Akron Public Schools Joins National Initiative to Reinvent High School

AKRON, OH – July 10, 2025 – Akron Public Schools is proud to announce its selection as one of 24 systems participating in the Future of High School Network, a new national initiative led by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The Network brings together innovative systems from across the country to catalyze learning, knowledge and progress to support a ‘new architecture’ for high school nationwide.

This special group of schools shares a common belief: high schools should be places where students truly learn useful skills, get excited about what they're studying, and finish school ready to succeed in a constantly changing world. By being part of this group, Akron Public Schools will look into and promote new ways of teaching where students learn at their own pace and get better tools to track their progress and help them grow.

“This opportunity allows us to collaborate with and learn from leading educators across the country, while contributing to Akron's voice to shape the future of high school,” said Marcie Ebright, Director of College & Career Academies. “We’re proud to be recognized as a leader in this work and to showcase our scholars’ strengths on a national stage.”

As part of this network, Akron Public Schools will also help the Carnegie Foundation create a big plan for what research and development is needed to improve high schools across the country. What we learn from being in this group will help figure out what's needed for new ideas in education to start, keep going and spread everywhere.

"The Carnegie Unit has become the bedrock currency of the educational economy, defining almost all aspects of schooling and systematically conflating time and learning,” said Dr. Timothy Knowles, President of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. “The insights and partnerships generated by the extraordinary members of this network—in parallel with the priorities outlined in our forthcoming National Research and Development Agenda—will support knowledge building to enable innovation to flourish in high schools everywhere.”

To learn more about the Future of High School Network, visit: www.carnegiefoundation.org