Akron Public Schools Explained

Akron Public Schools
Location:	10 North Main Street
Zipcode:	44308
Country:	United States
Established:	1847
Superintendent:	C. Michael Robinson Jr.^[1]
Asst Superintendent:	Ellen McWilliams-Woods^[2]
School Board:	7 members^[3]
Chair Of The Board:	Derrick Hall
Schools:	45 (2024–25)
Budget:	$559.6 million (2017-2018 School Year)^[4]
Affiliations:	The Ohio 8^[5]
Enrollment:	21,343 (2017–18)
Teachers:	1,615 (2017–18)

Akron Public Schools is a school district serving students in Akron, Ohio, United States, and nearby communities. It is located in the northeastern part of Ohio, less than 40miles south of Cleveland and 20miles north of Canton. The district encompasses 54.4sqmi and includes, as of the 2024–2025 school year, 8 high schools, 9 middle schools, 31 elementary schools, and 3 administration buildings. Approximately 20,000 students are enrolled. The district employs 2800 full-time and 1700 part-time employees. The district's annual budget exceeds $559 million.^[4]

Community learning centers

Akron Public Schools is undergoing reconstruction of its buildings. Through a partnership with the city of Akron and the Ohio School Facilities Commission, schools in the district have been rebuilt or remodeled to become community learning centers, or "CLCs". These are schools by day and community centers by night and weekends.

Twenty-nine CLCs are complete and another four are in the design or construction stage. The city of Akron is responsible for scheduling the use of these buildings after school hours.^[6]

Schools

High schools

• Akron Early College High School
• Buchtel Community Learning Center
• East Community Learning Center
• Ellet Community Learning Center
• Firestone Community Learning Center (Akron School for the Arts)
  • Garfield Community Learning Center National Inventors Hall of Fame STEM High School
• North High School

^[7] The schools will merge and be housed at the Kenmore location for the 2017–2018 school year as "Kenmore-Garfield" while the new building is constructed on the Garfield site.^{[8] [9]} The new building is expected to open in 2022 and will be called the "Garfield Community Learning Center".^[10]

Middle schools

• Bridges
• Buchtel CLC 7-8 Campus
• East CLC 7-8 Campus
• Hyre CLC
• Innes CLC
• Jennings CLC
• Litchfield CLC (Precursor to the Akron School for the Arts)
• Miller South School for the Visual and Performing Arts (Precursor to the Akron School for the Arts)
• National Inventors Hall of Fame STEM Middle School

Elementary schools

• Arnold CLC
• Barber CLC
• Betty Jane CLC
• Bridges
• Case CLC
• Crouse CLC
• Findley CLC
• Forest Hill CLC
• Glover CLC
• Harris-Jackson CLC
• Hatton CLC
• Hill CLC
• King CLC
• Leggett CLC
• Mason CLC
• McEbright CLC
• Pfeiffer
• Portage Path CLC
• Resnik CLC (formerly Fairlawn Reserve Elementary)
• Rimer CLC
• Ritzman CLC
• Sam Salem CLC
• Schumacher CLC
• Seiberling CLC
• Voris CLC
• Windemere CLC

Specialty schools

• Adult Learning
• Akron Alternative Academy
• Akron Digital Academy-No longer affiliated with Akron Public Schools
• Akron Early College High School
• Akron Opportunity Center
• Akron Preparatory School-Not an Akron Public School
• Akron School for the Arts (Firestone CLC)
• Bridges
• Evening High School
• Miller South School for the Visual and Performing Arts
• National Inventors Hall of Fame STEM Middle School
• Olympus
• School of Practical Nursing (Closed June 2018)

(Specialty School for At-Risk students.)

Schools that have been closed

High schools

• Central High School - established in 1860 as Akron High School and renamed Central in 1911 when South High School was built. Closed in 1970 and merged with Hower Vocational to form Central-Hower High School
• Central-Hower High School (123 S. Forge St.) created in 1970 by the merger of Central High and Hower Vocational High Schools. It was closed at the end of the 2005–2006 school year. Building is currently being used for the National Inventors Hall of Fame STEM High School.
• Garfield High School - built in 1936 - housed at 435 N Firestone Blvd - closed at the end of the 2016–2017 school year and merged with Kenmore to create Kenmore-Garfield High School.
• Hower Vocational High School (130 W. Exchange St.) - named for M. Otis Hower (1858-1916), an Akron manufacturing leader. APS opened trade classes in Perkins Elementary in 1927 and renamed the building for Hower. It housed the Central-Hower student body after their merger in 1970 until a new building was completed in 1975, it was then demolished in 1978.^[11]
• Kenmore High School - built in 1918 - housed at 2140 13th St. SW - closed at the end of the 2016-2017 school year and merged with Garfield as Kenmore-Garfield High School.
• South High School (1055 East Ave.) established in 1911 as Akron's second high school; closed at the end of the 1979–1980 school year. Building was reopened in 1994 as an intermediate visual and performing arts school, renamed George C. Miller South School for the Visual and Performing Arts.
• West High School (315 S. Maple St.) was built in 1914 and closed in 1953 and reopened as West Junior High School. The building closed in 1980 and became senior citizen apartments.^{[12] [13]}

Middle schools

• Goodrich Middle School closed at the end of the 2008–2009 school year.^[14]
• Goodyear Middle School closed in 2012 and was combined with the former East High School once construction of East CLC was completed.
• Perkins Technology Middle School, Three buildings were constructed (1872, 1920, 1954). The second one was renamed Hower Vocational School. The original building was torn down in 1949. It closed after housing Litchfield Middle School during construction after the spring of 2016.
• Roswell Kent Middle School closed in spring 2017.
• Riedinger Middle School closed at the end of the 2008–2009 school year and became the Akron Opportunity Center
• Thornton Junior High School opened in 1955 at the former South High School after a new South High School was built. Thornton closed in 1979 and the building was later demolished.
• West Jr. High School opened around 1953 in the former West HS. It closed in 1980 and later became senior citizen living apartments.

Elementary schools

• Allen Elementary School closed in 1967 and was demolished.
• Barret Elementary School closed at the end of the 2011–2012 school year. The building is now occupied by Bridges Learning Center ^[15]
• Bettes Elementary School closed in spring 2017. It was demolished in 2023.
• Bryan Elementary School closed in 1978. It became Glenwood Jail, which also houses drug and alcohol rehabilitation services through Oriana House.
• Colonial Elementary School closed in 1964 and became part of the Sheet Metal Worker's Union for a number of years. It reopened in August 2013 as Colonial Preparatory Academy, a charter school serving students in Kenmore and West Akron.
• Crosby closed in 2004 and was used as the Akron Alternative School until it was demolished.
• Fairlawn Elementary School was demolished in 2006 and replaced by Judith Resnik Community Learning Center.
• Erie Island Elementary Schools closed at the end of the 2008–09 school year.^[16] The Akron School of Practical Nursing was moved into the building in 2009.^[17]
• Essex Elementary school Closed 2011-12 School year
• Firestone Park Elementary Shool closed at the end of the 2023–24 school year.
• Fraunfelter Elementary School closed in 1980 and now houses Oriana House Administrative Offices.
• Grace Elementary School became an antiques mall for a few years, now demolished. The land now houses a car dealership.
• Guinther Elementary School closed in 1993 and was later demolished.
• Harris Elementary School closed to combine with Jackson as Harris-Jackson Community Learning Center.
• Heminger Elementary closed in 2008.
• Henry Elementary School on North Forge Street closed in 1978. The building was used as a daycare center for children of Summa Akron City Hospital employees until its demolition in 2007. The land now houses additions made to Summa Akron City Hospital in 2008.
• Howe Elementary School closed in 1972 and was later demolished. The land that formerly housed the school was used in building the Akron Innerbelt.
• Jackson Elementary School was closed in 2007, and was later demolished. It combined with Harris to form Harris-Jackson Community Learning Center.
• Lane Elementary was demolished in 1980. Helen Arnold Community Learning Center, which opened in the fall of 2007, was built near the former school to serve students in the neighborhood.
• Lincoln Elementary School closed at the end of the 2008–09 school year.
• Lawndale Elementary School closed at the end of the 2015–16 school year.^[18]
• Margaret Park Elementary closed in 2007. Demolished in 2017.
• Miller Elementary School closed in 1978 and became administrative offices for Akron Public Schools.
• Rankin Elementary closed after the 2011–2012 school year
• Robinson Community Learning Center closed at the end of the 2023–24 school year. It now houses the NIHF STEM Highschool.
• Smith Elementary School closed at the end of the 2015–16 school year.
• Spicer Elementary School, located at 332 Carroll Street, closed in 1968 and became Spicer Hall at the University of Akron. The building was demolished in 1999.
• Stewart Elementary School closed at the end of the 2008–09 school year.
• Thomastown Elementary School now houses the Haunted Schoolhouse.

District Enrollment Figures (K-12)

Source:^[19]

1965^[20]	1970^[21]	1974-75^[22]	1980	1985	1990	1995	2000	2005	2010	2015	2019	2020	2023
52,632	55,000	49,835	38,974	35,037	33,230	31,072	30,360	27,764	23,210	21,001	20,723	20,669	19,897

External links

• APS website

Notes and References

1. Web site: Superintendent . Akron Schools . 29 September 2023.
2. Web site: Fowler . Erica . Kent State alumna commemorated for leadership contributions . KentWired.com . 24 July 2019.
3. Web site: Board Bios and Contact Information . Akron Schools . 24 July 2019.
4. Web site: Facts & Stats 2017-18 . Akron Schools . 24 July 2019.
5. Web site: Home Page . The Ohio 8 . 24 July 2019.
6. Web site: Building Program Update. August 2014. Community Learning Centers. November 12, 2018.
7. Web site: Garrett. Renee. BOARD VOTES ON HIGH SCHOOL: Plan will merge Kenmore, Garfield. Akron Public Schools. October 11, 2016. May 3, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170803163749/http://akronschools.com/headlines/4132. August 3, 2017. dead. mdy-all.
8. News: Thomas. Monica L.. Akron school board approves Garfield site for high school combined with Kenmore. . December 12, 2016. May 3, 2017.
9. News: Thomas. Monica L.. Akron school board approves Garfield site for high school combined with Kenmore. . November 7, 2016. May 3, 2017.
10. News: Pignolet, Jennifer . Akron school board names Kenmore-Garfield high school replacement Garfield CLC. . May 11, 2021. June 1, 2021.
11. http://www.howervocational.org/HowerHistory.html
12. Web site: Old Ohio Schools - Summit County . www.oldohioschools.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081123042417/http://www.oldohioschools.com/summit_county.htm . 2008-11-23.
13. Web site: Archived copy . 2012-01-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111123202831/http://akronschools.com/dotAsset/13846.pdf . 2011-11-23 . dead .
14. Web site: Akron.com - Leader Publications - Akron, Ohio News. Akron.com - Akron, OH. 3 July 2023.
15. Web site: Beacon Journal . September 25, 2016 . September 27, 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160927104946/http://www.ohio.com/news/local/east-akron-ymca-moves-to-former-barrett-elementary-school-old-site-for-sale-1.474910 . dead .
16. http://www.ohio.com/news/five-akron-schools-closing-1.102870 Five Akron schools closing
17. Web site: About » Akron Public Schools . 2016-09-25 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160927183025/http://www.akronschools.com/school/School+of+Practical+Nursing/about . 2016-09-27 . dead .
18. News: Akron to close Smith, Lawndale elementary schools. cleveland.com. 2018-02-08. en-US.
19. Web site: Ohio Department of Education – Enrollment Data . June 10, 2024 .
20. News: October 9, 1965 . Issue 1 Becomes Battle of Figures: Here's Breakdown . Akron Beacon Journal . A12.
21. News: September 12, 1970 . Pupil Count . Akron Beacon Journal . B1.
22. News: November 15, 1974 . Student Tally by District . Akron Beacon Journal . B1.