By type
Independent & Nonsectarian Schools in Cleveland & Northeast Ohio
Secular day schools: college-prep campuses, girls' and boys' academies, Montessori and progressive schools, and programs built for learning differences.
Funding note: State scholarships are not reserved for religious schools; a chartered independent school can take them, though tuition at the larger day schools runs well above the award.
44
Schools on this list29
Chartered nonpublic in OEDS, so a voucher can apply1
Named on DEW's 2026-27 non-chartered (NCNP) list15
Offer pre-K16
Go through grade 12$6,166
2026-27 voucher maximum for K-8 (all three programs)| Status shown | Cleveland Scholarship / EdChoice | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Chartered (listed in OEDS) | Can enroll voucher students | Ask whether the school is taking them for your child's grade this year |
| Non-chartered (on DEW's NCNP list) | Not available | Ask about the school's own aid and any SGO it works with |
| On neither state list | Not available as listed | Usually a preschool, an Amish parochial school or a very new program |
By area
Independent & Nonsectarian Schools in Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights & Beachwood
8 schools · 7 chartered
Browse →Independent & Nonsectarian Schools in Mentor, Willoughby, Painesville & Lake County
5 schools · 3 chartered
Browse →Independent & Nonsectarian Schools in Lakewood, Rocky River, Westlake & the West Shore
5 schools · 2 chartered
Browse →Independent & Nonsectarian Schools in Avon, Avon Lake, North Ridgeville & eastern Lorain County
4 schools · 1 chartered
Browse →Independent & Nonsectarian Schools in Strongsville, Brecksville, Berea & North Royalton
4 schools · 2 chartered
Browse →Independent & Nonsectarian Schools in Cleveland's West Side, Old Brooklyn & Ohio City
3 schools · 2 chartered
Browse →Independent & Nonsectarian Schools in Lyndhurst, Pepper Pike & the Chagrin Valley
3 schools · 3 chartered
Browse →Independent & Nonsectarian Schools in Medina, Brunswick, Wadsworth & Medina County
3 schools · 1 chartered
Browse →All 44 independent & nonsectarian schools
| School | Type | Area | Grades | Ohio status | Students (federal survey) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrews Osborne Academy 38588 Mentor Ave, Willoughby 44094 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Mentor, Willoughby, Painesville & Lake County | K-12 | ✓ Chartered | — |
| Avon Montessori Academy 37701 Colorado Ave C, Avon 44011 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Avon, Avon Lake, North Ridgeville & eastern Lorain County | PK-5 | Not on state lists | 22 |
| Birchwood School of Hawken 4400 W 140th St, Cleveland 44135 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Cleveland's West Side, Old Brooklyn & Ohio City | K-8 | ✓ Chartered | 231 |
| Briggs Academy 4257 W 23rd St, Cleveland 44109 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Cleveland's West Side, Old Brooklyn & Ohio City | 1 | Not on state lists | 2 |
| Cleveland Clinic Lerner School for Autism 2801 Martin Luther King Jr Dr, Cleveland 44104 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Cleveland's East Side, Midtown & University Circle | PK-12 | ✓ Chartered | 64 |
| Eleanor Gerson School 10427 Detroit Ave, Cleveland 44102 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Cleveland's West Side, Old Brooklyn & Ohio City | 7-12 | ✓ Chartered | 43 |
| Hanna Perkins School 19910 Malvern Rd, Shaker Heights 44122 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights & Beachwood | PK-2 | ✓ Chartered | 2 |
| Hathaway Brown School 19600 N Park Blvd, Shaker Heights 44122 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights & Beachwood | K-12 | ✓ Chartered | 665 |
| Hawken Lower-Middle 5000 Clubside Rd, Lyndhurst 44124 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Lyndhurst, Pepper Pike & the Chagrin Valley | K-8 | ✓ Chartered | — |
| Hawken School 12465 County Line Rd, Chesterland 44026 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Chardon, Chesterland & western Geauga County | 9-12 | ✓ Chartered | 1101 |
| Hershey Montessori 10229 Prouty Rd, Painesville 44077 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Mentor, Willoughby, Painesville & Lake County | PK-6 | ✓ Chartered | — |
| Hershey Montessori Farm School 11530 Madison Rd, Huntsburg 44046 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Middlefield, Burton & eastern Geauga County | 7-12 | ✓ Chartered | — |
| Horizon Montessori School 3175 Mayfield Rd, Cleveland Heights 44118 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights & Beachwood | PK-K | Not on state lists | 27 |
| Kindercare 3330 Medina Rd, Medina 44256 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Medina, Brunswick, Wadsworth & Medina County | K | Not on state lists | 3 |
| Lake Ridge Academy 37501 Center Ridge Rd, North Ridgeville 44039 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Avon, Avon Lake, North Ridgeville & eastern Lorain County | PK-12 | ✓ Chartered | 371 |
| Laurel School 1 Lyman Cir, Shaker Heights 44122 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights & Beachwood | K-12 | ✓ Chartered | 441 |
| Laurel School Butler Campus 7420 Fairmount Rd, Novelty 44072 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Chardon, Chesterland & western Geauga County | K-5 | ✓ Chartered | 87 |
| Lawrence School 1551 E Wallings Rd, Broadview Heights 44147 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Strongsville, Brecksville, Berea & North Royalton | 2-12 | ✓ Chartered | 296 |
| Minor Creations Creative Learning Center 5210 Northfield Rd, Maple Heights 44137 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Garfield Heights, Maple Heights & Bedford | PK-2 | Not on state lists | 21 |
| Monarch School of Bellefaire JCB 22001 Fairmount Blvd, Shaker Heights 44118 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights & Beachwood | K-12 | ✓ Chartered | — |
| Montessori Children's School 28370 Bassett Rd, Westlake 44145 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Lakewood, Rocky River, Westlake & the West Shore | K-3 | ✓ Chartered | 32 |
| Primrose School of Avon 1115 Nagel Rd, Avon 44011 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Avon, Avon Lake, North Ridgeville & eastern Lorain County | PK-K | Not on state lists | 13 |
| Primrose School of Westlake 25400 Center Ridge Rd, Westlake 44145 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Lakewood, Rocky River, Westlake & the West Shore | PK-K | Not on state lists | 8 |
| Re-Education Services 6176 Reynolds Rd, Mentor 44060 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Mentor, Willoughby, Painesville & Lake County | 2-12 | Not on state lists | 76 |
| Ruffing Montessori School 1285 Orchard Park Dr, Rocky River 44116 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Lakewood, Rocky River, Westlake & the West Shore | K-8 | ✓ Chartered | 226 |
| Ruffing Montessori School 3380 Fairmount Blvd, Cleveland Heights 44118 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights & Beachwood | K-8 | ✓ Chartered | 215 |
| STEPS Academy 4040 Tamarack Dr, Parma 44134 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Parma, Parma Heights, Brooklyn & Independence | K-12 | ✓ Chartered | 119 |
| Safely Home 121 Center Rd, Bedford 44146 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Garfield Heights, Maple Heights & Bedford | K-11 | ✓ Chartered | — |
| South Suburban Montessori 4450 Oakes Rd Bldg 7, Brecksville 44141 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Strongsville, Brecksville, Berea & North Royalton | K-8 | ✓ Chartered | 105 |
| Spectrum Growth 300 Broadway, Lorain 44052 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Lorain, Elyria, Amherst & Sheffield | K-12 | ✓ Chartered | — |
| Strongsville Montessori 16000 Foltz Pkwy, Strongsville 44149 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Strongsville, Brecksville, Berea & North Royalton | Not reported | Not on state lists | 12 |
| The Goddard School 7645 Fredle Dr, Concord Township 44077 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Mentor, Willoughby, Painesville & Lake County | PK-K | Not on state lists | 37 |
| The Goddard School - Medina 5138 Normandy Park Dr, Medina 44256 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Medina, Brunswick, Wadsworth & Medina County | K | Not on state lists | 7 |
| The Mastery School of Hawken 11025 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland 44106 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Cleveland's East Side, Midtown & University Circle | 9-12 | ✓ Chartered | 125 |
| The Nest 4949 W Snowville Rd, Brecksville 44141 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Strongsville, Brecksville, Berea & North Royalton | PK-K | Not on state lists | 4 |
| The Nest Elementary School 27386 Center Ridge Rd, Westlake 44145 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Lakewood, Rocky River, Westlake & the West Shore | PK-K | Not on state lists | 12 |
| The Nurtury 250 N Spring Grove St, Medina 44256 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Medina, Brunswick, Wadsworth & Medina County | K | ✓ Chartered | 16 |
| The Ratner School 27575 Shaker Blvd, Pepper Pike 44124 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Lyndhurst, Pepper Pike & the Chagrin Valley | PK-8 | ✓ Chartered | — |
| The Reserve School 22001 Fairmount Blvd, Shaker Heights 44118 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights & Beachwood | 8-12 | ✓ Chartered | 18 |
| The Strong Academy 22480 Hawley Rd, Wellington 44090 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Avon, Avon Lake, North Ridgeville & eastern Lorain County | PK-11 | Non-chartered (NCNP) | 7 |
| The University School 20701 Brantley Rd, Shaker Heights 44122 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Cleveland Heights, Shaker Heights & Beachwood | K-8 | ✓ Chartered | — |
| The University School - College Prep 2785 Som Center Rd, Chagrin Falls 44022 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Lyndhurst, Pepper Pike & the Chagrin Valley | 9-12 | ✓ Chartered | — |
| Westshore Montessori School 26536 Detroit Rd, Westlake 44145 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Lakewood, Rocky River, Westlake & the West Shore | PK-1 | Not on state lists | 8 |
| Willoughby Montessori Day School 5543 Som Center Rd, Willoughby 44094 | Independent & Nonsectarian Schools | Mentor, Willoughby, Painesville & Lake County | K | ✓ Chartered | 9 |
Find out which programs your child can use
Five questions, about two minutes. A tuition counselor calls back with the voucher, aid and deadlines that match your address and your child.