Why Choose SFS

Selecting a school for your children is one of the most important decisions a parent will make. Consider the following reasons to choose St. Francis School.

Faith and Values – Your child will grow in their faith and will be encouraged to incorporate their Christian values throughout their everyday life to do the right thing. The world can be a tough place.  We intentionally arm each of our students with the faith and character to make better decisions when faced with life-altering choices.

High Academic Achievement – Your child will benefit from 130 years of excellence in providing a challenging curriculum with high academic standards and a strong commitment to faith formation.  Our teachers go the extra mile to partner with you to push your child to be his/her best.

Structure – Students thrive when expectations are clear, predictable routines are established, and good conduct is demanded.  Our school provides the structure wherein students can reach their potential.

Peacebuilding – Our students are taught explicitly peacebuilding skills that lead to successful conflict mediation by using a common language throughout our school.  Each morning, we say a peacebuilder pledge and read nominations of students who have demonstrated peacebuilding principles.

Sense of Community – We are purposefully small so that we can get to know your child as an individual.  We have a family-like atmosphere amongst our students, staff, and parents that fosters a sense of caring for one another.

Financial Aid – 100% of our students receive financial aid, often in the form of the Cleveland Scholarship Program that pays for your child’s full tuition.

If you and your child are interested in learning more about our school, please call us at 216-361-4858 or e-mail our principal, Scott Embacher, at embachers@stfranciscleveland.org.

Recently, St. Francis School was chosen as one of the Cleveland Foundations “Cleveland Schools That Are Making A Difference”. We are honored to be identified as one of the most successful schools in Cleveland. To see the full report, Click Here.

  • My name is Rhonda Fellows and I graduated from St. Francis in 1994. After St. Francis, I attended Beaumont high school and then Wittenberg University where I was a Religion major and an Urban Studies minor. One of the major things I learned at St. Francis was a love for people. I developed very meaningful relationships with the students and staff. These relationships and love for people grew in to a desire to serve others which led to me to tutor teens in college. I went on to work in a Christian non-profit and have been serving in non-profit organizations for the past 13 years. I currently live in Minneapolis, MN where I am a recruiter for YouthWorks, a summer teen and family missions organization.

    Rhonda Fellows - St. Francis Class of 1994

  • Hello my name is Detective T.J. Powell, I'm currently assigned to the Cleveland Police Gang Impact Unit. I'm a 1998 graduate of St. Francis school. During my years at St. Francis I was taught discipline, morals and values, along with the value of education and hard work. I used what I learned at St. Francis to successfully attend the well-known, all-boys college preparatory high school, Benedictine high school, in which I graduated in 2002 .While at St. Francis I was an honor student and worked hard to help maintain the good reputation that this school still has today. Now at the age of 31 yrs. old, I'm married and have two children that also attend this fabulous establishment.

    T.J. Powell - St. Francis Class of 1998

  • St. Francis was the center of our family's faith and formative life for many years. There is no question that the foundation provided by St. Francis School and the wonderful Sisters of Notre Dame continues to play a role in my own life and career, which has now spanned more than 40 years as a journalist and as an active participant in the life of our community. Every moment at St. Francis School is looked back on with fondness and deep appreciation.

    Dick Russ - Vice President, North Coast Community Homes; Former News Anchor & Reporter, WJW TV (Fox 8), WKYC TV (Channel 3), WAKR TV (TV 23 Akron); Co-Founder, Cleveland Catholic Radio AM 1260 The Rock; Co-Founder, Eastern Christian Media an EWTN TV Production Partner.