Opening Doors for Cleveland’s Girls

FORWARD Girls Leadership Academy aims to reimagine what young women can experience in terms of leadership, access and support.

Written by Helaina Rucinski

Luciana Gilmore, Ph.D., spoke confidently about FORWARD Girls Leadership Academy, as though the school already exists beyond the walls that will eventually house it. It is evident that this is not an idea of hers that is still in its early stages of development, but instead, has been meticulously envisioned for years, down to how kids will start their mornings and develop self-advocacy skills long before they graduate. 

While other tuition-based schools exist across Ohio in various forms, Cleveland has never had its own tuition-free all-girls high school, despite the city’s lengthy history of educational disparities. Gilmore has been considering filling that gap for more than a decade and is now preparing to do so. Centered on intention, leadership and access, FORWARD Girls Leadership Academy is scheduled to open in August 2026 and welcome its first class of ninth graders. 

A Vision Years in the Making

Gilmore’s journey to found FORWARD is based on both her personal and professional background. While serving as principal at John Adams High School, part of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, she began to develop the school's mission and broadened her understanding of education and its constraints. 

“I developed this school’s vision initially during my time as principal at CMSD, and my work provided an even broader context on why this was needed,” Gilmore said. 

As a teacher, a mother and a former student navigating a system that frequently lacked support, especially for girls, she stated that her knowledge of that need comes from lived experience. 

“There wasn’t an intentionally supportive culture,” she said, reflecting on her own high school years. “Schools weren’t intentional about what girls needed to be successful women. That kind of support just wasn’t around, not just at CMSD but in schools in general.” 

The concept has primarily existed on paper for the past 10 years. However, Gilmore said that the vision started to feel more genuine in the final four. As a way to get ideas on what FORWARD could become, she traveled throughout the country for 18 months, visiting exceptionally rated schools and observing what they were doing differently. 

“My lived experiences, what I would have liked to have had and what I’ve experienced as an educator, greatly influenced FORWARD,” she said. “As a mother, I was intentional about my children’s education. I wanted my daughter to have access to great academics. I want the same opportunities for the girls at FORWARD.”

The Real Cost: A Partnership 

Starting with a single ninth-grade class and adding a grade level every year, FORWARD Girls Leadership Academy is an independent, tuition-free public high school. Gilmore emphasizes that although tuition is free, the school is not without cost.

“Yes, FORWARD is free, but there’s a cost,” she said. “The cost is commitment and partnership.”

She clarified that families and the larger society must make this commitment. Community engagement is seen as crucial to the school’s success, and parents are encouraged to be active partners in their children’s education.

“I can create a great school,” Gilmore said, “but without the support at home and from the community, it won’t work.”

In order to provide one-on-one attention and keep students from falling between the cracks, class sizes will typically consist of 18 students. Teachers will also be asked to commit to the school for four years, staying with the same group of students for the entirety of their high school journey.

“I do not want them to have different teachers every year,” Gilmore said. “They have to be as committed to the program as the students, parents and community.” 

That commitment is non-negotiable. Gilmore emphasized that staff members must be fully engaged and deeply invested in the students they serve. 

“You have to love my girls,” she said. “I can teach you how to teach all day long, but I cannot teach you how to love the students that enter that building.”

Where “Homeroom” Becomes “Her Time”

Gilmore refers to the start of each school day at FORWARD as “her time,” a reinvented homeroom that prioritizes student advocacy. 

“That is her time to advocate for herself,” Gilmore said. “If it's scheduling a time with a teacher because she needs additional support, or if she’s had a hard day and needs to speak to someone – that's what you do as an adult.”

For Gilmore, the goal of “her time” is to teach students early on how to express their wants and to take an active part in their education.

“I need to know, what do you need from us?” she said. “What can we help you with to make your day what it’s supposed to be every single day?”

Beyond the classroom, FORWARD prioritizes emotional and social support. Gilmore said the school intends to use restorative methods instead of disciplinary action and will only use suspension as a last resort.

“When I send them home, I can’t help them,” she said. “I need them there.”

High school dynamics, such as cattiness, won’t go away, Gilmore admits. However, she thinks that confronting behavior head-on and establishing clear boundaries will make a difference.

“Girls are going to be girls, and I can’t take that away,” she said. “What I can do is not tolerate it.” 

Turning Learning into Leadership 

At FORWARD, leadership is viewed as the foundation of the school rather than a stand-alone curriculum. Leadership in Global Humanities and Leadership in STEM and Innovation are the two pathways available to students. 

“I want girls to learn tangible skills like communication, collaboration, decision-making and problem-solving,” Gilmore said.

Through mentorships and practical experiences, students in the STEM track will explore careers related to their interests, such as engineering or nursing. Students in the global humanities track will concentrate on understanding local and worldwide concerns, especially those that impact women.

“I want the girls to see problems and think about how they can contribute solutions,” she said. 

Each year, the school's project-based approach will culminate in two exhibitions where students showcase what they have done to the public. Wednesdays will have less class instruction to accommodate the time needed to work on these projects, as well as for students to partake in workshops, mentorships and listen to guest speakers.

“This gives them a real buy-in,” Gilmore said. “They’re not just learning instructions to be learning it.”

FORWARD will also take part in College Credit Plus, which allows students to enroll in college-level courses while still in high school. Although Gilmore describes the school as college-driven, she is careful not to frame college as the only measure of success.

“What’s important to me is that if you want to go, you’re able to go and able to compete with everybody else,” she said.

Why This Matters for Cleveland

Gimore thinks FORWARD conveys a strong message about equity and access in Cleveland, where many families face systemic and financial obstacles to education. 

“Education should be equitable,” she said. “Everybody should have access to a great education.”

She views high school as the final major decision parents make before students start to choose their own path – whether that leads to college, a career or another pursuit.

“I love high school because I get to see kids come in as children and leave as adults with a plan,” she said.

The board of FORWARD, which brings together experts from industries including healthcare, law and real estate, reflects the school’s dedication to diversity and community. In the words of Gilmore, the school’s mission is reinforced and strengthened through the collective experience.

“It is a very collective and wide board with a lot of experience,” she said.

Facing FORWARD 

Gilmore’s enthusiasm for August 2026 is based on reality and optimism. She is aware that the task will be difficult for staff, families and students alike, but she is unwavering in her belief that it is worthwhile. 

“There will be no wiggle room for you to slide and not be exceptional in this school,” she said. “It’s going to look different.”

For Gilmore, FORWARD is more than just the launch of a brand-new school. It’s the result of years of planning, and the start of something she thinks has the power to transform lives. 

“I’m excited because I get to feed the next generation of great women,” she said. “It’s truly important for me to see women who look like me become successful, independent and able to create their own lane and have a voice.”