Superintendent David James learns about the Ford Next Generation Learning model by reading about Metro Nashville Public Schools District (MNPS). Although much larger than Akron, Nashville has a very similar student demographic make-up to Akron. About 15 years ago, the MNPS district was struggling with low graduation and attendance rates, and the business community made a commitment to the schools to help them make a change. The schools created high school career academies and worked closely with companies to make sure that their graduates had skills and competencies needed to fill high demand, high wage positions in their community.
Later in 2011
Mr. James invites a group of Akron business leaders and city officials to the discuss the district's goals, college & career academy model, and how it might benefit APS students while elevating the community. The group later visits Nashville.
ConxusNEO co-sponsors a trip to Nashville in partnership with the Greater Akron Chamber of Commerce. Twenty area CEOs and presidents from four local universities attend.
November 2015
Leaders and teachers from North High School visit Nashville after Mr. James designates North as the pilot high school for College & Career Academies of Akron.
Akron Public Schoools partners with ConxusNEO to convene business and community partners to participate in the Master Planning process and advocate for the shared vision of the desired APS graduate. Over 1,000 individuals from business, education, and community organizations gathered, along with students, parents, teachers and administrators to develop the master plan, using the Ford Next Generation Learning Model, to guide the implementation of College & Career Academies of Akron.
Akron Public Schools submits College & Career Academies Master Plan to APS Board of Education. Superintendent David James addresses the community at the State of the Schools Address. Akron Children's Hospital announced as first named academy partner.
GAR Foundation announces three-year grant in the amount $300,000 for the expansion of the College and Career Academies at North High School.
April 2017
APS Board of Education approves the College & Career Academies Master Plan.
May 2017 Ford NGL designates Akron Public Schools a Ford Next Generation Learning Community. United Way of Summit County is announced as a strategic partner brokering partnerships between businesses and Akron Public Schools.
September 2017
Implementation of Master Plan begins. New roles given to Steering Committee and Business Advisory Councils. North High School launches wall to wall academies.
November 2017
APS Board of Education approves fifteen academies and more than 50 pathways. Academies and pathways were designed by businesses, community partners, cluster principals, teachers, parents and students using labor market data provided by ConxusNEO coupled with student interest data, parent and community interest data, and current CTE programming data.
February 2018
APS announces Kent State University as the named partner for all three academies at Firestone CLC in a formal ceremony on Kent's State's campus.
July 2018
APS announces that Bridgestone Americas, Inc as the named academy partner at East CLC which will bring a Firestone Complete Auto Care Center to the East CLC campus.
August 2018
All freshmen enroll in Freshman Academy at eight Akron Public School's high schools. College tours, career exploration, and courses in essential skills help students make an informed decisions in selecting academies and pathways for sophomore through senior years. Year-end report card data reveals improvements in academic achievement, attendance and discipline.
September 2018
APS formally recognizes The University of Akron as a sister university of Akron Early College, Ellet CLC, and NIHF STEM High School in a formal ceremony on the university's campus.
October 2018
> A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held to officially open the East CLC Automotive Technology Center in cooperation with Firestone Complete Auto Care.
> APS announces that Stark State College will become a sister college at Kenmore-Garfield High School.
December 2018 Summa Health becomes a named academy partner at Buchtel CLC. The academy is named the Summa Health Academy of Leadership and Innovation.
March 2019
APS announces that the Conservancy for the Cuyahoga Valley National Park (CVNP) will be come a named academy partner in a formal ceremony at Happy Days Lodge. The academy will be located at Ellet CLC and will be called the CVNP Academy of Global Media and Marketing.
August 2019
All Akron Public Schools high schools students enroll in one of 15 academies and choose from one of 54 pathways. Students engage in grade level experiential learning including industry field experiences, job shadowing , career expos, Dream Day, and senior capstone projects.
October 2019 First Energy partners with APS to become a named academy partner at Kenmore-Garfield High School. The academy will called the FirstEnergy Academy of Emerging Technology and Design.
January 2020
> APS welcomes Huntington Bank as a named academy partner at Buchtel CLC. The academy will be called the Huntington Academy of Global Industry and Design.
> APS, Stark State College and the University of Cincinnati announce the Early IT Program. The program gives students in the Information Technology Pathway at Kenmore-Garfield an opportunity to complete up to 43 hours of college credit while in high school and earn admission into The University of Cincinnati (UC).
March 2020
The University of Mount Union joins the College & Career Academies as a sister university to North High School.
December 2020
> APS welcomes Goodyear as a named academy partner at both Ellet CLC and NIHF STEM High School.
> The APS Board of Education approves the master plan addendum to create the Middle School College & Career Academies.
April 2021 Acme Fresh Market partners with APS to become a named academy partner at Kenmore-Garfield High School. The academy will be called the Acme Fresh Market Academy of Innovation and Industry.
October 2021
APS announces that the City of Akron will become a named academy partner at Ellet CLC. The academy will be called the City of Akron Academy of Community Health and Safety and will support pathways in Animal Studies, Fire Safety and Criminal Justice.
January 2023 Stark State College agrees to become a sister college to East CLC in addition to Garfield CLC. APS welcomed Stark State in a formal ceremony at the Stark State campus in Akron.
APS welcomed their 15th and final named academy partner, Signet Jewelers, on the Signet Jewelers campus in West Akron. Signet will partner with North High School in the Signet Jewelers Academy of Global Technology and Business.
![2011]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1688667972/akronschoolscom/tj0xdfldfbnc6mnmuabu/DavidJames.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1688667972/akronschoolscom/tj0xdfldfbnc6mnmuabu/DavidJames.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1688667972/akronschoolscom/tj0xdfldfbnc6mnmuabu/DavidJames.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1688667972/akronschoolscom/tj0xdfldfbnc6mnmuabu/DavidJames.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1688667972/akronschoolscom/tj0xdfldfbnc6mnmuabu/DavidJames.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1688667972/akronschoolscom/tj0xdfldfbnc6mnmuabu/DavidJames.jpg","width":2200}])
![February 2017]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1688670615/akronschoolscom/ri8jzmquytjzc55girri/ConsidineandToth.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1688670615/akronschoolscom/ri8jzmquytjzc55girri/ConsidineandToth.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1688670615/akronschoolscom/ri8jzmquytjzc55girri/ConsidineandToth.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1688670615/akronschoolscom/ri8jzmquytjzc55girri/ConsidineandToth.jpg","width":816}])
![February 2018]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1688673706/akronschoolscom/iswpoivwtq7mgxm11bhe/DSC_2145a.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1688673706/akronschoolscom/iswpoivwtq7mgxm11bhe/DSC_2145a.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1688673706/akronschoolscom/iswpoivwtq7mgxm11bhe/DSC_2145a.jpg","width":564}])
![2020]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1688735800/akronschoolscom/ps88hrk5bfb108ub4woe/HuntingtonEvent.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1688735800/akronschoolscom/ps88hrk5bfb108ub4woe/HuntingtonEvent.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1688735800/akronschoolscom/ps88hrk5bfb108ub4woe/HuntingtonEvent.jpg","width":518}])
