Original Research by School Decision on Imagine Akron Academy
Imagine Akron Academy is a small charter school serving kindergarten only, located in Akron. The school currently enrolls a small number of students, nearly all of whom are Black. The school is part of a two-entity structure: Imagine Leadership Academy, which serves grades one through six, operates at the same address on Romig Road. This means a family choosing Imagine Akron Academy for kindergarten must plan for their child to transition to Imagine Leadership Academy the following year, or to seek enrollment elsewhere. Both schools share the same campus but are administratively separate.
The school's enrollment has declined over the past several school years. No state testing data is available, which is expected because kindergarten is not tested by Ohio's state assessment system. A graduation rate does not apply since the school serves only early elementary grades. Information on attendance, discipline, staffing, and course access was not available. Data on the share of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch and the number of students with individualized education plans or English learner status were also not reported.
The school sits within Akron, a mixed city with neighborhoods ranging from the eclectic Highland Square and more walkable downtown areas to older single-family residential zones. The city's identity remains shaped by its manufacturing past but has shifted toward healthcare, polymer research, and technology. Housing values in the broader area are below the state benchmark, though they have appreciated modestly in recent years. Rental rates have ticked up slightly. The region's unemployment rate sits around 4.3 percent. Major civic anchors include the downtown library system, Lock 3 Park, the Akron Art Museum, and the Ohio and Erie Canal Towpath Trail, along with the University of Akron campus at the edge of the central business district.
Parents considering Imagine Akron Academy should understand that they are selecting a kindergarten program within a small, declining-enrollment charter and will need to plan for the next stage of schooling after that year. A parent may want to look further into the school's approach to early literacy and math, class composition, teacher experience and stability, and the transition pathways to Imagine Leadership Academy or other local options.
See more original research from School Decision →