Gilmour Academy

I'm an alum and Gilmour was a wonderful place for me I enjoy my time here as with my sister. I'm a Lancer for life and we want to support Gilmour.

If I were to describe Gilmour, the environment is friendly. The pleasant and welcoming atmosphere makes me feel safe. Gilmour is full of fun, understanding, and a sense of belonging to a big family.

Last year was my first year. I was shy. I didn't have any friends. But the people here are nice and they're inclusive. So it's easy to make friends here.

As a parent, I am deeply satisfied with the school's overall quality of education and nurturing services. All aspects have exceeded expectations, and my child's growth experience at school has been exceptionally positive.
Academically, the school's coursework is scientifically arranged and reasonable, with difficulty levels progressing gradually and a good balance between intensity and relaxation. The school offers a large number of AP system courses, probably more than 20, allowing students to apply for relevant AP courses based on their preferences. Whenever my child encounters academic difficulties, the subject teachers are always available to patiently answer questions, provide detailed guidance, and track learning progress throughout. For the four-year university application planning in high school, the school provides comprehensive professional guidance, from academic planning and background enhancement to institution selection and application counseling. This meticulous and integrated support makes the path to higher education clear and smooth, and we highly value this thoughtful and professional academic and university application service.
In terms of daily life, my child has a fulfilling and happy experience on campus, mostly sharing a dormitory with one other student. The school management is standardized and orderly, with complete and perfect hardware facilities, making daily life extremely convenient. Dormitory management is strict yet caring, ensuring safety and cleanliness. Transportation is convenient; for example, for airport pickups and drop-offs, simply communicating with the dorm supervisor via email in advance ensures everything is arranged properly. Holiday arrangements are human-centered, especially during traditional Chinese festivals, which the school celebrates grandly, ensuring no sense of disconnect. During festivals, children are also organized to go out for meals or to supermarkets, with transportation provided. In short, the sense of happiness in daily life is very strong.
Regarding home-school communication, the school has a very responsible teacher, Ms. Du, who communicates proactively about the child's situation through multiple channels such as WeChat, phone calls, emails, and parent-teacher meetings. Parental inquiries are always quickly addressed, making communication highly efficient and smooth. Dormitory supervisors also send emails to remind parents of upcoming school arrangements. Overall, communication is very open and convenient.
During the application process, the school arranged professional application advisors to assist in reviewing everything. They provided targeted optimization suggestions based on the child's personal characteristics, academic performance, and higher education goals, closely monitoring application deadlines and completely alleviating our worries. The entire application process was orderly, and the school also provided synchronous Q&A sessions and psychological support, making both the child and parents feel completely at ease. A small piece of advice for future applicants to this school: thoroughly understand the school's educational philosophy, curriculum system, and cultivation concepts in advance, carefully organize your strengths, actively cooperate with the school teachers' professional guidance, maintain a calm mindset, and prepare diligently to fully showcase your unique qualities.
The school is a boarding school. Its sports community is very strong, especially ice hockey, with two professional ice hockey rinks. There is also a beautiful professional swimming pool. In short, the school boasts the most comprehensive sports facilities and top-notch amenities, often serving as the home venue for large competitions hosted for other schools. It is highly suitable for children who love sports, as they will always find their favorite activity here.

I am a senior at Gilmour this year, and I want to say that Gilmour has given me so many wonderful memories. Gilmour is a very inclusive community where all students and teachers are very warm and kind. I have made many lifelong relationships here. First, academically, there are abundant resources, with many course options including AP classes and electives. The teachers in every class are excellent and can effectively help prepare for AP exams. All teachers are willing to listen to you and offer help. Course selection is relatively flexible, consisting of core courses and electives. The school has various equipment to support different electives such as news broadcasting, yoga, electronic music, robotics, and more. The school's counselors are also very supportive of personal development and highly responsible. The school also has various clubs and sports teams. I am the captain of the swim team this year, and over these four years, my teammates and I have developed a very strong bond, becoming close friends at school. The school has completed a new commons this year, offering a wide variety of food choices daily, including Chipotle bowls, pizza, pasta, salad bar, etc. Below are my deepest memories at Gilmour:
1. Last summer, I participated in Gilmour's Catalyst program. This was an opportunity to study for 5 weeks in a professor's lab at CWRU or CSU. Thanks to Gilmour's program and the dedication of its teachers, I learned many lab skills, how to give a perfect presentation, communicate with professors, and gain specialized knowledge. It was very rewarding.
2. My swim team achieved second place in the District. Last season, my teammates and I worked together to earn second place in the District, breaking a 10-year gap. The bond forged through daily training with my teammates is unparalleled, and I am incredibly proud of us.
3. Every junior must attend a Kairos retreat. Although I am not Christian, this is one of my most cherished memories at Gilmour. Through this retreat, I got to know my classmates better, especially those I hadn't interacted with much, making me feel that I have always lived in a community full of love and care.
I have many more memories, but I won't go into detail here. Gilmour is a strong school rich in resources and full of love; you can approach any teacher for any difficulties.

For over a decade, as an educational consultant, I've primarily assisted families hoping to send their children to study in the United States. Over the years, I've built partnerships with numerous American middle and high schools and personally visited various types of institutions. Last year, by chance, I began collaborating with Gilmour Academy. After more than a year of engagement, communication, and continuous observation of students' actual enrollment experiences, I've gradually come to realize that Gilmour Academy possesses distinct advantages in multiple aspects compared to many schools I've encountered before.
Firstly, regarding admissions and communication, the school's admissions office has a Chinese teacher, which is incredibly important for Chinese families. When students first arrive in the U.S., parents' biggest concerns are often communication and adaptation issues. Having a teacher who can communicate in Chinese and is familiar with the school system can greatly alleviate anxiety for both parents and students, and facilitate smoother home-school communication. Students can also receive timely assistance when facing difficulties in their studies or daily life. This teacher is very kind and caring towards students, helping many newcomers to the U.S. adapt more quickly to their new learning and living environments.
Secondly, concerning teaching and academic support, the school not only offers a rich array of courses and programs, such as robotics, photography, and media production, but also places great emphasis on individual student development and support. I once had a student who was under immense pressure due to unsatisfactory grades. The school counselor quickly noticed this, proactively communicated with the student, helped him devise a study plan, continuously monitored his progress, and maintained contact with his subject teachers. A few months later, this student's grades significantly improved, and he gradually regained his academic confidence, leaving a profound impression on me regarding the school's academic support system.
Regarding boarding life, the school's management team is equally diligent and responsible. Dormitories are equipped with gyms, study spaces, and entertainment facilities, and also feature kitchens where students can cook their favorite foods on weekends, which is uncommon in many boarding schools. The dorms also offer a 24-hour snack area, including yogurt, instant noodles, fruits, ice cream, cookies, and potato chips. These seemingly minor arrangements reflect the school's commitment to students' living experience and help students feel warmth in a foreign land.
Furthermore, the school excels in sports facilities, boasting two year-round ice rinks, providing excellent training conditions for students who enjoy ice skating and ice hockey.
Overall, through more than a year of collaboration and observation, I deeply feel Gilmour Academy's dedication to academic support, student care, and fostering a conducive growth environment, making it a highly recommendable school.

Gilmour's Chinese admissions teacher, Teacher Du, is truly excellent! Her presence at Gilmour is a blessing for Gilmour's Chinese students. Gilmour's university admissions this year are very impressive, with acceptances from a host of top universities like Harvard, Princeton, and Yale. Gilmour's cafeteria is large, and the food variety is rich, which should be able to satisfy the needs of most Chinese palates. Personally, I don't really like Gilmour's admissions director; opinions vary. Gilmour still has some other areas that could be improved, so the overall rating should probably be around 4.5. However, with Teacher Du there, a 5-star rating is a must.

Our child transferred to this private school in their second year of high school (Grade 11) from a public high school. At the time, we thought transferring midway through high school would definitely negatively impact college admissions. However, unexpectedly, this year they were accepted into the business school of a very good university. We're incredibly relieved and thankful for the decision to transfer back then. But that's not even the most important thing. What's truly most significant is witnessing our child's genuine growth: from being rebellious to becoming understanding, from just rote test-taking to having their own critical thinking, and from not understanding us to actively initiating heart-to-heart conversations. This is far more gratifying and brings us more joy than the university application results themselves. We're about to attend our child's graduation ceremony, and we're looking forward to seeing the school and teachers our child liked so much. We believe these two years of boarding school life have laid an excellent foundation for their future path and provided help that we, as parents, couldn't have given!

Due to a job relocation, my two children enrolled in Gilmore School this year. The entire school community is incredibly warm and welcoming! I'm so glad we've found our new home here. Not only are the children challenged academically, but the school also offers many wonderful extracurricular activities to round out their education. Character development is a top priority. Teachers genuinely care about their students' success and are willing to provide any help to those in need. Our family is truly delighted to have found such a school!

Gilmour Academy data: student population 500, student-teacher ratio 1:9, international students 10%, boarding students 16%, 77% of teachers hold advanced degrees. Founded in 1946, Gilmour Academy is a full-time, co-educational private school offering both day and boarding options. It admits day students from 18 months to Grade 12, and boarding students (including international students) from Grade 9 to Grade 12. The school is located in the northeastern United States, occupying 144 acres adjacent to Lake Erie, one of the North American Great Lakes, in the scenic eastern suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio. It is a Catholic school dedicated to the holistic development of its students, not only focusing on academic excellence but also emphasizing the cultivation of moral character, various qualities, and abilities. The school offers religion classes, which are not intended to indoctrinate students with any religious ideology, but rather to inspire them through the curriculum to understand themselves correctly, care for others, and become individuals of high moral character. These religious courses and activities provide a channel for students to express their spirituality and also help international students gain a deeper understanding of American culture. Upholding its mission of “Educating the Mind, Empowering the Heart,” the school’s curriculum design and extracurricular activities, from required courses to electives, all revolve around fostering students' communication skills, leadership abilities, creative thinking, teamwork, multicultural understanding, international perspective, and social responsibility.

I loved my experience at Gilmour Academy. As soon as I arrived, I felt incredibly welcome. The faculty and staff are always looking out for you, helping you to become the best version of yourself. The school buildings and campus are particularly beautiful. Walking across campus to different academic buildings for classes is very relaxing and enjoyable. The sports programs and facilities at the school are excellent, and the coaches are also fantastic. Overall, I enjoyed my time at Gilmour Academy, where I made many lifelong friends.

Gilmour Academy was founded in 1946 by the Brothers of Holy Cross. As an accredited independent Catholic school in Northeast Ohio, Gilmour Academy has a unique ability to educate the whole child. Students are prepared not only academically but also personally and spiritually to discover the person they are called to be.

School Advantages:

1. The school implements small-class teaching, fostering dynamic teacher-student relationships, immersive learning opportunities and internships, and personalized student advising, enabling the school to nurture the whole child and empower them to become independent, reflective, lifelong learners.

2. The school offers numerous off-campus mentorship and internship programs, including partnerships with Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland Clinic, NASA, and Rockwell Automation. Students also participate in collaborations with local businesses to hone their entrepreneurial skills.

3. The school spans 144 acres, featuring a picturesque campus with first-class facilities, including a professional ice rink.

4. The arts program is excellent, with strong performance, digital, and visual arts. The school provides comprehensive offerings in digital music and broadcasting, visual arts, Steinway pianos, visiting artists, performing arts, private music instruction, and dance instruction.

5. Gilmour's speech and debate program continues to be dominant, with many students having won awards in this field. In recent years, Chinese students have also achieved excellent post-graduation placements.

My experience at Gilmour has been amazing, it has allowed me to open up and find friends and families that I will carry on to know and love. Gilmour also help me find my passion and the best college that suits me.

Excellent handling of COVID-19, great culture, tough but nurturing. This was a good choice for our child.

I am a student at Gilmour, and my score is perfect! Our school is like a big family; all the teachers and students are very kind, and the learning and living atmosphere is fantastic. I have a great time every day, and I'm very glad I chose this school.
The campus facilities are excellent, with a gymnasium, swimming pool, and ice rink. The campus itself is like a park, especially beautiful! Everyone thought I was on vacation based on the photos I took.
The dormitory conditions are excellent, with very new facilities. The dorm building has a snack area and an underground gym, meeting all the needs of resident students, hahaha.
I hope everyone can consider choosing our school :)

Gilmour Academy is a close-knit community where people are friendly and supportive of your goals. The faculty and staff here are outstanding. This school does a great job preparing students for college.

The Catalyst science internship program, science and mathematics courses, Spanish courses, public speaking and debate, and a Socratic teaching style all prepared me academically for Yale University. More broadly, Gilmour Academy allowed me to develop into an analytical thinker, an innovative and resilient problem-solver, and an empathetic global citizen. Close interactions with Gilmour students in the dormitories enabled me to open my mind, embrace new perspectives, learn to articulate my position with facts and logic, and gain cultural insights, thereby fostering my intellectual growth. The valuable skills and competencies acquired at Gilmour allowed me to arrive at Yale with a more global perspective.

The catalyst program offered by Gilmour Academy is very special and very helpful for students interested in STEM research.

As the parent of a 10th-grade student, my impression of the school is that it has an excellent school spirit, rigorous academics, rich extracurricular activities, and is very friendly to Chinese students. Students can choose courses according to their learning ability, and there are course advisors available for consultation. The school provides assistance in all aspects of students' learning and life, such as helping to connect with private art and sports tutors based on students' needs, arranging community service, etc. On weekends, the dorms offer free transportation to nearby supermarkets, cinemas, museums, and more. The school does not have many international students; most are children of local white families. International students are often invited to local students' homes on weekends. My child has had no problems integrating. Daily student life is very fulfilling. I understand that Chinese students graduating in the past two years have had excellent university placements, and the school's application advisors are very experienced. The school also has a unique Vector program, which guides students to conduct in-depth exploration into professional fields they are interested in and collaborate with external organizations for internships. This is very helpful for university applications. In terms of sports, the school's ice rink is a major highlight. The ice hockey team has won awards multiple times in American high school leagues. The school has newly built an art building and a rugby field. At Gilmour, children can find their interests and develop them deeply. Therefore, I believe sending my child to Gilmour was the right choice.

Corinne's mom and I believe that the most correct decision we've made in recent years was sending our daughter to Gilmour for high school. Our daughter was initially introverted and lacked confidence, but four years in an American high school transformed her into a confident, outgoing, and ambitious individual with a clear vision for her future. This transformation greatly benefited from the love and education provided by the GA teachers. Chinese-style education often emphasizes results while neglecting the process. In a child's growth, sports, art, and music (aesthetic education) are actually very important elements that influence a child's future quality of life. In this regard, I was deeply impressed by GA; the teachers believe that art is not a technique but a part of life, which is why visiting museums became my daughter's first stop when traveling. GA is located in the Midwest, predominantly populated by European immigrants, and its ethos is traditional and conservative. Principal Ms. Reidy aims for a future where her students will return to the school auditorium for their weddings, and their grandchildren will also attend GA. Initially, when my wife and I praised GA, our daughter was often resistant, but by graduation, she believed that sending her own children back to GA for school would also be a good choice. We often debated with our daughter about the quality of schools; GA is not at the top of American school rankings, but my view is that students who entered with average grades all got into top 30 universities nationwide upon graduation. This, to me, indicates that GA is a good school! As parents, what brings us the most comfort is that the few Chinese students at the school loved and cared for each other, compensating for the lack of siblings in this generation. So much so that when they went to college and faced university life alone, they suddenly felt 'like orphans.' Thank you, GA.