Original Research by School Decision on Rising Stars at Ezzard Charles
Rising Stars at Ezzard Charles is a public preschool program in Cincinnati serving only pre-K students. The school is small, with enrollment concentrated entirely in the pre-K classroom.
The student body is predominantly Black, with nearly all students identifying as Black or African American; the remaining few students represent Hispanic, white, and multiracial backgrounds. Data on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility and special populations such as students with IEPs or English learners were not reported for this school.
Because the school serves only pre-K, it does not participate in state academic assessments, has no graduation rate, and sits outside the measures used to compare schools within Hamilton County. The absence of these metrics reflects the early-childhood focus of the program rather than any gap in reporting.
The school is part of Cincinnati Public Schools, a district that has undergone significant shifts in recent years. Most notably, voters renewed the district's emergency operating levy in November 2025, securing funding through the next decade without a property tax increase. That levy dedicates a fixed portion annually to preschool expansion through Cincinnati Preschool Promise and the remainder to K-12 operations, which includes college and career-readiness pathways, neighborhood school options, and student technology. For families considering preschool placement, this renewal signals sustained investment in early childhood. At the same time, CPS faced substantial budget reductions for 2025-26, including elimination of classroom positions and changes to student services, which may affect the broader district experience for families moving into elementary grades later.
In reading instruction specifically, CPS has shifted to the Science of Reading approach with new curricula in place. The district trained all K-1 teachers in structured literacy and dyslexia support, and third-grade reading proficiency rose notably from 2022-23 to 2023-24. This foundational work in reading pedagogy creates consistency as students progress from preschool into elementary.
The school's location is in Cincinnati's Over-the-Rhine neighborhood, one of the city's most historically significant and reviving districts. Over-the-Rhine sits adjacent to downtown, known for restored 19th-century architecture, active street life, and proximity to Findlay Market, the oldest public market in Ohio. Downtown and Over-the-Rhine are among Cincinnati's most pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods, with access to bus routes and the free Connector streetcar that loops through downtown and The Banks riverfront district. The broader Cincinnati economy is anchored by consumer products, healthcare, aerospace, and finance, with major employers including Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, and UC Health.
Housing in the zipcode reflects broader Hamilton County patterns: home values have been relatively stable with a slight recent decline, and the local market shows moderate supply. Mortgage rates and broader economic conditions affect affordability, though the county's median household income remains solid. For families considering this area, preschool placement at Rising Stars at Ezzard Charles would situate them in an urban, walkable neighborhood with access to downtown amenities and a district committed to early childhood expansion and reading proficiency.
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