools with specialized curricula. The Academy of Multilingual Immersion Studies, for example, offers immersion learning in Spanish and English as a Second Language courses. The Academy of World Languages offers courses in Japanese, Russian, Chinese, and Arabic.
Walnut Hills High School is the top-rated school in Cincinnati and it ranks #112 nationally. This desirable Cincinnati high school boasts a 91% AP participation rate with 16% of students being economically disadvantaged. It also boasts a high college readiness score with test scores that far exceed the district and the state.
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About the Area
Cincinnati is known for its low cost of living and interesting, diverse neighborhoods like Over the Rhine and Mt. Washington. You’ll find a range of dense and walkable urban neighborhoods as well as residential communities. The median home price in Cincinnati is $190,000. Learn more about living in Cincinnati here.
Wyoming City Schools | Wyoming, OH
- Ohio School Report Card
- Enrollment: 2,000
- Number of schools: 5
- Average teacher salary: $80,100
- Teachers with a master’s degree: 74.2%
- Teacher to student ratio: 16:1
Wyoming City Schools is a small school district serving Wyoming, Ohio, a small city 13 miles north of downtown Cincinnati. For 2019/2020, the Ohio Department of Education ranked WCS #1 in the percent spent directly on classroom instruction among comparable districts. Students benefit from a small but highly personalized learning environment at WCS with arts and athletics programs. Along with a high school and middle school, WCS has three of the best elementary schools in Cincinnati.
Wyoming High School may be small, but it’s one of the best school districts in the Cincinnati area. Wyoming High is ranked 6th in Ohio and 3rd best in Greater Cincinnati with an impressive 87% AP participation rate. The school’s college curriculum breadth and readiness index are first in Ohio and highly ranked nationally.
About the Area
Wyoming is a small suburb of Cincinnati known for its renowned education and affluence. The median home price in this close-knit community is $342,000, high for Greater Cincinnati.
Best Private Schools in Cincinnati
Greater Cincinnati is home to dozens of excellent private schools. While Cincinnati private schools lean toward Catholic institutions, there are also secular schools, Jewish schools, and other denominations of Christian schools.
- Seven Hills School, with an 8:1 student-teacher ratio, is a secular pre-K to 12 school named a top STEM high school by Newsweek.
- Cincinnati Country Day School is a co-educational college prep school for pre-K to 12 in Indian Hill.
- St. Xavier High School is a private college prep high school in Finneytown with almost 1,400 enrolled students.
- Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy is a non-denominational pre-K to 12 private school named the best Christian high school in Ohio.
- Saint Ursula Academy is located in East Walnut Hills and it’s a girls Catholic college prep high school that offers French, Spanish, and Latin studies.
- Covington Latin School in Covington, Kentucky offers a classical Catholic education with an accelerated program.
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Cincinnati School Districts FAQs
What is the top-rated school district in Cincinnati?
The Indian Hill district is rated the best school district in Cincinnati and one of the top 10 in the nation. Other top-rated school districts are Mason City Schools, Sycamore Community Schools, and Wyoming City Schools.
What is the best high school in Cincinnati?
Walnut Hills High School in the Cincinnati Public Schools district is considered the best public school in Cincinnati with a high AP participation rate and college readiness score.
Does Cincinnati have good schools?
Absolutely, Cincinnati has great public schools! Greater Cincinnati has 97 ranked schools and 36% of its schools are in the top 25% nationally. The Indian Hill district is one of the top 10 districts in the U.S.
Have you chosen the right Cincinnati school district to help your children achieve their best? The next step is narrowing down your options to pick the best neighborhood then giving our friendly Cincinnati movers a call! We look forward to helping you enjoy everything Cincinnati has to offer, including top-rated public and private schools.
