Greater Dayton School

Why Greater Dayton School was nominated

Instead of defining success by test scores, the school starts with a destination: what kind of adults its students will be at age 27 (healthy, financially independent, living with character, and successful by their own definition). The curriculum and supports are reverse-engineered from those goals. It’s Ohio’s first private non-religious school solely dedicated to students from low-income backgrounds, with admissions guided by income criteria and neighborhood school performance. Core values include putting kids’ needs and success ahead of adults’ convenience, dreaming big, shared ownership of outcomes, and doing the right thing. Students benefit from low student-teacher ratios, individualized plans, extended days, and extra help as needed. The 11-acre campus was designed with flexible learning spaces, wellness facilities, playgrounds, and community areas to make school inviting and nurturing.