I Promise School
The I Promise School is a public elementary and middle school in Akron, Ohio, opened in July 2018 through a partnership between the LeBron James Family Foundation and the Akron Public Schools district, targeting at-risk students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds with an extended school year, wraparound support services for families, and incentives such as bicycles and scholarships to promote attendance and long-term success.[1][2][3] The school's model emphasizes holistic intervention, including longer instructional days, smaller class sizes, and co-curricular programs aimed at breaking cycles of poverty, but empirical data from state assessments reveal persistently low academic proficiency, with only 2 out of 75 seventh-grade students achieving math proficiency in the 2024-2025 school year and zero eighth-graders passing in prior years.[4][5][6] Despite substantial philanthropic funding exceeding $10 million annually and high-profile endorsements, the institution ranks in the bottom tier of Ohio schools on performance indices, raising questions about the causal effectiveness of resource-intensive social supports absent foundational academic rigor, as proficiency rates in reading, math, and science lag far behind state averages even after accounting for student demographics.[7][8][9]Founding and Development
Origins and Announcement
The I Promise School originated as an extension of the LeBron James Family Foundation's long-standing I Promise initiative, which began providing after-school programming, mentorship, and family support services to at-risk youth in Akron, Ohio, starting in 2011. LeBron James, drawing from his personal experiences growing up in Akron—where he missed 83 days of fourth grade due to instability—sought to create a dedicated public school to address systemic educational challenges faced by low-income and underperforming students in the area.[10] The foundation partnered with Akron Public Schools to repurpose the former John W. Pridgeon Jr. Elementary School building, emphasizing wraparound services like extended learning time and family engagement to foster academic success and break cycles of poverty.[11] On April 11, 2017, the LeBron James Family Foundation and Akron Public Schools jointly announced the creation of the I Promise School, with plans for it to open in the fall of 2018 serving an initial cohort of third- and fourth-graders from the foundation's existing I Promise program cohort.[12] The announcement highlighted the school's innovative model, including problem-based learning, a longer school day and year, and guarantees of college tuition assistance through partnerships like the University of Akron.[12] Akron's school board formally approved the plan on November 28, 2017, confirming the facility's renovation and operational framework.[13] The public unveiling culminated in a grand opening event on July 30, 2018, where James addressed over 1,000 attendees, including students, families, and dignitaries, emphasizing the school's role in providing opportunities he lacked as a child: "This is my way of giving kids what I didn't have."[14] The event marked the first day of classes for 240 students and underscored the foundation's $8 million investment in startup costs, alongside ongoing operational support from the district.[15]Establishment and Opening
The I Promise School was established through a partnership between the LeBron James Family Foundation and Akron Public Schools in Akron, Ohio, to provide educational support for at-risk students.[1][16] The school officially opened on July 30, 2018, marking the start of classes for its inaugural cohort.[17][10] The opening ceremony featured remarks from LeBron James, who emphasized the school's role in fulfilling a personal commitment to his hometown, drawing from his own experiences with educational challenges.[14][17] It began operations with 240 students enrolled in third and fourth grades, selected based on criteria targeting those facing academic or socioeconomic difficulties.[17][16] The facility, integrated into the Akron Public Schools system, incorporated foundation-funded enhancements such as extended resources and support services from the outset.[1][10]Initial Funding and Partnerships
The I Promise School, established in July 2018 as a partnership between the LeBron James Family Foundation (LJFF) and Akron Public Schools (APS), relies primarily on public funding allocated through the district's budget for its core operational costs. APS draws from its $345 million annual budget, utilizing federal and state funds designated for enrolled students under applicable laws, providing per-pupil expenditures comparable to other district schools—approximately $2 million for the school's initial budget.[18][19] This structure positions the school as a non-charter public institution within the APS system, with student outcomes contributing to the district's overall accountability metrics.[20] In addition to public allocations, the LJFF committed approximately $2 million for the school's first year, covering startup expenses such as facility renovations and initial program enhancements, with a pledge to sustain $2 million in annual support thereafter.[21] This private funding supplements district resources, enabling extras like extended services and family support not typically covered by standard per-pupil funding. Early contributions from community partners, including $2.5 million over five years from Peg's Foundation for wraparound services, further bolstered the launch, though the LJFF remains the primary philanthropic backer.[22][23] The foundational partnership emphasizes collaboration between LJFF's I Promise Network—which had supported at-risk youth since 2004—and APS, integrating the school's innovative model into the public education framework without supplanting taxpayer-funded obligations. This arrangement avoids the autonomy of charter schools, instead leveraging district infrastructure while incorporating LJFF-driven initiatives like mentorship and incentives.[1]Educational Approach
Curriculum and Teaching Methods
The I Promise School employs a STEM-focused curriculum aligned with Ohio's content standards, emphasizing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through hands-on activities such as those in the Kaulig Companies Media Lab for production learning.[24][1] This approach integrates a trauma-informed framework designed to address students' emotional and psychological needs in a supportive environment.[1] Social-emotional learning is embedded throughout, with daily "I PROMISE Circles" conducted after lunch and recess to foster communication, belonging, and community.[24] Teaching methods prioritize problem-based learning (PBL), which involves real-world, engaging, and interactive projects to promote student involvement.[24] Mastery learning assesses progress based on achievement of grade-level standards rather than traditional time-bound metrics, aiming to track individual growth.[24] The "Habits of Promise"—perseverance, perpetual learning, problem-solving, partnership, and perspective—are infused into academic instruction and behavioral expectations, drawing from Habits of Mind principles to cultivate character alongside content knowledge.[24] Guided by a "We Are Family" philosophy, the curriculum seeks to educate the whole child by connecting academic efforts with family and community support, though implementation relies on partnerships with Akron Public Schools for standards compliance.[3][24]Extended School Calendar
The I Promise School implements a non-traditional academic calendar designed to extend instructional time and mitigate summer learning loss, running from late July through late May each year.[24] This schedule provides approximately 10 months of regular schooling, compared to the standard Ohio public school calendar of about 182 instructional days typically spanning August or September to May or June.[25] Following the May conclusion, students participate in several weeks of specialized summer camp programming focused on enrichment activities.[24] The extended calendar complements the school's longer daily schedule, with classes from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., incorporating core academics, extracurriculars, and support services to maximize engagement for at-risk students.[24][26] This structure, negotiated with the Akron Education Association, allows for additional hours dedicated to tutoring, meals, and family resources, aiming to create a comprehensive support environment beyond standard operations.[19] For example, the 2020–2021 teacher calendar tentatively spanned July 24 to May 28, with early professional development in June. Proponents argue the calendar's design addresses chronic absenteeism and academic gaps prevalent among the school's targeted demographic by minimizing extended breaks and embedding year-round programming.[27] However, despite these extensions, state assessment data has shown persistent proficiency challenges, raising questions about the format's efficacy independent of other factors like curriculum implementation.[6] The calendar remains a core element of the school's model, supported by LeBron James Family Foundation funding for operational flexibility.[9]Student Support Services
The I Promise School implements comprehensive wraparound services to address students' non-academic needs, integrating social-emotional learning with family support to foster holistic development. These services, coordinated through partnerships with community agencies and local businesses, aim to create a supportive ecosystem that mitigates barriers such as poverty, trauma, and family instability.[1][28] A dedicated Family Resource Center spans an entire wing of the facility, offering individualized I Promise Family Care Plans that outline tailored strategies for immediate challenges and long-term aspirations. This center serves as a hub for accessing resources, including mental health counseling provided in collaboration with organizations like PEG’s Foundation.[1] Trauma-informed programming permeates the school's approach, featuring specialized curricula, therapy sessions, and classes designed to equip students with coping mechanisms for adverse experiences. Health services include routine checkups to monitor physical well-being, while nutritional assistance comprises free school meals and a family food pantry to combat food insecurity.[1][6][29] Family-oriented supports extend to parents via GED preparation programs and job placement assistance, staffed by two full-time coordinators focused on employment opportunities. Students benefit from practical amenities such as free uniforms and bicycles, enhancing daily participation and mobility. The LeBron James Family Foundation supplements these efforts by funding additional staff for smaller classes and extended tutoring, enabling more personalized attention.[28][9]Student Body and Operations
Admission and Eligibility Criteria
The I Promise School, operated by Akron Public Schools, admits new students exclusively at the third-grade level through a lottery process designed to prioritize academically at-risk children. Eligible applicants must be second-grade students already enrolled in the Akron Public Schools district and demonstrate low performance on state assessments, typically those scoring in the bottom 25th to 30th percentile in reading proficiency.[6][19] This selection targets students identified as two or more years behind grade level, reflecting the school's focus on serving the district's most vulnerable populations.[9] Once admitted, students advance through grades four to eight without further external admissions, maintaining a cohort model that emphasizes continuity and wraparound support. The lottery ensures randomness among qualified applicants, with enrollment capped to sustain the school's capacity of approximately 600 students across grades three through eight.[30] Families must provide standard documentation for enrollment, including the child's birth certificate, immunization records, two proofs of residency, and parental identification, aligning with Akron Public Schools' general procedures.[31] Eligibility excludes students from outside the district or those not meeting the performance thresholds, underscoring the program's intent to intervene early for high-need learners rather than serving as a general public school option. Approximately half of students in certain cohorts, such as sixth grade, have identified disabilities, further concentrating the school's resources on intensive remediation.[32] This criteria has remained consistent since the school's 2018 opening, though district officials have periodically reviewed selection amid performance debates.[30]Demographics and Profile
The I Promise School serves students in grades 3 through 8, with a total enrollment of 529 during the 2023-2024 school year.[33] Enrollment is distributed across grades as follows: 95 in third grade, 93 in fourth, 90 in fifth, 83 in sixth, 79 in seventh, and 89 in eighth.[33] The gender composition shows a slight majority of males, with 277 boys and 252 girls.[33] Racial and ethnic demographics reflect a diverse but predominantly African American student body: 310 Black students (58.6%), 70 White (13.2%), 55 multiracial (10.4%), 50 Asian (9.5%), 42 Hispanic (7.9%), 2 Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (0.4%), and 0 American Indian/Alaska Native.[33] This results in 87% minority enrollment, exceeding the Ohio state average of 34%.[34] Approximately 45% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a proxy for low socioeconomic status.[35] An estimated 28% of the student body has disabilities, higher than typical public school averages and underscoring the school's emphasis on high-needs learners.[9] The school's profile centers on at-risk youth from Akron Public Schools, selected via lottery for third-grade entry from second-graders scoring in the district's bottom 25% on reading assessments.[6] This criterion targets academically underperforming students, often from economically disadvantaged backgrounds in the founder's hometown, aligning with the program's mission to support vulnerable children facing barriers like high dropout risks.[2] Subsequent grades draw from prior cohorts, maintaining continuity for this specialized population.[30]Daily Operations and Resources
The I Promise School maintains an extended daily schedule for students, with classes commencing at 9:00 a.m. and concluding at 4:00 p.m., exceeding the standard hours of many Akron Public Schools.[36] This structure accommodates additional academic instruction, extracurricular programs, and support services aimed at holistic student development.[24] Teachers and staff report for duty earlier, from 8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., facilitating preparation and extended student engagement.[37] The school's academic calendar operates from July to May, diverging from the conventional September-to-June framework to reduce summer learning loss among at-risk students.[9] This extended year integrates summer programming as part of core operations, supported by partnerships with the LeBron James Family Foundation.[3] Key resources include a dedicated Family Resource Center occupying an entire wing of the facility, which supplies families with essentials such as clothing, hygiene items, and nutritional support through stocked provisions like coats, socks, and undergarments.[1] Students receive Chromebook devices for educational use, with repair and replacement services handled during school hours via staff coordination.[38] Additional operational supports encompass access to tutoring, psychological services for educators to maintain instructional quality, and on-site amenities for immediate family needs.[39]Academic Performance
Early Results and Claims
The I Promise School opened on July 30, 2018, initially enrolling 240 students in third and fourth grades, drawn from Akron Public Schools' academically at-risk population performing in the 10th to 25th percentile on prior assessments.[19][13] School officials and LeBron James emphasized a holistic model prioritizing growth metrics over absolute proficiency, given the students' baseline challenges.[40] In April 2019, following mid-year district assessments, the school announced that 90 percent of students met or exceeded individualized growth goals in reading and math, a figure described as "extraordinary" by administrators and attributed to extended instructional time, family support services, and motivational incentives.[40][19][1] These outcomes were positioned as early evidence of the program's potential to accelerate progress for underserved youth, with James publicly crediting the foundation's $2 million investment in startup resources and wraparound aids.[6][41] Despite the growth emphasis, the school's 2018–19 performance index score stood at 53.5 on Ohio's 120-point scale, reflecting persistently low absolute achievement levels typical of its cohort.[6] Proficiency rates for the inaugural third-grade class hovered around 15.7 percent in core subjects, aligning with expectations for entrants but underscoring that growth claims did not translate to benchmark mastery.[42] Early narratives from the LeBron James Family Foundation highlighted non-academic wins, such as improved attendance and behavioral metrics, as foundational to long-term success rather than immediate test dominance.[19][43]State Assessments and Proficiency Rates
The I Promise School administers the Ohio State Tests (OST) annually to students in grades 3–8 for English language arts (ELA) and mathematics, and in grades 5 and 8 for science, with proficiency defined as students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards as determined by the Ohio Department of Education. These assessments measure student mastery of Ohio's academic content standards and contribute to the school's overall achievement rating on state report cards. Despite the school's emphasis on wraparound supports and extended learning time, proficiency rates have remained consistently low, often in the single digits across subjects and grades, trailing both Akron City Schools district averages (e.g., 28% in math, 38% in ELA) and statewide figures (e.g., 51% in math, 57% in ELA).[7] In the most recent aggregated data, only 5% of tested students achieved proficiency in mathematics, 6% in ELA, and 4% in science, positioning the school in the bottom tier statewide.[7][44] Grade-level results underscore this pattern; for instance, in 2023–2024, just 9% of 8th graders met standards in mathematics, compared to 14.7% district-wide and 47.6% statewide.[8] Similarly, 2024–2025 data revealed only 2 out of 75 seventh-graders (2.7%) proficient in mathematics, against a state average of 50%.[45] Earlier cohorts showed comparable underperformance, with third graders in 2022–2023 at 17.4% proficient in math and 15.7% in ELA.[42] The school's achievement component rating on Ohio's report cards has been 1 out of 5 stars, reflecting these low proficiency levels and a Performance Index score among the state's lowest for 2024–2025.[46][4] While isolated improvements occurred—such as fifth-grade math rising from 11.5% to 23% proficient between 2021–2022 and 2022–2023—overall trends indicate persistent gaps, with no subjects approaching district or state medians.[47]| Subject | School Proficiency (%) | State Average (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 5 | 51 |
| ELA | 6 | 57 |
| Science | 4 | 63 |