This story is part of a series on the challenges and solutions related to oral health in Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. It is made possible with funding support from the Delta Dental Foundation.
At the
Greater Dayton School, students don’t have to leave the building to see a doctor, dentist, or therapist. They simply walk down the hall.
The Ohio school, a private, nonreligious institution designed specifically for under-resourced children, is integrating health care into the school day, part of its effort to redefine education.
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Greater Dayton SchoolAt Greater Dayton School, 100% of kids receive well-child and dental visits, and unmet mental health needs have dropped from 56% to 10%.
“Our kids make academic gains at twice the national average in terms of reading and math, regardless of income level,” says Ryan Ernst, who leads nonprofit initiatives at
The Connor Group, the Dayton-based real estate investment firm that launched the school. “The thesis was that if kids from low-income backgrounds get the proper support, they can outperform any kids. And that’s come to fruition pretty quickly.”
The Greater Dayton School opened three years ago with a vision of serving the whole child. That meant providing medical care, dental visits, and mental health services alongside academics.
“Physically, our kids are 100% getting their well-child visits, getting their annual dental visits,” Ernst says. “When we opened the school, about 56% of our kids had unmet mental health needs. Now it’s down to like 10%.”
Preventive, proactive measures
One reason for the drop is universal screening. Unlike traditional schools, where a student may only get evaluated if problems arise, every child at the Greater Dayton School receives a mental health screener. Trained therapists are embedded in the school day.
“Kids with anxiety typically aren’t raising their hands saying, ‘Hey, I have a problem,’” Ernst says. “So all those kids just don’t get assessed. We make sure they do.”
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Greater Dayton SchoolAt the Greater Dayton School, students can see a doctor, dentist, or therapist just by walking down the hall.
The school also emphasizes preventive strategies. Students complete 30 minutes of high-intensity fitness every day, led by instructors who treat it more like an “Orange Theory for kids” than a traditional gym class.
“Studies show that’s better than Prozac,” Ernst says.
Families agree to strict guidelines, including limiting social media use. Parents must show proof of what apps their children use if they own a smartphone, and all students are expected to stay off social platforms.
“It’s kind of a dental thing we always talk about when it comes to mental health: how do you provide fluoride in the water?” Ernst says. “That’s what these policies are — protections kids don’t even realize are helping them.”
For its first three years, the school used a mobile dental unit. This fall, with support from the
Delta Dental Foundation, it is opening a full-service dental suite with three chairs and X-ray equipment. A dentist will be on site twice a week, providing cleanings, exams and procedures.
“It was always in the plan,” Ernst says. “When we talked about wraparound services, dental was going to be a key component.”
Finding providers was difficult at first, he adds, because Ohio’s Medicaid reimbursement rates were low. But with increased state funding, the school partnered with Equitas Health in Columbus to bring dental care directly to campus.
Lifelong support
The wellness model extends beyond current students. Younger siblings can now receive pediatric care, and Ernst hopes the school will remain a health home for graduates into adulthood.
“Everything is predicated on this idea of what kinds of adults are we producing,” he says. “If you can start that process at infancy, your chances of creating healthy and happy adults just go up.”
The Greater Dayton School currently serves 200 students, with plans to grow to 400. A second school is expected to open in Cincinnati by 2028.
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Greater Dayton SchoolWith support from the Delta Dental Foundation, the school is opening a new three-chair dental suite this fall, offering on-site care twice a week.
Families may be skeptical at first, Ernst acknowledges, but most see the value.
“This is a lottery ticket,” he says. “I might be a little skeptical of not allowing my kids to have social media, but I’m willing to do it. We hold their hand and we hold them accountable. Now, 85% of our families are in good standing with the agreement.”
For Ernst, the goal is clear: to prove that children from under-resourced backgrounds can thrive if schools remove barriers that stand in their way.
“It’s a really long-term approach to education,” he says.
Photos courtesy of the Greater Dayton School.