The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in English language arts. The lowest is 21% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Jennings Community Learning Center
Jennings Community Learning Center is a middle school serving grades 6 through 8 in Akron, a mixed city in Summit County that has pivoted from its rubber-manufacturing past to a diversified economy anchored by healthcare systems, university research, and emerging tech. The school's student body is substantially diverse by race and ethnicity, with a large share identifying as Asian or Black, a notable Hispanic population, and smaller populations of other backgrounds. Enrollment sits at a mid-sized level typical for a middle school in its geography.
Academic performance at Jennings lags considerably. On Ohio's State Tests in the most recent year, the school's proficiency rates across math, English language arts, and science all fall below one-third of students. In math, around one-fifth of students tested at proficient or above; in English language arts, closer to one-third; in science, around one-quarter. Among districts in Summit County, Jennings sits in the bottom quartile on overall proficiency. This is a significant data point for any parent weighing the school: classroom instruction in core academic skills is not reaching most of the student body at the state's proficiency threshold. A parent may want to look into this further with the school, including what interventions or support structures exist for students who are not yet meeting grade-level standards, and what the school's approach is to narrowing these gaps.
Free-or-reduced-price lunch status was not reported in the available data, and similarly no figures were provided on the share of students with individualized education plans or English learner status, so a clearer picture of the economic or learning-support context the school navigates is not available here. Because the school serves middle grades, it does not have a high school graduation rate.
Akron itself is a city in transition. Housing values have appreciated modestly in recent years, and the rental market is tight; the cost of living is modest relative to national benchmarks but has been climbing. Downtown Akron is undergoing investment in civic amenities and park infrastructure, and the University of Akron campus sits adjacent to the downtown core. The city has been diversifying its employment base away from manufacturing toward healthcare, research institutions, and startups. The overall walkability of the city is modest, though certain neighborhoods like Highland Square and areas near downtown are more pedestrian-friendly.
At the district level, Akron Public Schools has undergone significant recent change. In November 2024, voters approved new property taxes for the district for the first time in many years—a lasting shift in the district's tax burden and a major capital commitment that includes construction of a new North High School. However, ahead of that levy vote, the district cut substantial positions from its payroll, including dozens of teaching jobs, which has reshaped class sizes and the availability of staff support. The district is also implementing a College and Career Academies model district-wide, an inquiry-based pedagogical framework that emphasizes career pathways and industry partnerships and now extends into elementary grades. This represents a fundamental shift in how instruction is designed across Akron's schools.
Jennings sits within this context of budget stabilization following cuts, pedagogical transformation, and district-wide system change. The most pressing question for a family considering this school is the school's plan to move proficiency rates in core subjects substantially higher, and what academic support and intervention systems are in place now to address the gap between current achievement and state standards.
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