Rocky River City Schools

Excellence, Innovation, and Partnerships That Power Student Success

Strategic Collaboration, Technology Readiness, and a Strong Culture of Care Position a District Built for the Future

In Rocky River, Ohio, public education is more than an institution—it is a point of pride. Rocky River City Schools has long been recognized for tradition and excellence, but what defines the district today is not simply its past performance. It is the intentional way it is preparing students to thrive in a rapidly changing world, supported by strong community partnerships, modern learning environments, and a district culture that places student success at the center of every decision.

Superintendent Adham Schirg, in his first year leading the district, describes Rocky River as a community rooted in “deep pride, tradition, and excellence,” and one committed to ensuring students leave school equipped for challenges both locally and globally. That commitment shows up in alignment—alignment between values, instruction, facilities, technology, and partnerships that extend learning well beyond the classroom.

A District Strengthened by Alignment and Community Support

Schirg emphasizes that organizational alignment is essential in education. Facilities must be adaptable, technology must be purposeful, and instruction must be guided by clear values. Achieving that level of readiness, he says, requires a values-based organization that is supported by strategic partnerships.

Rocky River benefits from a strong ecosystem of support, including the Rocky River Education Foundation, Athletics and Activities Boosters, and Music Backers. These partnerships help deliver exceptional student opportunities both inside and outside the classroom, enhancing programming, activities, and the overall student experience.

Economic Partnerships That Connect Students to Opportunity

As a business-focused community, Rocky River recognizes the value of connecting education to the broader economy. The district maintains a strong relationship with the Rocky River Chamber of Commerce, and its president, David Lipinski, has been a key partner in welcoming new staff and strengthening ongoing collaboration.

One of the district’s major initiatives moving forward is the formation of a Rocky River City Schools Business Advisory Council. This new council, designed in partnership with the Chamber, will bring together local business leaders, representatives from Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C), and the West Shore Career-Technical School to help shape a three-pronged approach to school-business collaboration.

The council’s focus will include education and advocacy, work-based learning opportunities, and mentorship—creating a structured way for students to engage with professionals, explore career paths earlier, and build real-world context for what they are learning in school.

A Culture of Care and Layered Support Systems

When asked about social-emotional support, Schirg frames the district’s approach as school cultural first, program second. Student wellbeing begins with trusting relationships with adults throughout the system, including bus drivers, food service professionals, custodians, teachers, and administrators. The goal is to create a caring environment where students feel known, valued, and supported.

Each building is staffed with licensed school counselors, and the district also partners with McKeon counselors, who provide clinical support inside school buildings. That layered model ensures students can access both traditional counseling support and deeper clinical resources when needed.

For staff, the district emphasizes organizational culture as the primary foundation of support. Schirg notes that teachers and support staff perform best when they feel respected, heard, and included in the direction of the school system. When challenges arise, the district’s approach is collaborative and solutions-oriented, ensuring that staff are supported so they can continue supporting students.

Technology Infrastructure with a Clear Instructional Purpose

Rocky River’s technology strategy begins with infrastructure and hardware aligned to instructional needs. The district supports learning environments with a range of devices and tools depending on classroom requirements, including PCs, Macs, and interactive CleverTouch screens that function as large-format instructional hubs.

Those tools are supported by learning management systems such as Canvas, allowing teachers to connect with students inside and outside of traditional classroom settings. The intention, Schirg notes, is to improve communication, collaboration, and creativity while ensuring technology supports instruction rather than replacing it.

A Serious Commitment to AI and Future Readiness

Rocky River is leaning into artificial intelligence not as a trend, but as a strategic readiness focus. In partnership with the Rocky River Education Foundation, the district is launching a deep exploration of generative AI and its implications for teaching, learning, ethics, and student outcomes.

One of the district’s most notable initiatives is a partnership with the University of Pennsylvania, which will provide graduate-level learning opportunities for 20 staff members focused specifically on generative AI. The district’s intent is to build internal capacity—train a core group deeply, then have those staff members bring knowledge back to their buildings and departments to support broader implementation and understanding.

Rocky River is already ahead of many districts in this space. The district offers a machine learning course at the high school level, positioning students not only as AI users, but as early learners of the frameworks that power modern technology. The district’s leadership views AI as a tool that can expand thinking, act as a thought partner, and help students produce more robust work—while ensuring human creativity, ethics, and critical thinking remain at the center.

Career Pathways and Expanded Access to Technical Programs

Rocky River continues to strengthen college and career readiness pathways through partnerships and expanded access to credential-linked opportunities. West Shore Career-Technical School has introduced a new MEMS program—microprocessor and micro-robotic technology training—providing students with access to advanced, state-of-the-art instruction aligned with modern manufacturing and engineering applications.

In addition, the district is expanding its partnership with Tri-C by adding two transferable business pathway courses next year. These courses are designed to serve as gateway learning opportunities for a broad range of students, whether they intend to pursue immediate employment, community college pathways, or continued higher education.

Capital Planning That Keeps Facilities Ready for Learning

Rocky River has developed a five-year capital improvement plan designed to maintain high-performing learning environments through routine maintenance and strategic upgrades. The plan addresses core infrastructure such as HVAC systems and building mechanics, along with broader facility enhancements that support student programming.

The plan also includes investments in spaces beyond the classroom, such as stadium renovations designed to ensure safe, modern playing surfaces for students. Schirg notes that the capital plan is intended to be a living document, capable of adapting to unexpected needs while keeping the district proactive rather than reactive.

Over time, the capital plan will feed into a longer-term master facilities planning process, ensuring the district remains ready not just for the next five years, but for the next several decades.

Student Achievement Across Academics, Athletics, and the Arts

Rocky River’s story is not only about systems—it is about students. The district offers a wide range of activities and programs that allow students to pursue passions beyond the classroom. Athletics and performing arts remain major sources of pride, and the district continues to earn recognition across multiple areas.

In athletics, Rocky River football reached its first regional final in OHSAA playoff history during its 109th season, while girls soccer captured a district title and advanced to a regional final. The district continues to celebrate both team achievements and individual student accolades.

In the performing arts, Rocky River students consistently demonstrate strength across ensembles and productions. The district’s musical earned multiple Northeast Ohio Dazzle Awards, reinforcing the depth of student talent and the quality of programming that supports it.

Programs like West Shore Young Leaders further reflect Rocky River’s commitment to student leadership and real-world readiness, giving students an opportunity to compete, collaborate, and build skills tied directly to future professional environments.

Looking Ahead: Relationships, Capacity Building, and Long-Term Readiness

As Rocky River City Schools look toward 2026 and into early 2027, priorities center on strengthening stakeholder relationships, expanding strategic partnerships, and building internal capacity for emerging technology integration. With a leadership transition underway and an ambitious set of initiatives advancing simultaneously, the district is focused on maintaining alignment and sustaining the organizational culture that supports high outcomes.

Schirg also notes the importance of future staffing pipelines. As experienced educators across Ohio approach retirement, districts must be prepared to recruit, retain, and develop the next generation of teachers and support staff. Rocky River intends to be proactive—ensuring it remains positioned to deliver the excellence its community expects.

In Rocky River, excellence is not treated as a static achievement. It is an active commitment—supported by

partnerships, powered by innovation, and guided by a culture that places student success at the center of everything.

AT A GLANCE

Who: Rocky River City Schools

What: A school district connected to the community and committed to student excellence

Where: Rocky River, Ohio

Website: www.rrcs.org