Original Research by School Decision on Firestone Community Learning Center
Firestone Community Learning Center is a regular public high school in Akron serving grades nine through twelve. The school enrolls students across all four high school grades in roughly equal numbers. The student body is predominantly Black, with a substantial share of white students and smaller shares of students identifying as multiracial, Hispanic, Asian, or American Indian. More detailed demographic breakdowns are not available in the data.
The school's most recent state assessment results show mixed performance. In social studies, student proficiency sits above the midpoint among tested competencies. Science proficiency is below that midpoint but solid. In English language arts and mathematics, proficiency rates fall below the midpoint, indicating that fewer than half of students meet state standards in those areas. A parent may want to look into the school's math and ELA support structures further with the building to understand what additional help is available for students who do not yet meet proficiency.
Firestone sits within Akron Public Schools, a district in significant transition. In November 2024, Akron voters approved a new operating levy and bond issue, the first new school taxes the district has passed in more than a decade. That funding supports district operations and construction of a new North High School building. However, the path to that approval involved substantial cuts: ahead of the levy vote, the district eliminated hundreds of positions, including dozens of teaching jobs. These staffing reductions are a lasting change that affects class sizes and program depth across the system, including at Firestone. Parents considering enrollment should understand that the district has recently absorbed major budget constraints, though the new levy provides resources for the immediate future.
The district has also adopted a system-wide College and Career Academies model across all high schools, built on the Ford Next Generation Learning framework. This pedagogy shifts away from traditional instruction toward career pathways, industry partnerships, and inquiry-based learning. It is a defining feature of how classroom instruction works at Firestone and every Akron high school. The framework has contributed to measurable gains in district performance on state report cards.
Akron itself is Ohio's fifth-largest city, a former rubber manufacturing hub now anchored by healthcare, polymer research, and a growing tech sector. The city's housing market has appreciated in recent years and is characterized by tight inventory. The median home value in the area is modestly below the state benchmark. Rental costs are typical for the region. Major employers include Summa Health, Cleveland Clinic Akron General, Akron Children's Hospital, the University of Akron, and the Bounce Innovation Hub, a startup incubator in the former B.F. Goodrich plant downtown. Downtown Akron has been the focus of civic investment through the Reimagining the Civic Commons initiative, though the city overall has only modest walkability. Neighborhoods vary: some areas like Highland Square and Firestone Park are notably more pedestrian-friendly than others.
Firestone is located on Castle Boulevard. The school serves the Akron district and draws from the city's neighborhoods. Beyond the school's immediate data, state testing results are the only academic performance figures available; information about graduation rates, attendance, discipline, staffing, course offerings, and special populations was not provided in the school's records.
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