Boarding Schools in Ohio

What's Up in Ohio

This page features a list of boarding schools in Ohio (OH), USA.

Ohio is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of just over 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The state’s capital and largest city is Columbus, with the Columbus metro area, Greater Cincinnati, and Greater Cleveland being the largest metropolitan areas. Ohio is bordered by Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the west, and Michigan to the northwest. Ohio is historically known as the “Buckeye State” after its Ohio buckeye trees, and Ohioans are also known as “Buckeyes”. Its state flag is the only non-rectangular flag of all the U.S. states.

Education in Ohio (OH), USA

Each Child, Our Future is the Ohio Department of Education’s shared plan for ensuring that each student is challenged, prepared, and empowered for his or her future by way of an excellent prekindergarten through grade 12 (PreK-12) education. The plan’s purpose: to lift aspirations, create hope and excitement, guide the development of state-level education policies and promote high-quality educational practices across the state.

Ohio’s education system is similar to those found in other states. At the State level, the Ohio Department of Education, which the Ohio State Board of Education oversees, governs primary and secondary educational institutions. At the municipal level, there are approximately 700 school districts statewide. 

Ohio has two types of private schools. One type is a Chartered Nonpublic School, and the other is a Non-Chartered, Non-Tax Supported School. The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) charters boarding schools on behalf of the State Board of Education, whereas other states may accredit their boarding schools. Although chartered schools must report and submit many documents to the agency, please note that ODE does not maintain student records or transcripts for any students in Ohio. Such documents are retained locally at either the boarding school or the local school district where the school is located.

Chartered nonpublic schools are private schools and boarding schools that have provided evidence of adherence to the Operating Standards for Ohio Schools and are therefore officially chartered by the State Board of Education. These boarding schools can choose to offer a religious-based curriculum. Credits and diplomas from such schools must be recognized by other Ohio chartered schools (public and nonpublic).

Non-chartered non-tax-supported schools (NCNT) are those that, because of truly held religious beliefs, choose not to be chartered by the Ohio State Board of Education. Such boarding schools are required to file a report with the Ohio Department of Education annually. The Ohio Department of Education does not have the legal authority to regulate the curriculum taught in non-chartered schools. 

To earn a high school diploma in Ohio, students must complete the courses and requirements and then choose a pathway to show that they are ready for college or a job. The boarding school counselor will give students more details about their options. Students must receive instruction in economics and financial literacy and complete at least two semesters of fine arts.

Ohio boarding schools offer their students academic excellence, as well as the possibility to explore the state’s diversity from its big-city amenities to the charm and comfort of its historic small towns. Ohio is home to some of the world’s most prestigious universities, such as Ohio State University and others. Along with excellent colleges, there are many boarding schools in the state that offer a wide range of classes and activities for children of various ages and academic levels.

Gilmour Academy View profile »

Located on a 144-acre campus in the Cleveland suburb of Gates Mill, Gilmour Academy is a coeducational Catholic school for grades K-12. With 87 faculty members and a student body of just over 700, the student-teacher ratio is 8:1, allowing children to receive large amounts of personalized attention. The school operates many different schools on campus, including a Montessori, elementary, middle, and high school. The student body is quite diverse, with 12 U.S. states and five foreign nations currently represented. For children with an interest in athletics, Gilmour sponsors 23 interscholastic teams, 11 for girls and 12 for boys.

Mount Vernon Academy

Coed for grades 9-12, Mount Vernon is affiliated with the Seventh-Day Adventist Church. One of the most popular boarding schools in Ohio, it has seen more than 7,000 students pass through its doors since being founded in 1893. Priding itself on having a well-educated and experienced faculty, most of the school’s teachers hold degrees at a Master’s level or higher. A variety of extracurricular activities are offered, such as music, art, gymnastics, and varsity sports such as baseball and basketball.

Marsh Foundation School

Designed for grades 2-12, this school’s purpose is to take students who have had past problems at other schools and help them turn their lives around for the better. Founded in 1922, it also strives to serve special education students and has a reputation for providing very specific programs of study catering to the interests of each student.

Andrews Osborne Academy View profile »

Coed for grades PK-12, this school has a 300-acre campus in Willoughby that is one of the most scenic in Ohio. Offering small classes and a college prep curriculum that includes Advanced Placement classes and extracurricular activities designed to get the attention of students, it boasts a 100 percent college acceptance rate for its students. With a student body of nearly 400 and almost 100 faculty, the ratio of 4:1 is something that attracts the attention of parents. As for activities, students can choose from sports such as tennis, soccer, and lacrosse in addition to an equestrian program that is nationally recognized.