Last verified: October 2026
Which districts near Cleveland have EdChoice-designated buildings for 2026-27?
Thirteen districts in the five counties have at least one: Lorain City (15), Elyria City (8), Bedford City (7), Euclid City (7), East Cleveland City (5), Garfield Heights City (5), Maple Heights City (5), Cleveland Heights-University Heights City (4), Painesville City Local (3), Warrensville Heights City (3), Richmond Heights Local (2), Clearview Local (2), Fairport Harbor Exempted Village (1). That is 67 open buildings in all, and in Lorain City, Bedford City, East Cleveland City, Garfield Heights City, Maple Heights City and Warrensville Heights City every open building is designated.
The Cleveland Metropolitan School District does not appear on the list, because city families have the Cleveland Scholarship instead. Geauga and Medina counties have no designated buildings.
Why would a Lorain or Euclid family choose traditional EdChoice over Expansion?
Because it pays the full amount regardless of income. A two-earner family in Elyria with $220,000 of income would get a reduced Expansion award, but if their child would be assigned to a designated Elyria building, traditional EdChoice pays the full $6,166 or $8,408. Families below 450% of poverty get the same amount either way.
Either program is filed by the private school; ask the school to check designated-building eligibility first.
Does a child have to attend the designated building to qualify?
No. Eligibility follows the building the child would be assigned to for the coming year, even if the child is in private school today. DEW also qualifies siblings of last year's traditional recipients, children in foster or kinship care, and students who left a Peterson or Autism Scholarship because they no longer need services.
What happens if we move out of a designated district?
The traditional scholarship continues only if the new address is also assigned to a designated building. A family moving from Lorain to Avon, for example, would usually switch to EdChoice Expansion, and a family moving into the Cleveland district would switch to the Cleveland Scholarship.
| Traditional | Expansion | |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifies by | Assigned building, sibling or placement | Household income |
| 2026-27 maximum | $6,166 K-8 · $8,408 9-12 | $6,166 K-8 · $8,408 9-12 |
| Reduced at higher income? | No | Above 450% of poverty |
| Keeps after a move? | Only into another designated building | Anywhere in Ohio outside CMSD |