The top reported proficiency rate is 39% in English language arts. The lowest is 19% in Social studies.
Original Research by School Decision on Schumacher Community Learning Center
Schumacher Community Learning Center serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Akron, a mixed city in Summit County. The school sits within Akron Public Schools, which serves its neighborhoods through decentralized school buildings rather than a single campus cluster. As a regular public elementary school, Schumacher's scope centers on foundational literacy and numeracy in the early grades.
The school draws a student body that is predominantly Black, with smaller shares of students identifying as multiracial, Hispanic, Asian, and white. The overall enrollment is moderate for an elementary school spanning six grades. Data on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility, special education, and English learner enrollment are not available, so a parent would want to ask the school directly about the demographic composition of support services and whether there are substantial numbers of students with IEPs or who are learning English.
On the most recent state testing, Schumacher's proficiency rates fall well below the midpoint among Summit County district schools. In English language arts across grades three through five, proficiency stands below two-fifths of tested students. Mathematics proficiency is lower still, at roughly one-quarter. Science proficiency is just over one-third. These are not strong numbers, and they place the school in the bottom quartile when measured against other tested schools across the county on overall proficiency. Reading, writing, and math skills at this stage lay the groundwork for all later learning, so a parent choosing this school should understand that these proficiency levels signal a genuine academic gap worth examining closely. A parent may want to look into what supports the school offers for struggling readers and mathematicians, whether there is intervention during the school day, and what the school's specific strategy is to raise achievement.
Older social studies assessment data from 2017 showed very low proficiency as well, though the state no longer reports social studies results at the elementary level, so current standing in that subject is unknown.
Akron Public Schools itself is in transition. In November 2024, voters approved a new operating levy and bond for the first time in years. Before that vote, the district cut staff substantially, including dozens of teaching positions, which may affect class sizes and the breadth of support and enrichment available at individual schools. At the same time, the district has rolled out a College and Career Academies model system-wide, anchored in the Ford Next Generation Learning framework and inquiry-based instruction. This is a lasting pedagogical shift, though its reach into early elementary remains in early phases.
The neighborhood around Hartford Avenue in the 44320 zip code is residential Akron. Housing values are modest relative to state and national benchmarks, and rent as a share of income sits below the national average, making the area relatively affordable on those measures. Akron itself is a slow-growth city, but recent municipal initiatives have focused on infill housing and downtown revitalization. The University of Akron sits near downtown and is an educational anchor; Summa Health and Cleveland Clinic Akron General are major employers signaling a healthcare-anchored regional economy.
For families weighing Schumacher, the core questions are whether the school's current proficiency levels, combined with recent staff reductions in the district, match the academic support their child needs, and whether the school's progress under the emerging College and Career framework will strengthen outcomes over time. The school's strengths lie in its location within a stable Akron neighborhood and its enrollment in a district actively restructuring its pedagogy and capital infrastructure. Its academic performance so far reflects a significant challenge that families should address directly with school leadership.
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