Our History
**Walnut Hills High School
A Tradition of Excellence Since 1895**
Walnut Hills High School stands as one of the nation’s premier public college-preparatory institutions, distinguished by more than 130 years of academic excellence, civic leadership, and classical learning. Since its founding in 1895, Walnut Hills has been dedicated to educating students of talent and ambition, preparing them not simply for college—but for lives of leadership and purpose.
Walnut Hills first opened its doors at Ashland and Burdett Avenues as a neighborhood high school. In 1918, the school took a decisive step that would shape its future: it formally adopted a college-preparatory mission grounded in the liberal arts. Under the leadership of Superintendent Randall Condon and Principal George Davis, Walnut Hills committed itself to becoming “comparable in every respect to the best college preparatory schools in the nation,” setting a standard of excellence that remains its hallmark today.
This transformation quickly made Walnut Hills one of Cincinnati’s most sought-after schools. Enrollment grew, and by the late 1920s the original building could no longer accommodate the demand. On September 8, 1931, the school’s iconic campus on Victory Parkway was officially dedicated. Inspired by Thomas Jefferson’s Library of the University of Virginia and Monticello, the building’s Collegiate Gothic architecture reflected Walnut Hills’ classical ethos and enduring commitment to intellectual pursuit.
In 1935, the Cincinnati Board of Education formally confirmed Walnut Hills as “an institution specialized for college preparation,” a designation reaffirmed again in 1972, when the Board recognized Walnut Hills as a six-year college-preparatory school for grades 7–12. To support this mission, Walnut Hills adopted a systematic method of student selection as early as 1926, ensuring that admission would be based on academic readiness and motivation—a practice that continues today through its entrance examination process.
A defining modern chapter began in 1995, when Walnut Hills celebrated its Centennial and the Walnut Hills High School Alumni Foundation was created. Thousands of alumni from around the world came together to preserve the school’s legacy while building its future. Their first and most ambitious project was the $13 million Alumni Arts and Science Center, which opened in 1999—at the time, the largest fundraising campaign ever undertaken by a public high school in the United States. This milestone established a powerful national model for private philanthropy supporting public education, and it launched an enduring partnership between alumni, parents, and Cincinnati Public Schools that continues to enhance every aspect of the Walnut Hills experience.
Today, Walnut Hills High School serves a diverse student body of approximately 2,500 students in grades 7–12, drawn from every Cincinnati neighborhood and surrounding communities. Forty-three percent of students are from minority backgrounds and 26 percent are economically disadvantaged, reflecting Walnut Hills’ deep commitment to educational opportunity across the city. The school’s faculty is among the strongest in the region, with 83% holding master’s degrees or higher and many are National Board-certified teachers.
Academically, Walnut Hills remains anchored in a rigorous classical liberal arts curriculum, including the long-standing requirement of three years of Latin for incoming seventh and eighth graders. This foundation is layered with one of the most robust advanced programs in the nation: 35 Advanced Placement courses, more than any other public or private high school, supported by an Honors Program and extensive college-level coursework. In 2025, more than 1,100 students took over 2,000 AP exams, with 91% earning scores of 3 or higher on at least one exam.
Walnut Hills students consistently perform far above national norms, with SAT and ACT averages well above the U.S. mean, and 100% of students passing Ohio graduation requirements, the majority earning Honors Diplomas. More than 96% of graduates go on to college or university study, many entering with advanced standing.
The school is also nationally recognized for its arts, athletics, and extracurricular excellence. Walnut Hills offers five major dramatic and musical productions each year, award-winning bands and orchestras, AP Studio Art and AP Music Theory, over 90 athletic teams, and more than 70 clubs ranging from robotics and Model United Nations to art, philanthropy, and Youth in Government. Students compete and excel in National Mathematics Examinations, FIRST Lego Robotics, foreign-language competitions, Harvard Model United Nations, and national arts and writing contests.
In recognition of its excellence, Walnut Hills High School was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 2023 and in 2025 was ranked the #1 high school in Ohio by U.S. News & World Report, as well as one of the top high schools in the United States.
More than a school, Walnut Hills is a living institution—one where tradition and innovation walk hand in hand. From its Jefferson-inspired campus to its globally accomplished alumni, Walnut Hills High School continues to fulfill the promise set forth more than a century ago: to cultivate curious minds, disciplined thinkers, and principled leaders who are prepared to shape the world.
