Welcome Your future awaits Cincinnati Public Schools 2021 2022 High School Guide 1 School Year Opening Doors to a World of Possibilities Hello CPS Students and Families, How to use this Guide This handy High School Guide will help you with the big Welcome to high school! decision: Which high school is best for me? Here in Cincinnati Public Cincinnati Public Schools offers 16 high schools with a variety of Schools, our high schools are programs that you can match to your interests and goals — and focused on preparing students which allow you to graduate prepared to enter college, the military for success — whether their or the workforce. paths take them to two- or Our high schools and program options are described inside. Study four-year colleges, into the this Guide with your family, and you’ll be ready to enter the online military or into the workforce. high school lottery. We’re making CPS a District of Destination — our families’ best choice for education. High School Application Lottery Period for 2021-22 Submit online applications to High School Lottery: We want our students to exceed Ohio’s rigorous graduation requirements, but we also want them graduating with clear plans January 12, 2021 through April 16, 2021 in their heads for their futures. How the online high school lottery works: • Select in order of preference, with We use an online lottery application to assign CPS students to three high schools number one being your top choice (in case your top choice high schools.* is filled). For lottery details and to see what each CPS high school offers, • The lottery assigns seats in high schools based on preference take some time to study this High School Guide as a family, order and space available. then make the important decision on which schools are the • Because lottery numbers are randomly assigned, parents or best fit. students may submit online applications any time during We welcome current CPS students, students living in the CPS the application period (January 12 through April 16, district but attending other schools, and students living outside 2021). There’s no need to be first in line. our district. See pages 7-9 for application procedures and time frames. Top 5 Things To Consider When Selecting Your High School We truly appreciate your interest in our high schools, and we look You want to set yourself up for success in high school and after forward to welcoming our incoming high school students. graduation. CPS’ high school counselors encourage you to think about Regards, these five things: 1. School’s Location and Transportation — How long is bus ride from your home; how will you get to and from school? Laura Mitchell 2. College, Career and Career-Technical Pathways Offered Superintendent — What do you want to do after you earn your high school diploma? 3. Athletics and Extracurricular Activities Offered — The following CPS high schools do not participate in the * What do you want to engage with outside of the classrooms? online High School Lottery: (thinking Advanced Placement (AP), • Oyler School – See page 43 4. Courses Offered College Credit Plus, International Baccalaureate, Fine Arts, • Lighthouse School – See page 44 languages) — Are there specific courses you’re hoping to take? • School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) – 5. School’s Start and End Times — Do you have an after-school See pages 25-26 job or other reasons to start or finish at a certain time? • Walnut Hills High School – See pages 33-34 Students Enrolled in Cincinnati Digital Academy for COVID-19 Concerns High school students who enrolled in Cincinnati Digital Academy for 2020-2021 due to COVID-19 concerns are For details about the high school lottery, guaranteed seats for 2021-22 in the high schools where they see pages 7-9 in this Guide, or visit CPS’ website: previously were enrolled; these students do not have to cps-k12.org/enroll/7-12highschool enter the high school lottery for 2021-22. The Three E’s: Enrolled, Enlisted, Employed Cincinnati Public Schools offers supportive learning environments Military Service Academies that provide rigorous curriculum and opportunities for all There are five U.S. service academies for students who want students to thrive and engage in the world around them — and to experience a military environment while getting a paid-for graduate prepared to be community leaders and world influencers. college education; participants must commit to serving in the U.S. We want our students ready to compete globally in their chosen Military after graduation. pathways — enrolled in higher education, enlisted in the military • U.S. Military Academy (Army) (or entering a military academy or ROTC program) or employed • U.S. Naval Academy in the workforce. • U.S. Air Force Academy Enrolled • U.S. Coast Guard Academy • U.S. Merchant Marine Academy A college education is in reach of all CPS graduates. Admissions criteria include: College Credit Plus • High school academic performance College Credit Plus (CCP), Ohio’s dual enrollment program, offers • Standardized test scores (SAT or ACT) th th 7 -12 -grade students opportunities to take college courses to • Athletics and extracurricular activities meet high school graduation requirements — and earn college and • Leadership experience and community involvement high school credits at the same time. (See page 1.) • A congressional letter of recommendation Advanced Placement Courses (not required for Coast Guard Academy) Advanced Placement (AP) courses are comparable to college-level ROTC work, and students may be eligible to earn college credit based The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) is a college program on scores received on AP exams. CPS offers AP courses at all high offered at more than 1,700 United States colleges and universities. schools, but AP offerings vary by school. (See page 1.) The program prepares young adults to become officers in the U.S. College Pipeline Military. CPS’ College Pipeline programs are partnerships with specific Students enrolled in ROTC receive a paid-for college education; colleges that introduce students to the campuses and degree participants must commit to serving in the U.S. Military after programs available, with the goal of enrolling the students at the graduation. Each service branch has its own ROTC. college after graduation. (See page 1.) todaysmilitary.com/education-training/rotc-programs Scholarships There are numerous scholarship opportunities reserved for Cincinnati Public Schools’ graduates at our partner colleges and universities. Employed List of CPS scholarships and details about how to apply: CPS students start exploring careers in 8th grade through job cps-k12.org/families-students/student-resources/ shadowing, mock job interviews, internships, Career Fairs and scholarships/partners career-focused learning opportunities. Career-Technical Education (CTE) Hundreds of scholarships also are available for CPS students as Through hands-on experiences in a variety of career fields, well as students from other school districts; talk to your school CPS students earn industry credentials and skills that employers counselor for help exploring all scholarship possibilities. demand in competitive career fields. (See pages 2-4.) cps-k12.org/families-students/ Employment Pipeline student-resources/scholarships Our students receive on-the-job training from local companies, which can lead to employment when the student graduates. (See page 1-4.) Enlisted Industry Credentials An industry-issued credential is a verification of a person’s Recruiters from branches of the U.S. Military often reach out to qualifications, which can lead to employment in jobs that CPS’ juniors and seniors via the mail, participate in CPS’ Career require specific skills. (See page 2-4.) Fairs and staff local recruiting offices. Find a local recruiter via the U.S. Department of Defense’s website: Defence.gov Navigating HighYour School Experience Start Here. Go Far. What’s Inside Understanding Your Opportunities ............................................................................. 1-4 Ohio Graduation Requirements Overview .............................................................. 5-6 High School Lottery Information Who should participate? Who should not participate? ........................................................ 7 How to Apply to CPS High Schools ........................................................................................ 8 Waiting Lists ........................................................................................................................... 8 Student Priority Order for Entering CPS High Schools ........................................................... 9 In-District – CPS Students – Grades 10-12 .............................................................................. 9 In-District – Non-CPS Students – Grades 7-9 ......................................................................... 9 Lottery Application Sample ................................................................................................... 45 Out-of-District Students (Open Enrollment) ........................................................................... 9 Sports and Extracurricular Activities ........................................................................... 10 Map – Locations of CPS High Schools .................................................................. 11-12 High Schools — grouped by program focus; some high schools appear more than once if the school offers multiple programs Agriculture