Five years after its grand opening, LeBron James’ I Promise School (IPS) is facing scrutiny over its academic performance. Despite substantial investments and resources, recent reports highlight significant challenges in meeting educational benchmarks.
The school, established in 2018 as a collaboration between Akron Public Schools (APS), the I Promise Network, and the LeBron James Family Foundation, was designed to serve the district’s lowest-performing students. However, the data reveals a trend: the current class of eighth graders has not had a single student pass the state’s math test since the third grade.
“Not one? In three years?” Akron Public Schools board member Valerie McKitrick questioned during a recent board meeting, expressing the concern shared by many.
Keith Liechty-Clifford, APS’s director of school improvement, acknowledged the gravity of the situation, describing it as “discouraging.” The state has also flagged the school for targeted intervention, noting that two of its biggest subgroups—Black students and those with disabilities—are testing in the bottom 5% statewide.
The school’s mission was ambitious from the start: to act as an intervention model for struggling students, offering additional resources funded by up to $1.4 million annually from the LeBron James Family Foundation. These funds provide extra tutors, more teachers, and comprehensive wraparound services, including job training for parents and housing assistance for families.
Despite these efforts, APS board members are questioning whether IPS is fulfilling its promise. “For me as a board member, I just think about all the resources that we’re providing,” said Board President Derrick Hall. “And I just, I’m just disappointed that I don’t think, it doesn’t appear like we’re seeing the kind of change that we would expect to see.”
The school’s academic data presents a mixed picture. While some grades have shown improvement, others have regressed. For instance, last year’s fifth-grade class doubled the number of students proficient in reading, rising from 6% to 13%. In contrast, the sixth-grade class saw a drop in reading proficiency from 7% in fifth grade to just 2% in sixth grade.
The COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly disrupted learning, yet board members are still concerned. The school’s founding leader left during its third year, and it has since cycled through three interim principals before appointing Stephanie Davis as the new principal last year.
The Ohio Department of Education’s designation of IPS as an Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI) School is another mark in its ongoing challenges.
Despite the disappointing data, the LeBron James Family Foundation remains committed to the school. “When we started this work to wrap around students through education, we entered this partnership with Akron Public School for the long haul,” the foundation stated. “This work requires a long-term commitment, hard work, and a lot of love and care.”
IPS started with a class of third graders, and that 3rd grade class was featured on LeBron James Family Foundation YouTube page celebrating their graduation. Not one of the students graduating are prepared for basic high school math.