Frequently Asked Questions

Cincinnati Public Schools offers families a wide range of choices through the CPS corridor model making it easier to find the right educational fit for your child. Students select their school based on the corridor they live in:  East, Central or West.

Choosing the right school for your child is an important decision. Cincinnati Public Schools offers family high-quality education choices and a variety of academic programs in each of the District’s corridors. English as a Second Language supports are offered in all of our schools through school-based ESOL teachers or itinerants. We also offer specialized language programs, such as dual language immersion, in targeted locations. Personalized education plans for limited English proficiency students are developed to meet the individual needs of multilingual students.

Click here for the CPS All Schools Guide in English and Spanish

CPS Welcome Centers connect multilingual families with supportive, equitable and streamlined enrollment and support services. They help multilingual families navigate CPS systems, connect them to resources, coordinate programs for students and families such as enrichment programs for students and adult education for parents. Furthermore, Welcome Centers help families with enrollment and with the school selection process or lottery. Please note not all welcome center sites offer all of the services listed above. Go to the MLL Welcome Center page for more details.

Interpreters are provided free of charge for school related matters either in person, video or phone. Contact your school to schedule a meeting and inform them that an interpreter is needed.

Free transportation is provided to students who live a minimum of 1 mile between the student’s home and school. Elementary school students (K-6)  ride yellow buses while middle school and high school students (7-12) are provided with a CPS Smart Card to ride Metro buses. 

Click here for more information about bus services

Click here for Transportation FAQs

Cincinnati Public Schools notifies parents by automatic calls when yellow buses are 15 minutes or more behind schedule.  (The Transportation Department can only communicate with parents/guardians through the phone number and email stored in the electronic database associated with your student, which is typically Focus)

Please make sure CPS has your correct phone numbers. Parents may list up to 3 phone numbers (home, work & cell) in Focus.

Parents can request transportation changes through the Transportation Inquiry Form, which is also available in Spanish, French and Arabic through a language menu at the top left hand corner of the online form. 

Breakfast and lunch are free for all students, except for those attending Kilgour, Hyde Park and Walnut Hills. Contact your school about meal times. 

The CPS website posts a monthly menu listing what foods will be served each day. Menus are translated in Spanish, French and Arabic. Parent Guides are also available for parents with more detailed information. Click here for Student Dining Services Parent Guides in multiple languages. 

Go to the Student Dining Services’ Menu and Meal Prices page here to view translated menus.

Cincinnati Public Schools believes it is our responsibility to serve students with respect and dignity. CPS is aware of cultures and religions that observe customs related to diet, and we know that some students have sensitivities to certain food products. 

Special Dietary Needs Medical Form needs to be completed if your child has any special dietary needs. The form is translated in multiple languages. The form can be found on the Student Dining Services website or the CPS Forms web page.

All CPS students are required to have certain shots in order to attend school.

Click here for the health and wellness list.

The Focus Parent Portal is a tool designed to enhance communication and involvement for you in your child’s education. Parents and guardians will be able to register new students, update contact information, enter school lotteries, monitor student achievement, growth, grades and test scores, complete forms and permission slips, and communicate with schools. The Focus Parent Portal is available in multiple languages.

Quick Guides are also available for parents in English, Spanish, French and Arabic. With these guides, parents can:  Create a Focus account, Access the Focus App, Link Children to Parent Focus Account, View Student School Selection, Update Student Contacts, Sign Documents in Focus and View your Child’s Assignments, Attendance and Grades.

Click here for Focus Information and Quick Guides for Parents 

CPS Parent Portal Registration

ESOL classes are available through CPS’ Aspire Program to assist adults who do not speak English as their native language. Group, individualized and computer-assisted instruction are available in:

• Reading, writing and conversational English
• American culture and traditions
• Citizenship preparation 

In addition, some local community organizations offer adult English classes for free or for a small fee.  Contact our office at 513-363-3251 or one of our Welcome Center sites for more information.

The Cincinnati Public School website posts a printable calendar online in English, Spanish, French and Arabic. You can also ask for a translated calendar at your child’s school.

CPS Annual School Calendar

We want to make sure our students and staff are safe when severe weather or extreme temperatures occur, while maximizing students' time in class. CPS may close for snow, or for extreme cold or hot temperatures.

When severe weather is predicted, parents should check the CPS website or local television or radio stations, for announcements about school closings or delays. Robocalls and/or text messages may also go out to parents in their home languages.

Yes; email, text and phone communication can be distributed in multiple languages through Focus Communication and/or through other school applications (such as Class Dojo, Talking Points or other). Contact your school if you are not getting communication in your home language. 

Typically schools post this information on their website under the Resources tab. CPS websites have language preferences at the top right corner of the screen. You can switch to Spanish, French and Arabic for translation. You can also contact your child’s school directly to get any school related information.

School hours are posted on the school’s website under the School Hours tab. You can also contact the school directly.

Schools have attendance procedures to report absences or late arrivals/early dismissals. Check with the school teacher, family coordinator or front office staff. You can also check your school’s website and go to the Contact tab. The Attendance Hotline or an online form is typically available here to report absences.  

Yes, students identified as multilingual learners have rights under federal law to ensure they can participate meaningfully and equally in educational programs. Cincinnati Public Schools’ student programs, clubs, sports  and enrichment activities are available to all students. 

Here are a few resources available to help you navigate the U.S. school system and to better equip you with important information and tools for your child:

• ODEW Family Roadmap with translated information and videos
• NCELA’s English Learner Family Toolkit for complete toolkits in English, Arabic, Chinese and Spanish. Additional EL Family Toolkit Resources are also available here.
• !Colorín Colorado! For Families - in English and Spanish only