The Cleveland Metropolitan School District's recent announcement to “consolidate”, and “merge”- in effect, permanently close — four pivotal high schools — Cleveland School of Science and Medicine (CSSM), Cleveland Early College High School (CECHS), the Cleveland School of Architecture and Design (CSAD), Campus International High School (CIHS) – is troubling not just for the immediate impact on students and teachers, but for its long-term impact on Cleveland’s educational landscape.

Each of these schools offers a unique curriculum and environment designed to foster specialized learning and personal growth. Top students from across CMSD aspire to attend CSSM, CECHS, CSAD, and CIHS for their academic rigor and culture of excellence. These educational environments cannot be simply “merged” into one school without losing their distinctive identities. 

• CSSM: Consistently ranked as the #1 school in the District and Top 50 within Ohio. This school was formed with community partnerships at the Cleveland Foundation, Cleveland Clinic, University Hospitals, and Case Western Reserve University (CWRU). CSSM primes students for excellence in STEM careers, particularly in medicine. CSSM is home to multiple Joan C. Edwards Scholars — recipients of an eight-year, full-ride scholarship to CWRU and its School of Medicine.
• CECHS: Consistently ranked in Top 50 statewide, CECHS offers AP courses and provides opportunities to earn post-secondary credit at local universities, allowing students to enter college with credits.
• CSAD: Provides students with artistic talent the opportunity to connect with local artists on community projects and to connect with architecture firms for mentorship and career development.
• CIHS: Hosts the District’s only International Baccalaureate (IB) program, promotes excellence in foreign languages, and prepares students to become global citizens.

Make no mistake — the proposed “consolidation” will permanently close each of these exemplary schools and their respective programs. While the current proposal promises to maintain programs of each school within “One John Hay”, we know that the spirit of such programs will be diluted, at best. 

The consolidation will eliminate four schools — each with its principal, mission, and vision — and replace them with a single institution led by one principal and a confused, unfocused mission. The consolidation will increase class sizes, reduce individualization learning, diminish educational quality, and jeopardize long-standing community partnerships that have been integral to each school and student success.

Current juniors who have invested their hopes, applications, entrance exams, and three years of study at CSSM, CECHS, CSAD, and CIHS will receive a diploma from a school they do not recognize — one that does not honor their unique goals or experiences. Scholars at CSSM, CECHS, CSAD, and CIHS should not be punished for the financial challenges of CMSD.

For the past two decades, CSSM, CECHS, CSAD, and CIHS have retained high achieving students within CMSD. At a time when enrollment is already at record lows, this proposal threatens to drive even more students away. High achieving students who aspired to attend these schools will likely turn to schools outside of our district- such as private and charter schools, which unfortunately, may better be equipped to support high achieving students than a “John Hay High School” lacking vision, intention, or meaning. This move risks worsening Cleveland’s ongoing brain drain. 

CSSM, CECHS, CSAD, and CIHS are more than schools — they are cultural and educational cornerstones of our community. They provide a beacon of hope and an avenue for countless students to realize their ambitions within supportive, focused educational environments. Losing them signifies a major setback in nurturing the next generation of leaders, doctors, scientists, artists, and global citizens.

We — concerned alumni, students, families, and community members — urge the Cleveland Metropolitan School District to reconsider this proposal. The legacy of excellence established by CSSM, CECHS, CSAD, and CIHS cannot be replicated within a single, under-supported campus. We stand together to protect the futures of our students, mentees, friends, siblings, cousins, and community members — all of whom deserve access to a high-quality education. It is imperative that we continue to strengthen, not unravel, the educational fabric of Cleveland.

Join us in sending a clear message to the school board, and our recently re-elected Mayor: by preserving CSSM, CECHS, CSAD, and CIHS, we can ensure that CMSD students continue to have access to exceptional, tailored educational opportunities WITHIN our district. 

Please sign this petition to prevent the closure of these invaluable schools and safeguard the future of our students' education.