In the 2024 Ohio Department of Education and Workforce report cards released on Sept. 13, Chagrin Falls Schools is once again one of Ohio's top school districts...
District Academic Distinction
In the 2024 Ohio Department of Education and Workforce report cards released on Sept. 13, Chagrin Falls Schools is once again one of Ohio’s top school districts. With a Performance Index of 111 and a five-star rating across all categories, for more than a decade, Chagrin Falls Schools’ commitment to excellence has solidified a reputation of academic distinction ranking the district as #3 in the state.
“This achievement of Chagrin Falls Schools is a testament to the efforts of our students, commitment of our teachers, support of our staff, leadership of our administrators, and collaboration of our community,” said Superintendent Jennifer Penczarski. “Every star earned recognizes the unity, passion, and excellence that define our district. This year’s results celebrate our growth and inspire us to continue to challenge our practices, creating new high-quality experiences for all of our learners.”
The district is proud to highlight these academic achievements on the State Report Card:
- Five Star Achievement: Chagrin Falls Schools is one of 68 districts in the state to earn an overall five-star rating, a distinction that reflects the district’s high standards and dedicated efforts to support all students.
- Excellence in All Components: Chagrin Falls Schools is one of only 18 districts in the state to achieve a five-star rating in all five report card components: Achievement, Progress, Gap Closing, Graduation and Early Literacy.
- PreK-12 Distinction: All schools within the district, including Gurney Elementary, Chagrin Falls Intermediate School, Chagrin Falls Middle School, and Chagrin Falls High School, earned five stars in the School Achievement component, demonstrating consistent excellence across all grade levels.
“Test scores are one of the many metrics we review to ensure that we are meeting the needs of all of our students. We have seen consistent growth in our scores over the past four years,” stated Chagrin Falls Board of Education President Lori Bendall. “This wouldn’t happen without the incredible effort by our entire learning community.”
The district’s commitment to continuous growth is deeply rooted in its community-driven Strategic Plan, which prioritizes high-quality learning experiences, student and staff well-being, and strategic resource allocation. The latest report card data validates the progress made toward these goals and serves as a valuable compass for guiding future efforts to ensure the growth and success of every student.
“Our continuous growth over the past few years shows thoughtful planning and collaboration,” said Principal of Data and Assessment Sarah Read. “The report card data provides valuable insights to the success we are seeing through our commitment to personalized learning. In the coming weeks, we will continue to analyze the data and provide the school community with more insights.”
The positive impact of the personalized learning approach is increasingly evident in the data, fostering a shared commitment to growth across all levels of the district. Educators are at the forefront of this work, remaining steadfast in their pursuit of fostering the growth of every student.
“We will continue to work hard to learn, grow, and improve the education delivery to our students and our services to students, families, and the Chagrin Falls’ community,” said Chagrin Falls Education Association President Lisa Salyers. “Furthermore, we will maintain a persistent focus on our students–all that they are, and all that they can become.”
CFHS Club Fair
The cafeteria of Chagrin Falls High School buzzed with excitement on Sept. 12 as students explored a world of possibilities at the annual Club Fair. The event, a cornerstone of the school’s extracurricular program, offered a vibrant showcase of student interests, from the arts to athletics, academics to advocacy.
The diversity of offerings is impressive. Established clubs like Art Club, Book Club, and Drama Club stood alongside newer additions such as the Pickleball Club, reflecting the evolving interests of the student body.
“I signed up for Engineering Club which is my favorite club,” said sophomore Molly Nightwine. “It’s a really fun environment and teaches you some things that core science classes never touch on. Mr. Ricci is really great. Last year we did an egg drop, made paper boats and paper airplanes. The club fair offers opportunities for all students. There are a lot more people joining this year than last year. It’s really growing.”
For many students, the fair was an eye-opening experience. “I’ve always been interested in environmental issues,” said junior Mark Thompson, “but I didn’t know we had a whole club dedicated to it until today.” He was referring to the Environmental Club, also known as Cha-Green, which saw significant interest from eco-conscious students.
The fair also highlighted the school’s commitment to academic excellence and career preparation. Clubs like Business Professionals of America and Speech & Debate offered students opportunities to hone skills crucial for their future careers.
Perhaps most inspiring was the number of student-proposed clubs on display. From the Chess Club to the Chinese Culture Club, Feminist Club and GSA, these organizations represent grassroots efforts by students to create spaces for their passions and interests.
“It’s empowering to see students taking the initiative to start their own clubs,” said Principal Amanda Rassi. “It shows real leadership and a desire to make their high school experience meaningful.”
For many freshmen, the Club Fair was a welcome introduction to high school life. “Club fair was fun,” said freshman Ace Rossi. “I found three clubs I’m pretty excited to participate in. FCA, Hacky Sack Club, and Speech and Debate. I couldn’t find a couple of clubs at first, but an upperclassman helped me find all three clubs. I’m most excited for FCA.”
“Club Fair is something everyone looks forward to every year,” said Junior JP Shaw.
“These clubs are more than just extracurricular activities,” said Rassi. “They’re where students find friends, develop new skills, and often discover passions that last a lifetime. Today’s fair was just the beginning of what promises to be an exciting year of growth and discovery for our students.”
With more than 20 clubs to choose from, ranging from the artistic to the athletic, the academic to the altruistic, Chagrin Falls High School students are poised for a year of exploration, learning and fun beyond the classroom.
Rotary Club Student of the Month
Chagrin Falls High School senior Will Stinson has been honored as the Chagrin Valley Rotary Club’s Student of the Month for September 2024. This recognition highlights Will’s exceptional academic achievements, leadership roles and commitment to community service.
Will’s academic success is evident in his extensive list of Advanced Placement and honors courses: AP Calc AB, AP Calc BC, AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, AP Statistics, AP Macroeconomics, AP Microeconomics, AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP English Language and Composition, AP Computer Science A, Honors Advanced Data Structures, AP World History, AP US History, AP Government. His dedication to learning has earned him accolades such as the Tiger of the Semester award and recognition from the Cleveland Technical Society.
Beyond the classroom, Will demonstrates strong leadership skills as the executive president of Student Council and a member of the Principal’s Advisory Council. He balances these responsibilities with his involvement in basketball, track and field, and the school’s orchestra club.
Will’s commitment to service extends well beyond the school grounds. As co-president of the H(e)arts for Guatemala Nonprofit Student Board, he has participated in two volunteer service learning trips to Guatemala. Will visited a community living in the garbage dump. Along with the student board, Will raised $40,000 to help build a community center. The center is now a place where people can have clean water, respite and get some services that are desperately needed. Locally, he serves as vice president of the Parish Council at Holy Angels Church and has volunteered as an SAT tutor and a coach at the Chagrin Tigers basketball summer camp.
Despite his busy schedule, Will has maintained a part-time job at Etalian Pizzeria for the past three years, showcasing his ability to manage multiple responsibilities effectively.
Looking ahead, Will plans to pursue a bachelor’s degree in data analytics at a university, building on his strong foundation in mathematics and computer science.
“Will is an exemplary individual whose contributions have had a profound and lasting impact on our school community,” said Principal Amanda Rassi. “I am confident that he will continue to inspire others and make meaningful contributions wherever he goes. Congratulations Will! We are so proud of you.”
The Chagrin Valley Rotary Club’s recognition of Will Stinson highlights the importance of nurturing well-rounded students who excel academically while also contributing significantly to their school and community. Will exemplifies the service and leadership qualities that the Rotary Club seeks to promote among high school students.
National Merit Recognition
Chagrin Falls High School Senior Grace Mossad is a semifinalist in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. She is one of more than 16,000 semifinalists in the 70th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Mossad will have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 6,870 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered next spring.
To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. About 95 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and approximately half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.
“This prestigious honor is a testament to Grace’s hard work, dedication and commitment to academic excellence,” said Principal Amanda Rassi. “Grace is an inspiration to all of us and we could not be more proud.”
AP Scholars
At Chagrin Falls High School, 115 students received Advanced Placement (AP) Scholar awards during the 2023-24 school year. CFHS offers 28 Advanced Placement courses. Of those, 70 were graduating seniors in the class of 2024.
“At Chagrin Falls High School, we celebrate the success of our AP Scholars, who have thrived through their personal drive and the exceptional preparation provided by our devoted teaching staff,” remarked Principal Amanda Rassi.
- 36 AP Scholarsscored a 3 or higher on at least three AP exams.
• 21 AP Scholars with Honorsscored a 3 or higher on at least four AP exams. They have a minimum AP average of 3.25.
• 50 AP Scholars with Distinction scored a 3 or higher on at least five AP exams. Have a minimum AP average of 3.5. - 7 AP Capstone Diploma Scholars earned scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research, and on 4 additional AP Exams.
- 1 AP Scholar was awarded the AP Seminar and Research Certificate by earning scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research.
The AP Capstone Diploma program helps students develop critical thinking, research, collaboration, and presentation skills that are essential to academic success. To receive the AP Capstone Diploma, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research, and on four additional AP Exams of their choice.
To receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research. Student participation in the AP Capstone program has been steadily increasing, with over 100,000 students in over 2,500 schools worldwide taking part during the 2023-24 academic year. Approximately 21,000 students earned the AP Capstone Diploma, and 11,100 students earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate.
Unlike traditional AP subject exams with a single end-of-year assessment, AP Seminar and AP Research assessments are project based and evaluate skills mastery through group projects, presentations, and individual essays completed throughout the year. Instead of focusing on one specific academic discipline, AP Seminar and AP Research are interdisciplinary: Students are encouraged to create research projects based on topics of personal interest. Students are assessed on the critical thinking, research, collaboration, time management, and presentation skills needed to complete their projects.
“Congratulations to the thousands of students who worked so hard to earn AP Capstone Diplomas and AP Seminar and Research Certificates,” said Trevor Packer, head of the Advanced Placement Program. “These students are creating the pathways for their future academic and professional careers by building highly sought-after skills in project management, presentation, collaboration, and research.”
College Board’s Advanced Placement Program (AP) gives students the opportunity to take challenging college-level courses while still in high school. Earning a score of 3 or higher on an AP exam has multiple benefits for students, including earning college credit, advanced placement in college courses, or both, saving them time and money. Research shows AP students are better prepared for and more likely to enroll and remain in college, do well in classes, and earn their degrees on time. Each exam is developed by a committee of college and university faculty and AP teachers, ensuring that AP exams align with their high standards.
