Bells didn't ring on time. Students couldn't find the gymnasium or the technology classroom. Traffic was congested by the bus turn-around after students got out of class. And painters had work to do before a principal could move into his renovated office.

        In other words, it was a typical first day at Western Hills High School in Price Hill. Three separate high schools opened inside the building.

        Aside from minor glitches, teachers and students said the first day was a success at the overhauled high school.

        “I've never seen such an orderly beginning,” said Lea Brinker, program facilitator for the University High School at Western Hills. “We are determined to make it work.”

        Monday was opening day for most of the 42,000 students in Cincinnati Public Schools, as well as 12 other districts in Greater Cincinnati.

        Students in the Tristate's largest district were greeted by dozens of changes. There were five smaller high schools with specialty programs, a new location in Mount Washington for Sands Montessori and a new French and Spanish School, the merger of two schools at the former home of Crest Hills Year-Round School in Roselawn.

        Students at Western Hills went straight to work.

        “Why should we waste any time not doing what we're supposed to do?” Ms. Brinker said.

        After learning about rules and how the school will operate, Donte Brooks, a 13-year-old ninth-grader at the new Design Technology High School, worked in teacher Jeff Carle's class on a computer program that teaches about bridge design.

        What was the best part of his day?

        “This,” he said, even as the computer alerted him that his bridge was not structurally sound.

        “I like working on computers. I feel like this will help me out later in life.”

        Elsewhere in the Tristate, Camille Nasbe, the new superintendent at Winton Woods City Schools, started the day at 6 a.m. greeting drivers at the bus compound. She then spent the day visiting all seven schools.

        She drove to Lakeside Elementary, where she boarded Bus 12 and rode the route to pick up students.

        “I got to greet students and meet parents. I really enjoyed my bus ride. I got to talk with the kids and find out stuff. And parents with little ones had video cameras. It was wonderful to be with the kids, both little and big.”

        She also took time to check on district enrollment: 4,273 students compared with 4,172 at this time last year.

        In the Sycamore School District, assistant superintendent Chuck Mason toured classrooms and met some of the roughly 5,600 students.

        “Everybody said this has been the smoothest opening we've ever had,” Mr. Mason.

        Even students at the new Blue Ash Elementary School, located on the Raymond Walters College campus, had little trouble finding their way around. The school is one of the only public elementary schools in the nation on a college campus.

        “The open house last Thursday helped the kids feel a lot more at home because, for most of them, it wasn't their first time in the building,” Mr. Mason said.

        In Forest Hills School District, Nagel Middle School reported a smooth day.

        “Students were very enthusiastic and staff was ready to receive them,” Principal Mike Stabile said. “We're very ready for the year.”

        Cindy Kranz and Erica Solvig contributed.

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