About APS

About APS

Akron Public Schools is located in Akron, Ohio, in the northeastern part of the state, less than 40 miles south of Cleveland and 20 miles north of Canton. The district includes seven high schools, 10 middle schools and 34 elementary schools. It is the fifth largest district in Ohio with approximately 23,000 students enrolled.

Community Learning Centers
Akron Public Schools is currently undergoing a massive construction process for all of its buildings. Through a partnership with the City of Akron, by 2015, every school in the Akron Public Schools' district will be rebuilt or remodeled to become a state-of-the-art community learning center. CLCs are schools by day and community learning centers by night and on weekends.

Nineteen CLCs are complete, and another 10 are in the design or construction stage. The new schools will be equipped with tools that keep pace with ever-changing technology and 21st-century jobs. Children enjoy cleaner, brighter learning environments; safer, more secure buildings; better breakfast and lunch facilities; and more opportunities for enrichment and special-needs students. The City of Akron is responsible for scheduling the buildings after school hours.

Program Highlights:

• College Access – Students can earn a high school diploma and college credit at the same time.
  • Akron Early College High School students earn a high school diploma and an associate's degree – a $30,000 value (330.972.6450).
  • Seniors to Sophomores – Seniors can earn their diploma and 24 college credit hours at The University of Akron – a $9,000 value (330.761.3079).
• International Baccalaureate – The Firestone High School IB program is a rigorous two-year curriculum meeting the highest standards in the world. Firestone is one of 20 high schools in Ohio, 1,042 in the United States and 2,733 worldwide to offer this prestigious program (330.873.3315).
• Career Education – Students can choose from more than 30 two-year, accredited, occupational training programs that meet industry standards and get graduates ready for college or jobs (330.761.3130).
• JROTC – Army JROTC is offered at Kenmore High School, Air Force JROTC at Buchtel, Navy JROTC at Garfield and Marine Corps JROTC at East (call the school).
• Visual & Performing Arts – Nearly 700 students participate in visual and performing arts programs at Miller South School for the Visual and Performing Arts (grades 4-8) and Firestone High School. Firestone students can earn an art endorsement on their diploma and have many opportunities to perform at concerts, dance recitals and in a wide variety of music and theatre programs (Miller South 330.761.1765; Firestone 330.873.3315).
• NIHF School ... Center for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Learning – This innovative middle school opens its doors in August 2009 to students in grades 5-6 and eventually will expand to grades 5-8. Located at the National Inventors Hall of Fame, STEM students explore solutions to real problems working with inventors, business professionals and university staff serving as their guides (www.akronscienceschool.com).
• FREE All-day Kindergarten – Akron Public Schools offers FREE all-day kindergarten with small class sizes in all its elementary schools (330.761.3139).
• Meal Program – Every K-5 student receives a FREE, delicious lunch; and all students receive a FREE breakfast.