William Rainey Harper Cleveland OH (2026 List)

About William Rainey Harper

William Rainey Harper is located in the Old Brooklyn neighborhood of Cleveland, OH, near the city's southwest side at 5515 Ira Ave., 44144. It serves grades Pre-Kindergarten through 8. Enrollment in the 2024–2025 school year is 419 students. The student-teacher ratio is 17:1, based on 17.62 students per classroom teacher. The student body is 50% male, 50% female. 37% Math proficiency 37% Reading proficiency (state testing) The school is a Cleveland Metropolitan School District IB World School with internationally minded learning, whole child development, curiosity building experiences, and PreK-8 public campus structure. William Rainey Harper is an IB-focused neighborhood school that offers families a single environment for early childhood, elementary grades and middle-grade readiness. For families close to campus, homes nearby are often listed around $144,900 giving them a clear benchmark for housing. William Rainey Harper is a CMSD choice for parents looking for the best elementary school in Ohio with an international focus versus broader Cleveland school choices.

Academic Performance

Subject Proficiency

Mathematics 37%

Reading 37%

State average proficiency is 37% in Math and 37% in Reading.

24

Full-time Teachers

17 : 1

Student-Teacher Ratio

419

Total Students

$71518

Avg. Teacher Salary

Student Demographics

White 35.8%

Asian 0.95%

Hispanic 30.79%

Black 26.73%

Two+ Races 4.77%

Native Am. 0.24%

White

35.8%

Asian

0.95%

Hispanic

30.79%

Black

26.73%

Two+ Races

4.77%

Native Am.

0.24%

Gender Distribution

Total Students: 419

50.36%

211 Female

49.64%

208 Male

Student Population

419 Students

With a student-teacher ratio of 17 : 1

Minority Enrollment

25%

Percentage of minority students

William Rainey Harper Contact Information

Address

5515 Ira Ave, Cleveland, OH 44144

View on Map

Phone

(216) 838-0000

Call Now

Website

clevelandmetroschools.org

Recent News & Updates

New Playground Name

We are so excited to announce the name of our new playground! Following a school-wide and Robinson community vote we narrowed a large list of names down to four. Since our students will be using the playground on a daily basis, we gave them the final vote! 476.....

School Timings

Regular School Hours

All Grades: 7:35 AM - 2:05 PM

Early Dismissal Days

Dismissal Time: 12:15 PM

Note: Doors open at 7:20 AM for student arrival. Please refer to the school calendar for specific early dismissal dates.

After School Activities

Information coming soon

School Session Dates

September to June

School session starts in September 1st week and ends in June 3rd week. For exact dates, please contact the school.

Remarkable Alumni

Being Updated

Map

Latest News

William Rainey Harper recently shared spring updates regarding Summer Soundtrack registration for 2026 providing families information about creative summer learning opportunities for students in grades K-3. The school continues to promote its mission of developing globally minded learners through diverse experiences and whole child development. As the academic year moves towards summer, these updates provide families with an opportunity to take a timely look at the engagement of students, summer enrichment and the school’s ongoing IB-centered identity.

FAQ

Q1. What is unique about William Rainey Harper’s model of education?

Ans. William Rainey Harper is an IB World School, with an inquiry-based approach that fosters curiosity, global awareness and whole child learning. This is implemented through daily classroom experiences.

Q2. William Rainey Harper is part of CMSD?

Ans. William Rainey Harper is operated by Cleveland Metropolitan School District, providing families with a public school option that emphasizes a specialized international learning approach.

Q3. Who would be a good fit for William Rainey Harper?

Ans. William Rainey Harper could be the choice for students who like to ask questions, explore ideas, build confidence and learn through broader global themes.

Q4. How does William Rainey Harper want parents to participate?

Ans. William Rainey Harper provides parents with school news, enrollment information, family resources, and district communication tools to keep them connected to campus life.

Q5. What kind of school culture does William Rainey Harper build?

Ans. William Rainey Harper’s “Champions of our own Success” identity supports curiosity, confidence, whole-child development and student success.

Games & Extracurricular Activities

Sports

Soccer Club Grades 1-3 | Mon/Wed 3:30-4:30pm
Basketball Grades 2-4 | Tue/Thu 3:30-4:45pm
Track & Field Grades 3-5 | Fri 3:30-5:00pm

Arts

Art Club Grades K-2 | Mon 3:00-4:00pm
Drama Club Grades 3-5 | Wed 3:30-5:00pm
Choir Grades 2-5 | Thu 3:15-4:15pm

Clubs

Chess Club Grades 2-5 | Fri 3:15-4:15pm
Garden Club All Grades | Tue 3:15-4:00pm
Robotics Club Grades 3-5 | Thu 3:30-5:00pm

Note: Schedules may change during school holidays. Please contact School for exact Schedule.

Summer Suggested Reading

Horn Book Selections

Vocabulary.com +3 Horn Book +3 What to Read to Your Kids +3

ML

Maggie Lou, Firefox

by Arnolda Dufour Bowes

PS

The Puppets of Spelhorst

by Kate DiCamillo

MLV

The Mona Lisa Vanishes

by Nicholas Day

Vocabulary.com Top Picks

Penguin Random House +10 Vocabulary.com +10 Wikipedia +10

F

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

WR

The Wild Robot

by Peter Brown

JGP

James and the Giant Peach

by Roald Dahl

Penguin Random House Features

Horn Book +2 Penguin Random House +2 The Guardian +2

SLB

The Secret Language of Birds

by Lynne Kelly

S

The Swifts: A Dictionary of Scoundrels

by Beth Lincoln

Free Robotics and Stem In-person Workshop in Your Neighbourhood for 7-14 Years Tech Enthusiasts.

Local kids are transforming ideas into real-world.

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What Parents Say