Curriculum
Chagrin Falls Exempted Village School District seeks to provide an educational experience empowering students to maximize their potential. This belief guides the decision-making that informs course and program offerings, teacher professional development, and ongoing refinement of educational opportunities for students.
Chagrin Falls School District most recently ranked sixth in Ohio and second in Northeast Ohio, with a Performance Index score of 105.5 on the 2021 Ohio Department of Education District report card. As per the 2022 US News and World Reports High School rankings, Chagrin Falls High School was placed #353 in National Rankings, #8 in Ohio, #2 In the Cleveland area, #89 of STEM High Schools across the country, and #1 of STEM High Schools within Ohio. The High School continues to have high numbers of students designated as National Merit Semi-Finalists and those who have proceeded to become National Merit Finalists. Eight students in 2022 and four students in 2021 from Chagrin Falls High School were named Finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) program. Chagrin Falls High School boasts 28 AP offerings, reflecting a myriad of content areas and interests for students, including Art, Music, and World Languages. The district has continued to grow student enrollment in these courses, while maintaining very high overall AP scores. In the 2020-21 school year, 57% of all students (general education and special education) within CFHS were enrolled in 1 or more AP courses. Additionally, CFHS offers in-perosn CCP coursework within the 7-12 Campus. Chagrin Falls School District actively participates in the EXCEL TECC program and hosts the Performing Arts Academy program on its 7-12 Campus.
Additionally, our district seeks to identify student needs across grades K-12 and address them through our Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports. Use of a myriad of programs including the Bridges Intervention program, Fundations / Just Words, LLI, and Number Worlds assist our staff in meeting the varied needs of students. Use of identified times throughout each week, during which students may seek out additional teacher support across grades K-12, including Tier 1 support in Advanced / Honors / AP courses, ensures that all student needs can be met.
The district is committed to the provision of holistic education, through the provision of Art, Music, Physical Education, World Language, and STEM programming beginning in Kindergarten through 6 for all students. Students are able to access Chinese, French, and/or Spanish across grades 7-12, various Art courses across grades 7-12, Orchestra / Band / Choir within the Intermediate School through High School, and varied Computer Science and Business courses. Students have ongoing opportunities to participate in extracurricular clubs beginning at Gurney Elementary through High School.
With over 40% of the total K-12 student population identified as gifted in one or more area(s), the district is committed to the provision of Advanced / Gifted programming. We believe that students grow at varying rates over time. Thus, our programming and collection of ongoing data helps us to match students to Advanced / Gifted programming as they show readiness, across grades 2-12.
We administer the iReady assessment to all students in grades K-8 in Reading and Math (through 8th grade) to monitor student growth throughout each school year. We also administer the PSAT 8/9 to all students in grades 8 and 9, the PSAT/NMSQT to all students in grades 10 and 11, and the SAT to all students in grade 11. Our commitment to the provision of the SAT Suite of Assessments not only best-prepares students for taking college entrance exams, but also yields critical college and career readiness information and AP Potential Data. This information assists students in maximizing their potential for success throughout high school and beyond.
Several years ago, departments worked to identify Selection Criteria for all leveled courses across grades 4-12. These sets of multiple and varied data points are transparently posted on the district website, within the Gurney, Intermediate School, and Middle School Advanced / Gifted Programming brochures, and within the CFHS Course Selection Guide to assist students and their families in determining readiness for more rigorous course offerings. The ongoing collection of data points each year ensures that student readiness is monitored and used in decision-making each year. See the flexible and responsive nature of our course trajectories here, under “Resources and Forms.”
Please feel free to contact our offices with any questions or concerns regarding curriculum and instruction.
Resources
NEW! -
CFEVS K-3 Reading Instruction, The Science of Reading and the Dyslexia Support Legislation F.A.Q.’s
Chagrin Falls EVSD New Course / Program Proposal Guidelines
2023-24 PreK-12 Student Assessment Family Overview Guide
K-12 Approved ELA Book List as of 2023-24 (Books on this list have been read and identified by district teachers and recommended for inclusion in this list and/or are a part of adopted programs used and/or offered as a choice within ELA classes.)
Chagrin Falls K-12 Capstone Research Projects
Chagrin Falls HS Capstone Research (9-12)
Chagrin Falls Advanced / Gifted Resources & Programming
Early Entrance to K / 1st Grade Guide