Cincinnati, Ohio – As of 2024, the 1,500 students enrolled at Dohn Community High School in Cincinnati have not been taught subjects like reading, writing, math, or history.
Recent information revealed that the charter school had to postpone its usual academic classes for the 2024/25 school year due to some unresolved issues that required clearance from state authorities before classes could proceed.
Dohn operates nine facilities in the Greater Cincinnati area. Parents choose Dohn for their children as an alternative to traditional public schools, or because their children need another opportunity to succeed academically after being expelled from other institutions.A letter went out to Dohn parents at the end of August, saying:
“As we work through some last-minute paperwork, Dohn will be experimenting with a new idea to help ease the transition into the school year.”
The delay in Dohn Community High School’s standard curriculum for the 2024/25 school year was due to last-minute approvals by Cincinnati Building and Inspections. They were resolving compliance issues with some of Dohn’s buildings and addressing problems with the school’s management company, the Cincinnati Charter School Collaborative, led by Ramone Davenport.
The school’s Board of Directors resolved these issues by severing ties with the management company on a Thursday night, deciding that Dohn leadership would take over the management responsibilities. They confirmed that all buildings now meet the necessary codes.
Despite these challenges, students have still been attending classes at Dohn’s facilities. However, instead of the traditional subjects, they have been engaged in what the school refers to as an “enrichment plan.” This includes activities focused on building friendships and developing skills, rather than the state-mandated 920 hours of academic subjects like reading, writing, and math.
Dohn’s administrative operations are based in the United Way building in Walnut Hills. The school’s COO, in a discussion with Local 12, shared that while the school is not yet cleared to start its academic subjects this year, they launched the enrichment curriculum to ensure students had a constructive environment. The academic sessions are scheduled to commence soon, having missed an initial start date of September 16. Once they begin, students will likely attend classes five days a week—a change from the previous schedule of Monday through Thursday—allowing more time for them to practice newly developed skills such as patience and adaptability.
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