Welcome to the West Geauga School District. We appreciate your interest in learning more about your public schools and the many opportunities that are available to you and to your children. This introductory information is designed to answer many of your questions, but feel free to contact us if you would like additional information at (440) 729-5900 or www.westg.org.

Mission Statement

The mission of the West Geauga Local Schools is to help students reach their academic and career potential and pursue high ethical standards. To achieve this, we blend traditional practices with proven educational innovations, including technology, in an effort to achieve and maintain a standard of excellence.

WEST GEAUGA LOCAL SCHOOLS

THE COMMUNITY

Covering a 54 square mile area, the West Geauga School District is comprised of Chester and Russell townships, as well as small segments of Munson and Chagrin. A rural residential suburb of Cleveland, the combined population of the communities that make up our district is approximately 25,000. Our community offers a warm hometown atmosphere while still being very accessible to the nearby metropolitan center.
The West Geauga School District is known throughout the state for the quality of its educational programs. Because of this, strong support is encouraged and given to the schools by our community.

THE SCHOOL DISTRICT

West Geauga Local Schools has earned an "Excellent with Distinction" rating from the Ohio Department of Education on the State Report Card for the 2009-2010 school year. This is the 10th consecutive year that West Geauga has earned the highest ranking by the Ohio Department of Education.

The West Geauga Schools offer an excellent educational program to all children who enter the district. Our mission is to facilitate the development of each student in order that he or she may reach academic and ethical excellence. To accomplish this, we utilize and continually develop our curriculum to encourage students to think independently and critically.

Approximately 2,400 students attend two elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. Both the high school and middle school are fully accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Approximately 90 percent of our high school graduates elect to continue their education; most pursue four-year degrees.

The West Geauga School District offers an instructional program developed to meet the needs of all the district's students. In order to keep current, each course of study, K-12, is subject to regular review and revision under the leadership of the district’s curriculum coordinator.

Students receive a full complement of classes including English, mathematics, science, social studies, reading, language arts, music, physical education and art in grades K-12; and living skills, vocational programs, and computer and keyboarding classes in grades 4-12. The curriculum encourages students to think independently and critically.

Opportunities for students with special needs include in-house programs for the gifted and talented, the multi-disabled, the developmentally disabled, the specific learning disabled and the severe behavioral disabled.

The entire program, K-12, is rated highly by parents, community and surrounding districts for its rigor in English, science and mathematics. Evidence of the success of the West Geauga program can be seen in the awards and plaudits our students and faculty receive.

Among these awards of recognition at the state level or higher for the 2009-2010 school year are:

LINDSEY ELEMENTARY

A student’s artwork is selected for Young People’s Art Exhibition (YAPE) at Rhodes State Office Tower– state

WESTWOOD ELEMENTARY

Artwork by two students is selected for Youth Art Month Art Exhibition at STRS building- state

WEST GEAUGA MIDDLE SCHOOL

Destination ImagiNation – team places 5th in global final

Power of the Pen state qualifiers – four students

One student's artwork is selected for Youth Art Month Art Exhibition at STRS building- st

Two students’ artwork is selected for Young People’s Art Exhibition (YAPE) at Rhodes State Office Tower – state

Youth State Wrestling Tournament qualifiers – two students and 5th place individual winner

State Wrestling Tournament qualifiers – seven students

WEST GEAUGA HIGH SCHOOL

ACT perfect score – one student

American Association of Physics Teachers photography contest honorable mention – one student

American Junior Academy of Science (AJAS) Honorary Fellow – one student

Destination ImagiNation – one team places 10th in state, another team places 1st in global finals

Environmental Education Council of Ohio (EECO) Outstanding Organization Award – six students

Green Youth School national contest winner – six students

Intel International Science and Engineering Fair national qualifier – one student

League of Ohio Sportsmen Youth Conservationist of the Year - four students

Le Grand Concours (National French Contest) 8th in nation, 7th in Ohio – one student

Mayfield Excel Technical Education Career Consortium – one student (Medical Technologies program) selected for the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine; one student (Environmental Education program) - member of 3rd place team finish in the National Junior Horticulture Contest; four students (Culinary Arts program) - members of the team that placed 4th at the Gordon Food Service ProStart Invitational

National Financial Literacy Challenge top 20% nationwide – seven students

National Latin Exam – two students earn perfect scores

National Merit Scholarship Program Finalists – two students

National Merit Scholarship Program Commended Scholars – two students

Ohio Environmental Council Sarah J. Miekle Youth and Education Award – four students

Ohio Jr. Science and Humanities Symposium first place – one student

PIANO/OHIO third place winner – one student

State Science Day qualifiers – two students

Fencing Club team state qualifier- one student places 3rd in foil, one student places 6th in saber, one student places 8th in epee

Football - This Week in Football magazine McDonald’s McScholar Athlete – one student

Football - varsity team state playoff qualifiers

Girls’ soccer - National Soccer Coaches Association All Region – one student

Girls’ soccer team - Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association ALL-OHIO Academic Honors

Wrestling - Division II State Wrestling Tournament - two state qualifiers

DISTRICTWIDE

West Geauga Board of Education member appointed to the Ohio School Boards Association

West Geauga Local Schools – State Auditor Making Your Tax Dollars Count Award

Director of Communications - National School Public Relations Association/Ohio Mark of Excellence Best of the Best state award for outstanding photography, three Mark of Distinction awards for writing and photography, three Mark of Excellence awards for photography

West Geauga High School art teacher - 30-year Circa Recognition Award, Ohio Art Education Association Circa Honor Society inductee

West Geauga High School and high school science department teachers - Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Youth Science Opportunities

West Geauga High School science department teachers - Intel Schools of Distinction Awards finalist for innovative science programs

West Geauga High School science teacher - Environmental Education Council of Ohio (EECO) Environmental Educator of the Year award

West Geauga Middle School health/physical education teacher - National USSSA Softball Hall of Fame inductee