The top reported proficiency rate is 32% in Science. The lowest is 15% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Middlebury Academy
Middlebury Academy is a tuition-free charter school serving kindergarten through eighth grade in Akron, Ohio. The school sits on Kent Street in a mixed-income neighborhood where the median home value is modest and modest appreciation is ongoing, consistent with Akron's recent infill and reinvestment patterns.
The school enrolls a little over two hundred students, with a notably high concentration of Black students; Asian, Native Hawaiian, and white representation are minimal. A substantial share of the student body is concentrated in the upper elementary and middle grades, with smaller cohorts in the early primary years. Federal lunch-eligibility data was not available, so a parent seeking to understand economic composition and access to meal support may want to ask the school directly. Similarly, information about students with individualized education plans and English learners was not provided.
State test results show a school operating significantly below proficiency thresholds across tested subjects. In math for grades 3-8, the proficiency rate is well below what state assessments measure as grade-level mastery. English language arts performance is higher than math but still modest, sitting around three in ten students meeting proficiency. Science proficiency falls between the two. The school sits in the bottom quartile of schools across Summit County on an overall proficiency index. These numbers are straightforward facts, and a parent weighing enrollment may want to ask school leadership what instructional moves and support structures are underway to raise achievement.
Recently the school has undergone significant operational change. In partnership with the Educational Empowerment Group, Middlebury Academy brought in new curricular resources, installed interactive SMART boards in every classroom, and layered in wrap-around student and family services. The school has added counseling partnerships with Beech Brook Counseling Services, Families First Health Services, and the Minority Behavioral Support Group. Additionally, the school has launched health services, including in-school eye exams and vision care through the Ohio Optometric Foundation's iSee Program. These additions reflect a pivot toward a school that sits somewhere between a strict academic charter and a full-service community school model. For families, the question is whether these new supports translate into classroom learning gains and whether they match what your child and family need.
The school is part of a city of mixed neighborhoods and working economic transition. Downtown Akron and its civic anchors sit a short distance away. Housing costs in the immediate area are relatively accessible compared to state and national benchmarks, though recent appreciation has been steady. The city has been investing in walkability, downtown revitalization, and affordable housing through targeted programs. Employment anchors include healthcare systems, polymer research, and tech startups, alongside the University of Akron.
No information was available on attendance, discipline, course breadth beyond the core subjects tested, or program specializations. A parent should ask the school directly about scheduling structure, arts and electives, special programming for accelerated or struggling learners, and how the school's support services are organized across the day.
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