Cincinnati and West Clermont public schools will receive a $2.2 million grant over the next three years to continue redesigning their large high schools into smaller, program-focused schools.

        The money comes from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and is in addition to $2.25 million the districts have already received from the philanthropic foundation of Microsoft Corp. chairman Bill Gates and his wife.

        “The work that has been done to date has been well done, but there's plenty of work to do,” said Joe Nathan, director of the Center for School Change at the University of Minnesota, which administers the foundation's grants and offers school districts technical assistance.

        Cincinnati schools will use about $1.5 million of the grant money to transform several large high schools — Aiken, Western Hills, Withrow and Woodward — into smaller learning environments within each of the buildings. Withrow, for example, will include an international studies school and a college preparatory-focused school with ties to a university.

        Part of the money will also support the development of the district's Virtual High School, which opened last August.

        District officials say the money will be used for curriculum development, teacher training, technology purchases including equipment and software, and supplies.

        “We're overwhelmed by their generosity,” said David Burns, high school restructuring manager for Cincinnati schools.

        About $500,000 will go to West Clermont's Amelia and Glen Este high schools. The two are being reorganized next year into five smaller, program-focused schools in each building, including a program for scientific studies.

        The rest of the money will be used for technical assistance.

        The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works with schools nationwide to create more intimate learning environments. The foundation and local officials cite research saying students in smaller schools have better grades, better attendance, higher graduation rates and more satisfaction with their education.

        West Clermont officials could not be reached for comment.

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