Frequently Asked Questions

For Families about School Mergers

We have prepared this FAQ for parents and guardians who want to apply for re-enrollment at the K-4 and 5-8 merged schools at the Woodside campus for the 2022-23 school year.

Questions about the Student Re-enrollment Lottery

What is the re-enrollment lottery and how does it work?

Ohio state law requires that we hold a lottery for all grades who have more students who apply than there are spots available. If you want your child to be included in the lottery for the new campus, you must complete a re-enrollment application online (click here) by Friday, February 11th at 5:00 pm. If you need assistance in completing your application, please contact our enrollment hotline at 216-367-5720.

We will conduct the lottery on Friday, February 11th at 6:00 PM. All families will be notified of the lottery results on Monday, February 14th.

 

Do I have to attend the lottery in person?

You are not required to attend, and attendance will not impact the outcome of the lottery. The lottery is open to the public and you are welcome to attend. It will be held at our E Prep/Village Prep campus at 1417 East 36th Street. 

 

To enter the E Prep/Village Prep’s campus by car, please turn onto E36th St. (one way off of Superior Ave), and turn right at the first driveway by the security guard into the Tyler Village complex and then bear left. We ask that you park behind the gymnasium and enter via the rear door (we will have signs posted). 

The lottery is open to the public and you are welcome to attend. It will be held at our E Prep/Village Prep campus at 1417 East 36th Street.

To enter the E Prep/Village Prep’s campus by car, please turn onto E36th St. (one way off of Superior Ave), and turn right at the first driveway by the security guard into the Tyler Village complex and then bear left. We ask that you park behind the gymnasium and enter via the rear door (we will have signs posted).

Are students admitted on a first-come, first-serve basis to the newly merged schools?

No, students will not be admitted on a first-come, first-serve basis. We are accepting applications for re-enrollment through Friday, February 11th at 5:00 pm. If we receive fewer student applicants than spaces are available, all students will be admitted. If we receive more student applicants than spaces available, students will be admitted through a lottery.

 

Do siblings of alumni receive preference in the lottery for the newly merged schools? What about families who have been at the school since Pre-K?

If we have more student applicants than spaces available, students will be admitted through a lottery. Siblings of admitted students will be given preference in the lottery, but students who have attended since Pre-K or kindergarten will not be given preference.

What suggestions do you have for families who do not get in after the lottery?

We are committed to finding a way to keep your child enrolled at a Breakthrough school. If your child is not admitted through the lottery, the staff of Breakthrough’s student enrollment team will work with you to apply to enroll at another Breakthrough school.

I am having trouble with the enrollment portal. What should I do?

If you are having trouble with the enrollment portal, please call our student enrollment office at 216-367-5720.

Questions about School Leadership and School and Classroom Size

Who will be the principals of the newly merged school?

We have exceptional school principals who will lead both the K-4 and 5-8 schools at Woodside in 2022-23.

Agnes Aleobua will become the principal of the combined elementary (K-4) school. Ms. Aleobua has led CAE since 2020 and brings ten years of experience as a principal.

Sydney Gruhin will lead the combined middle (5-8) school. Mrs. Gruhin is the founding principal of CLA, and has been a stellar leader of the school for a decade.

How many students will be in a class at the newly merged schools? 

Your child will continue to receive a personalized education at the newly merged schools. The average class size at the newly merged school at Woodside will be 24-27 students per class. This class size is consistent with the average class size across all Breakthrough schools.    

How many students does the Woodside building hold?

The school building at Woodside can hold approximately 800 students. We have experience at Breakthrough of running high-quality schools with this number of enrolled students.

How many open seats are there for each grade at the newly merged schools?

We are working out these details in the coming weeks. We will work to accommodate as many students as possible at the Woodside campus.

Questions about School Curriculum and Safety

How do we ensure the newly merged schools will create a physically safe environment for the children moving over from Hampden to Woodside?

From day one, we will foster a school environment where students feel emotionally and physically safe. Our teachers will emphasize community building and social and emotional learning.

How will you ensure that students from two school communities come together?

Our goal is to create a safe, supportive, and welcoming school environment for all scholars. We will have rituals and routines to allow our entire school community to come together and build relationships. Students will play an active role in creating the culture of the new school.

How do we maintain Covid-19 safety/social distancing in the merged schools?

Our highest priority is the safety of our staff and students. We will have protocols in place to prevent the spread of Covid-19 at all of the schools. All students must wear masks and are strongly encouraged to maintain 3 feet social distance. All of our schools have advanced air filtering and circulation systems.

How will you ensure the curriculum carries over from the current to merged schools?

All Breakthrough schools use the same college-prep curriculum. Your child will be taught the same material at the newly merged school as they are being taught in their current school. It will be a seamless academic transition for the students.