September 18, 2026

Greetings CMSD Families, Staff, and Friends,

As we continue another exciting school year together, I want to take a moment to highlight an important observance: Attendance Awareness Month. This nationwide initiative reminds us of a simple truth: when scholars are present, engaged, and learning every day, they have greater opportunities to succeed both in school and in life.

Attendance Matters

At the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, we believe that every scholar deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential. One of the most powerful ways to support that goal is through consistent school attendance. Research continues to show that students who attend school regularly are more likely to read on grade level, perform better academically, graduate on time, and pursue meaningful career and college pathways.

Missing just two days of school each month can add up quickly. A student who misses 10 or more days during a school year is considered chronically absent, which can have a significant impact on learning and achievement. That is why attendance is not just a school responsibility. It is a shared commitment among families, educators, and our entire community.

And check out this very special “At-Ten-DANCE” challenge I had the pleasure of participating in, with the world-famous Syncopated Ladies. We’re bringing the rhythm, the energy, and the fun to remind our CMSD scholars that showing up on time, every day, keeps your future on beat.

State Report Card

I’m proud to share that CMSD continued to make progress on key academic measures on the 2025-26 Ohio State Report Card, released earlier this week. We did this while simultaneously planning and launching our Building Brighter Futures initiative, a comprehensive effort to expand educational opportunities for scholars and modernize the District's footprint.

Among the District's accomplishments were an increased graduation rate, improved college and career readiness, and stronger outcomes for several student groups. CMSD maintained its overall 2.5-star rating for the second consecutive year, with every report card category either maintaining or improving its star rating. Most notably, the District's Gap Closing rating increased from 3 stars to 4 stars this year. The District's four-year graduation rate increased by 3.1 percentage points to 79.6%, continuing its recovery toward the pre-pandemic graduation rate of 80.9% in 2020.

Fathers Walk

I had the great honor of joining fathers from across the district as they showed up, stood strong, and cheered on their scholars during Thursday's annual Fathers Walk. I was proud to be at Daniel E. Morgan PreK–8 School, where the excitement, encouragement, and positive energy were inspiring to see firsthand. Across CMSD, every school was filled with the same spirit of love, support, and community. When fathers and father figures show up, they send a powerful message to our scholars: You are valued, you are supported, and we are with you every step of the way.

Electronic Gradebook

If you're new to CMSD or haven't yet logged into the CMSD Electronic Gradebook, be sure to check your email. Your account activation information is in your email right now. Please also check your spam folder. The CMSD Electronic Gradebook allows families to stay on top of grades and attendance.

Together, we can create a culture where every day of learning matters and every scholar feels supported, welcomed, and inspired to achieve. Thank you for your ongoing partnership and for everything you do to help our scholars succeed.

Let's make this a year of strong attendance, strong engagement, and strong outcomes for every CMSD scholar.

Sincerely,

Dr. Warren G. Morgan II

Chief Executive Officer

Cleveland Metropolitan School District

Upcoming Events

PreK Teacher PD

- No School for PreK Students
- Sept. 25

Cleveland Goes to College: Family Night

- Sept. 29
- 5:00 - 8:00 PM
- Arnold Pinkney EPC

Board Business Meeting

- Sept. 29
- Starts at 6:30 PM
- Garrett Morgan High School

Looking Ahead

Oct. 9 - Fall Break - Schools Closed

Oct. 15 - 2026 State of the Schools

See full list of events

Special Observances

September

National Attendance Awareness Month

Rosh Hashanah - Sept. 11 - Sept. 13

National Hispanic American Heritage Month - Sept. 15 - Oct. 15

Yom Kippur - Sept. 20 - Sept. 21

National Food Service Employee Day - Sept. 25

HR Professional Appreciation Day - Sept. 26

October

National Disability Employment Awareness Month
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Book Month
National Physical Therapist Month

National Principal Appreciation Month

Ohio College Application Month

CMSD Electronic Gradebook

Check your student's attendance and grades using the CMSD Electronic Gradebook. My Powerhub in Powerschool is our CMSD Electronic Gradebook. Your principal or administrator has your access codes to log into the portal.

Log in now to check your scholar’s progress in real time. Get Informed, Stay Engaged! Log in Today!

Learn more about our Electronic Gradebook

Let's Talk

Have a question or concern? Use our online form through Let's Talk to get your question to the right person. Just browse by department or topic and submit your question or concern. We look forward to serving you.

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