Cleveland Metropolitan School District

Cleveland City Schools, also known as the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, is a public school district that provides kindergarten through twelfth grade education to students residing in the city of Cleveland, Ohio. The district operates a network of elementary, middle, and high schools that deliver instructional services, extracurricular programs, and support services to the local community. The district also provides various support services to meet the diverse needs of its student population. As a municipal entity, its headquarters are located in the United States, specifically within the Cleveland metropolitan area. The district’s primary mission is to educate and prepare students for future academic and career opportunities.

The district handles substantial amounts of personal information, including student records, employee data, and guardian details, which are protected under federal privacy laws such as FERPA. This responsibility was highlighted in two notable cybersecurity incidents: a phishing attack in January 2017 that compromised employee email accounts containing sensitive data, and a ransomware attack in August 2023 that affected a small portion of its network and prompted engagement of third‑party recovery experts and law enforcement. These events underscore the district’s focus on safeguarding its information technology infrastructure while maintaining uninterrupted educational services. Cleveland City Schools is governed by an elected school board and operates as a subdivision of the local government, with no private parent or subsidiary organization. Funding for the district comes from a combination of local property taxes, state aid, and federal grants, supporting its operational and instructional budgets.