If you’ve driven down West 98th Street in Cleveland lately, you might have noticed a lot of dust and some very loud machinery. Honestly, it’s about time. For years, the conversation around Marion C Seltzer Elementary has been a weird mix of neighborhood pride and architectural frustration.
People tend to look at the numbers—the test scores or the "C-" ratings on Niche—and think they’ve got the place figured out. They don't.
Marion C Seltzer Elementary isn't just a building where kids learn long division. It is a massive, sprawling cultural hub in the heart of the Cudell neighborhood. It’s a place where 17 different languages are spoken in the hallways. Basically, it’s one of the most diverse spots in all of Ohio, which is a fact that often gets buried under headlines about district budgets or construction delays.
The Fight for Cudell Park: Why the New Building Matters
For a while there, it looked like the school was going to be at the center of a local civil war. The Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) needed a new facility—the old one was, to put it politely, "historically weary." But the original plan involved tearing into the mature trees of Cudell Commons Park.
People were rightfully upset.
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The community fought back. They didn’t want to lose their green space just to get a modern gym. After a lot of back-and-forth and a few court dates, a "greener" plan emerged in late 2024. The new Marion C Seltzer Elementary is now being built on the footprint of the existing school.
What does that mean for families right now?
Well, the kids are currently at a "swing site" on Woodbine Avenue (the old H. Barbara Booker building). They’ll be there until at least August 2027. It's a bit of a trek for some, but the payoff is supposed to be a state-of-the-art facility that finally matches the ambition of the teachers inside.
Beyond the Test Scores
Let's be real about the academics. If you look at the 2023-2024 state report card, the school has some hurdles. Math proficiency was hovering around 8%, and reading was at 17%. Those numbers look scary on paper.
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However, proficiency only tells half the story. The school actually earned high marks for "Progress."
This is a nuance people often miss. "Progress" measures how much a student grows in a year, regardless of where they started. In a school where many students are arriving from other countries and learning English as a second language, that growth is everything. The school has bilingual support staff and even educators fluent in American Sign Language. They aren't just teaching to a test; they’re essentially running a localized UN.
What the Daily Life Really Looks Like
It’s not all just textbooks and ESL support. The school leans hard into partnerships that most suburban schools would envy.
- They’re right next to the Cudell Fine Arts Center.
- The Cudell Recreation Center is basically an extension of their playground.
- Kids get out of the classroom often. We're talking trips to NASA, the Cleveland Aquarium, and Playhouse Square.
They also have some unique internal programs like "Not on Our Watch" (an anti-bullying initiative) and "Winning Against Violent Environments" (WAVE). It’s clear the administration is trying to handle the "whole child," which is a fancy way of saying they care if the kids are happy and safe, not just if they can solve for $x$.
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Is Marion C Seltzer Elementary Right for Your Kid?
Choosing a school in Cleveland is a high-stakes game. If you're looking for a "traditional" high-performer with a suburban vibe, this probably isn't it. But if you want a kid who is "global-minded"—to use the district's favorite buzzword—you’ve found the right spot.
You've got a student body that represents 27 different countries. That kind of exposure changes a kid. It makes them empathetic. It makes them adaptable.
The current transition phase is the biggest hurdle. Living through a construction project isn't fun. Sending your kid to a temporary site for three years is a big ask. But the "Building Brighter Futures" initiative under CEO Dr. Warren Morgan is betting big on this specific location.
Practical Steps for Parents and Neighbors
If you are considering enrolling or are a resident watching the construction, here is the ground-level reality:
- Check the Swing Site: Before you sign anything, visit the Woodbine Avenue location. Make sure the commute is actually doable for your family until 2027.
- Look at the "Growth" Data: Don't just look at the star rating. Ask the principal about the "Progress" scores. That’s where the real teaching shows up.
- Get Involved with the Park: The City of Cleveland promised upgrades to Cudell Commons as part of the deal to save the trees. Keep an eye on those city council meetings to make sure they follow through.
- Language Support: If your child needs English Language Learner (ELL) services, this is arguably one of the best-equipped buildings in the city to handle it.
The story of Marion C Seltzer Elementary is still being written. It’s a story about a neighborhood that refused to choose between a good school and a good park—and, surprisingly, it looks like they might actually get both.
For parents wanting to track the exact construction timeline or view the final architectural renderings, the CMSD Segment 8 planning portal remains the most accurate source for monthly updates on the West 98th Street site.