"We take pride in being a school system that strives for quality education every day.
Our goal remains constant: to provide the best education for every student."

Chagrin Falls is one of the top-achieving school districts in the state, featured by Newsweek magazine as one of the "Best High Schools" in America.

The Chagrin Falls School District serves 1984 students in their three school locations: Gurney School (Grades K-3), The Intermediate School (Grades 4-6), and the 7-12 Campus consisting of the Middle School (Grades 7-8) and the High School (Grades 9-12). The two schools are connected, sharing, among other things, outstanding music and art facilities and an advanced technology lab, yet maintaining a separation of the student bodies. This configuration does allow 7-8 grade students to take advantage of high school classes, while still maintaining a clear identity. The school district also offers a special preschool that provides before and after school supervision, a half-day kindergarten, and a special needs preschool. The YMCA also offers an after-school-care program at Gurney School.

Chagrin Falls Schools can be thought of as an example of expectations coinciding with reality, with a community working hand-in-hand with the school system to achieve success, and where tradition counts. 

The school is located just a short distance from Chagrin Falls, one of Ohio's most scenic villages, replete with great restaurants, shops, and the famous Popcorn Shop at the corner of Mainstreet and Bell just above the falls.
 

In addition, the South Chagrin Reservation within the Cleveland Metroparks domain, is just mintues away.  The Chagrin River, designated a Scenic River in July 1979,flows through the eastern edge of South Chagrin Reservation.The forest in the reservation has many fine examples of hemlock, white oak, red oak, and shagbark hickory trees, as well as beech and sugar maples. This area is well-known for its brilliant fall colors.

"The Chagrin Falls community is an integral part of the Chagrin Falls School District," says Chagrin Falls Superintendent Dr. David Axner. "This strong partnership has led to continued excellence in the classroom and co-curricular activities."  

The partnership with Fairmount Center is a strong example of this kind of pro-active private/public partnership that will bring superior arts training to the Chagrin Falls and surrounding communities.

The school system offers a wide variety of music and art programs. Over 800 students in grades 4-12 are involved in music programs including band, jazz and concert band, string orchestra, The Women's Choir, Mixed Ensemble and Wind Ensemble. The district also has seven art teachers who offer a wide variety of classes ranging from ceramics to photography. This year the Drama and Music departments presented sell-out performances of George Washington Slept Here and Hello Dolly. In addition, 26 clubs and organizations attract student participation, ranging from Philosophy Club and Computer Club to SADD.

Once again this summer, the Fairmount Center, headed by renowned theatre director Fred Sternfeld and executive director Tom Fulton, will be bringing professional performing arts training to the school - adding to Chagrin's already superior music and other arts programming.

Additionally, the Chagrin Valley Rec Center is located on the Chagrin Falls Middle/High School Campus at 400 East Washington Street in Chagrin Falls, and offers summer swimming, tennis and a wide range of summer programs and activities to residents of the Chagrin Valley. In cooperation with the Chagrin Falls School Board, “The Rec” consists of three outdoor pools, five tennis courts, a basketball court, baseball fields, a running track, a camps program, and many unique volunteer-run classes and special events.

You can witness the small, hometown feel of the school system by looking at some of the people who work there, says Axner. Seventeen graduates of the school serve as teachers, counselors, secretaries and aides, helping to preserve the traditions that they learned as students.

"Tradition is very strong in the Chagrin Falls School District," says Axner. "Many graduates return to Chagrin Falls to raise their own children in the school district. The alumni are a very active support group and ground a very solid tradition of excellence."

The Chagrin Falls School District serves 1984 students in their three school locations: Gurney School (Grades K-3), The Intermediate School (Grades 4-6), and the 7-12 Campus consisting of the Middle School (Grades 7-8) and the High School (Grades 9-12). The two schools are connected, sharing, among other things, outstanding music and art facilities and an advanced technology lab, yet maintaining a separation of the student bodies. This configuration does allow 7-8 grade students to take advantage of high school classes, while still maintaining a clear identity, says Axner. The school district also offers a special preschool that provides before and after school supervision, a half-day kindergarten, and a special needs preschool. The YMCA also offers an after-school-care program at Gurney School.