Akron Early College Earns Five-Star State Rating
The local school achieves a 100 percent graduation rate, offering families an top-tier academic choice.
Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Akron Early College has earned a five-star rating on the state annual report card, marking a notable achievement for the school. With a 100 percent four-year graduation rate, the institution now stands as the highest-performing traditional high school in Ohio for cumulative points over the past three years.
Why it matters
This high performance offers families a high-achieving local educational alternative, particularly as the school maintains an absenteeism rate of less than 4 percent compared to the 40.9 percent rate seen across the Akron Public Schools district in 2025-26.
The school achieved the highest cumulative point total among traditional Ohio high schools over three years. Currently, over one-third of its 400 students are identified as gifted, and most earn at least 12 college credits before graduating.
The players
Akron Early College
A selective high school located in the Polsky Building that emphasizes college readiness and small class sizes.
Akron Public Schools
The local school district that has faced recent challenges with chronic absenteeism, with rates reaching 40.9 percent in 2025-26.
The details
The school operates within a small environment of roughly 400 students located in the Polsky Building. Students enter as freshmen taking standard high school curriculum before transitioning into college-level coursework by their sophomore year, following a selective application process that prioritizes academic potential and attendance.
Timeline
2012: The school's first graduating class consisted of 57 students.
2021-22 school year: APS chronic absenteeism reached nearly 50 percent.
2025-26 school year: APS chronic absenteeism was 40.9 percent.
Nov. 5: A parade in downtown Akron will celebrate the school's achievements.
The Home Front
The school's performance reflects the ongoing focus on metrics within the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce annual report card system. This ranking highlights a significant success story for local families amidst broader regional shifts in district attendance and academic proficiency benchmarks.
Parents considering educational options should note that the school requires an application during the eighth-grade year based on academic performance and attendance. Families interested in this model should prepare to track application windows to secure a spot in this small-environment program.
The takeaway
The success of the program highlights the benefits of specialized academic environments in fostering student proficiency and engagement. Families should prioritize monitoring local school report cards and application deadlines to access these distinct educational opportunities for their children.
What happens next
The community will gather for a celebratory parade in downtown Akron on Nov. 5 to mark the school's recent achievement.
Further reading
For more on academic programs and local standards, explore our Secondary Education resources.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Signal Akron.
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