Original Research by School Decision on Choices Alternative School
Choices Alternative School is a small public high school serving eleventh and twelfth grade students in Canton, located on Tuscarawas Street West in the city's downtown core. It operates as part of the Canton City School District at a time when the district faces significant structural changes.
The school's student body reflects Canton's demographic composition: about half of students identify as Black, with substantial shares who are White or of two or more races, and smaller populations who are Hispanic or American Indian. The vast majority of enrollment is in twelfth grade, which suggests this is a school designed for students completing their high school pathway in one final year, or for juniors and seniors seeking an alternative to the traditional setting. Enrollment is small, numbering in the low hundreds. Data on free and reduced-price lunch eligibility and on special populations such as students with IEPs or English learners were not available.
On the most recent state assessment reported, Choices students scored in social studies at a proficiency rate well below the midpoint for schools statewide. Only one year of testing data was available, so trend information is limited. No state graduation rate or other outcome measures were accessible. For a school of this type and size, missing data often reflects either the alternative or special-population nature of the school, untested grade ranges below high school, or assessment structures that differ from the traditional high school model; parents may want to reach out to the school directly to understand its intended population and outcomes.
Canton City School District, the parent district, is navigating a difficult financial period. In January 2026 the board approved a substantial budget reduction plan including school closures, attendance zone changes, increased class sizes across all grade levels, and dozens of staff cuts. A levy is planned for the November 2026 ballot. These shifts will affect the district broadly. On a longer timeline, in 2023 voters approved a bond to build two new K-6 neighborhood elementary schools, ending a prior model in which younger students changed buildings frequently; this marks a shift toward a K-6 structure that parents had sought over years.
Canton itself is a mid-size industrial city in transition. Its economy centers on healthcare and a still-significant manufacturing base anchored by TimkenSteel and other specialty steel, bearings, and food production. The downtown, where Choices is located, is pedestrian-friendly and walkable, with an active arts district centered on galleries, studios, restaurants, and monthly First Friday celebrations. Civic anchors include the Stark County Library, the Canton Museum of Art, the Palace Theatre, and the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Hall of Fame Village, a large mixed-use development north of downtown that has secured recent financing for an indoor waterpark and hotel expansion.
The city has experienced long-term population decline, though recent losses are small enough that some observers describe the trend as stabilization rather than active shrinkage. New housing investment concentrates in downtown historic lofts and mid-rise apartment conversions in the arts district. Public transit through SARTA connects the downtown core and school campuses across the county.
A parent considering Choices should understand that the school serves an upper-grade population, likely with specific alternative or accelerated pathway needs, and operates within a district undergoing significant operational and financial restructuring. Visiting the school and speaking with staff about enrollment criteria, outcomes, and how the alternative model is structured would be essential before deciding whether it fits a student's needs.
See more original research from School Decision →