In 2018, NBA superstar LeBron James captured national attention when he unveiled his ambitious project, the “I Promise” School, in his hometown of Akron, Ohio. The school heralded as a beacon of hope for the struggling community, promised to provide a transformative education to its students. However, recent test scores and academic achievements have cast a shadow of doubt over the school’s efficacy, raising questions about its commitment to education and its reliance on public funds.
Despite the grand promises and media fanfare surrounding the school’s inception, a recent report revealed that not a single eighth-grader at the I Promise School has passed their state math test in the past three years. Critics are lambasting the institution for its unfulfilled pledges and lackluster academic outcomes.
The state of Ohio has also taken notice of the school’s alarming performance. Both Black students and those with disabilities, two significant subgroups at the I Promise School, have been testing in the bottom 5% in the state. As a result, the school has been placed on the Ohio Department of Education’s list of institutions requiring targeted intervention.
Criticism has been directed not only at the school but also at its founder, LeBron James. Though he garnered media praise for his philanthropic endeavor, it was discovered that more than 75% of the school’s funding still came from government sources, leaving taxpayers to bear the financial burden.
In addition to its academic shortcomings, the I Promise School has also struggled with security issues. Tragically, the school’s campus was the site of a fatal incident in which a teenager was beaten to death in the parking lot.
Facing escalating concerns over the school’s performance, the Ohio Department of Education is now injecting additional state-funded resources into the institution in a desperate bid to improve test scores and academic outcomes.
To address the academic challenges, the Akron School District has appointed a new principal, Stephanie Davis, who expressed optimism about raising student achievement. However, it remains unclear how successful these efforts will be, given the school’s track record.
While some critics have attempted to deflect blame from LeBron James’ foundation and place it solely on school officials, others argue that the foundation should be held accountable for the school’s underperformance, given the lofty promises and media attention it received.
Ep. 1194 – Lebron James Founded A School Based On Equity. It Is An Unmitigated Disaster. pic.twitter.com/Wdfarmq56s
— The Matt Walsh Show (@MattWalshShow) July 31, 2023
