There’s a lot to be gained from learning in an urban setting – proximity to museums, community service organizations and Fortune 500 companies is definitely a bonus – and the Otto Armleder School takes advantage of those things to create a unique learning environment. Having these amazing cultural and educational resources within walking distance enhances the rich academic experience students get in the classroom and makes Armleder a one-of-a-kind school.

Armleder was created in 1996 to bring CHCA’s unique blend of academic excellence and focus on Christian faith to families in downtown Cincinnati. Today, the dedicated faculty, experiential learning opportunities, cross-curricular emphasis on spiritual life and top-notch curriculum are fulfilling that vision. These things, combined with an intentional partnership in education with parents, are what enable each and every Armleder preschool through 8th grade student to soar.  Consider our second graders: as they research plants to create wikis during science and computer classes, they are sequencing the life cycle of a plant in language arts and studying specific species indigenous to Trinidad during International Week.

Our eighth graders learning about the Civil War in Social Studies write position papers on the Lincoln-Douglas debates, tour the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center only a few blocks away, complete small group research to examine the economic factors that led to the war, and actually travel to the battlefield at Gettysburg. It’s one thing to read history – it’s a whole other thing to experience it.

In a time when many urban schools have had to do away with things like art, music, PE and recess, Armleder has increased both in-school and extracurricular opportunities. Want to learn photography techniques or how to make a mean apple tart? There’s an enrichment club for that. Want to compete in an academic bowl or join a running group just for girls? There’s an after-school program for that. Abundant outreach projects encourage our students to have a servant’s heart, athletic opportunities teach them the value of teamwork, and a wide selection of fine arts options help them to discover their gifts and talents. And with just one class at each grade level, we’re really one big family.

Anyone can educate the mind; it takes a special kind of school to educate the whole child. With all these choices, it’s no wonder that the joys of learning, leading and serving have us soaring.

♦ See how our littlest eagles are flying high in SoaringStart Preschool
♦ Stroll through the historic Crosley Square Building with a virtual tour
♦ Grab a jersey and join one of our athletic teams
♦ Find out more about our extended day program