What is it?

• • This is the first Akron Public Schools Levy in 12 years

  • The levy includes an investment of  $3.83 per month per $100,000 home valuation for a new North High School

  • The levy also includes an investment of $22 per month per $100,000 home valuation toward operating expense

Why it is needed?

• Less revenue from the State of Ohio.
• Costs have increased over the past 12 years to educate our children.
• Increased Operating Expenses from inflation.
• A new North High School is needed due to aging and costly repair of a facility partly built in 1931.
  • Leaking roof
  • Old HVAC system
  • Enrollment in North High has significantly increased since our last levy 12 years ago.

Good fiscal management but challenges, ahead.

• Despite fiscal challenges Akron Public Schools has ended in the black.
• This includes reluctantly eliminating 285 jobs to save $25 million. The district has worked hard to limit the impact of most of those job cuts through attrition and placement in other districts. 
• The District is projecting losses in revenue for fiscal year 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028.

Ohio’s property tax percentage to schools does not increase with home value (meaning that since the district last passed a levy 12 years ago, increased housing values have not been passed along to the district.)

Community partnerships bring student achievements.  

• 87.7% of APS graduates graduated in four years, exceeding most large urban districts in the tri-state area.
  
• 84% of the 2023 graduating class reported that they were employed, enrolled in higher education or in the military within six months of graduation.
  
• 70% of Akron Early College high school graduates also obtained an Associate’s degree.
  
• APS offers all-day kindergarten and has expanded early learning programs to focus more on critical, early education.
  
• Akron Public Schools was recently named a Ford Next Generation Learning as a PreK-12 College and Career Academy District — the only district given the honor in the nation.
  
• The class of 2024 collectively earned more than 74,000 hours through internships.
  
• Akron Public Schools students earn between 6,000 and 8,000 college credits on average yearly.