Onaway Elementary School

3115 Woodbury Road

School District

Shaker Heights City
Grade

PK, K-4
Teacher/Student Ratio

1:11
Type

public

School Map for Shaker Heights City School District

GreatSchools Rating

The school rating calculation is based on four ratings: the Student Progress Rating or Academic Progress Rating, College Readiness Rating, Equity Rating, and Test Score Rating each designed to show different facets of school success. Learn more about GreatSchools Ratings

Reviews

Submitted by parent on April 11, 2024

My child is a current student at Onaway. It has been an outstanding experience. We moved from another school last year and I’ve been blown away by the quality of the teachers. He has continued to improve academically but most of all his social skills and empathy for others has blossomed at Onaway. They have truly created a kind, inclusive community for the kids. It’s a wonderful place.
Submitted by parent on June 19, 2022

I had to remove my child from this school for the 2021-2022 school year. My child came home twice with physical injury which was not shared with me at pick up. After investigating I found my child’s injuries were not taken seriously. Multiple staff admit policy was not followed which included sending child to nurse and contacting parent. My son informed me of his injuries as soon as we got home. The second and last incident was the worse as my child informed two staff multiple times of pain he was experiencing and was told to ‘tell mom when you get home”. My son was in pain the entire time he was in school. I was devastated by the level of neglect and immediately withdrew my child. I only received apologies but no information regarding why and how the policies were not followed. Please understand the staff could fully explain the policy to me but why they did not follow for my child is beyond my understanding. To add insult to injury a staff member raved about the immediate response of teachers when a child has even a small injury. Then why was my child neglected ‘twice’. I immediately went back to home schooling and using other forms for socializing. My son did not learn much while there but that was not the goal anyway. Because we home schooled he was ahead of other children. The school created educational and developmental goals during parent/teacher meeting. Unfortunately the action steps were not followed by staff evidenced by my child’s explanation of what was done each day and by me evaluation of his skills. Luckily I continued working with him at home on the steps discussed.Very disappointed.
Submitted by parent on July 09, 2015

Onaway was a great school for my 3 children but unfortunately we are moving but I loved some of the teachers here I wish this school nothing but the best the teachers and special Ed teachers were awesome some of them keep it up Onaway staff.
Submitted by parent on April 17, 2014

I love this school since I moved here back in 2010 I always been a parent that is involved with my children and their education love the special ed teacher and the school teacher and principal I recommend this school it's not the school or teachers but if more parents were involved in their child education we wouldn't have as much problems.
Submitted by parent on November 09, 2011

We consider ourselves fortunate to have such a wonderful school and just am importantly school community so close to our home. Our experience with teachers had been positive. They are supportive of our son and foster his natural desire for knowledge. The school support staff is like family to the students and parent involvement is amazing. When faced with options for relocation, we hesitate because we hate the thought of leaving Onaway.
Submitted by parent on November 08, 2011

For a inner ring suburb with a mix of social classes, the school has a very small and close knit feel. The teachers and staff work well together and focus on the big picture. Because the the majority of the school's children walk to school, there is a lot of social interaction both before and after school - this allows both parents to socialize and plan, and kids to play with their "community". Most of the teachers (and principal) live in the city (and their children go to the city's schools), so they are seen around town and truly want all the schools to cooperate and do well.
Submitted by parent on June 23, 2011

We sent our daughter there for kindergarten and put her in a private school the next year. This was very disappointing since we can see Onaway from our driveway. However, she ended the year being able to read LESS than she could when she started. Also, we audited the class two times through the year and were shocked at the behavior of the children and the staff's inability to control them. We felt bad sending our child there every day.
Submitted by parent on February 25, 2011

I have a Kindergartner and a third grader at Onaway who are both receiving an excellent education. We moved here from out of state in the middle of last year, and our daughter's transition was made seamless. The principal, Dr. Cowan, is a very hands on and enthusiastic administrator. Not only are my children learning the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic, but they are learning art, music, Chinese, physical education as well as life lessons obtained in this ethnically and socioeconomically diverse environment. Onaway is currently in the process of integrating the Internationaly Baccalaureate program, the goal of which is to "help develop the intellectual, personal, emotional and social skills to live, learn and work in a rapidly globalizing world." The atmosphere at the school is nurturing and fun and the children genuinely seem to enjoy their school and each other.
Submitted by parent on January 21, 2011

I guess, it's about time someone put in a word for Onaway again, since the last review comment was in 2007. We have nothing to say but good about Onaway school. Our daughter started in Kindergarten knowing her letters, but not how to read at all. She is half-way through kindergarten now and has not only learned to read easy books, but is being taught elements of social, environmental, political (unbiased), historical, and art studies as well. She is getting an education that will, if it stays this way, result in a well-rounded student of the world. And who can ask for more!