The Greater Dayton School is Ohio's first private PreK-8th grade school for kids from under-resourced communities in the Dayton region.
We provide student scholarships worth nearly $30K to access a world-class education.
From the very start we were determined to look at education differently – that includes our definition of success.
While most schools focus on test scores and other measures of academic achievement, we focus instead on the only metric that matters: what kinds of people our school produces.
Our goal is that - by age 27 - at least 80 percent of our alumni are … -Successful by their own definition -Physically and mentally healthy -Living lives of character and integrity -Financially independent -Established in a career.
Quick Stats (2025)
- School Type: Alternative School
- Grades: Prekindergarten-8
- Application Deadline: None / Rolling
- Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
School Overview
School Type
Grades Offered
Grades Prekindergarten-8
School Calendar
First Day of School
Fri. Aug 15, 2025
Last Day of School
Mon. May 25, 2026
Student Body
Total Students
n/a
Student Body Type
Co-ed
Tuition and Acceptance Rate
Admission Deadline
None / Rolling
Application URL
School Notes
- From the very start we were determined to look at education differently – that includes our definition of success. So while the federal government, state government, school districts and individual schools focus on test scores and other measures of academic achievement, we focus instead on the only metric that matters: what kinds of people our school produces.
- We educate students in PreK through eighth grade. But our strategy started by envisioning our alums as 27-year-olds. At that age, we have a pretty good indication of what kind of people they’re going to be long-term. (In fact, brain science tells us the frontal lobe isn’t fully developed until the age of 27.)
- And at that age we’ll conduct the final round of data-collecting in a longitudinal study that will track our students’ progress. So, what do we envision our 27-year-olds will be? Our goal is that at least 80 percent of them are …
- Successful by their own definition
- Physically and mentally healthy
- Living lives of character and integrity
- Financially independent
- Established in a career
- Once we determined the finish line, we set out creating research-based milemarkers – starting with 4-year-olds – that will ultimately create the intended outcomes and ultimately pull families out of generational poverty.
- GDS’s Core Values:
- Student-first, student-centered
- Dream big; work hard
- Ownership by everyone
- Do the right thing
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the application deadline for The Greater Dayton School?
The application deadline for The Greater Dayton School is rolling (applications are reviewed as they are received year-round).
In what neighborhood is The Greater Dayton School located?
The Greater Dayton School is located in the Downtown neighborhood of Dayton, OH. There are 1 other private schools located in Downtown.
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