Celebrity School Praised by Lawmakers, Fails Students and Taxpayers.

When liberal politicians and education activists praised ​LeBron James ⁤for founding an Ohio school ​for‍ struggling students,⁤ it⁢ seemed like a promising endeavor. However,‌ the reality has been far from successful.

A Disappointing Performance

Audacious endorsements from prominent Democrats,⁣ including Barack and Michelle Obama, as well as Ohio senator Sherrod Brown, accompanied ⁣the opening of the ⁣I Promise​ School in Akron in 2018. Despite receiving ‍$8.4 million in funding from Akron ⁣taxpayers last year, ‌the school’s inaugural class of third graders showed abysmal ‌academic performance. Not a single student demonstrated proficiency in math over the past three years. Shockingly,⁤ black​ students, who make up 60 percent of the school’s population, ranked‍ in the bottom 5 percent statewide. Consequently, the Ohio ⁢Department of Education labeled I Promise as a failing school in need of intervention.

LeBron James, known for‍ his political activism, has‌ been a vocal supporter of Democratic causes. However, the issues plaguing his own school highlight the potential pitfalls of political partnerships with celebrities. Michelle Obama, in 2018, expressed pride in‌ James’s efforts⁤ to provide opportunities for ‌children. Sherrod Brown also commended the athlete as a strong advocate for the next ⁢generation. Yet, neither the Obamas nor Brown have addressed the school’s ongoing struggles.

A School in Crisis

Local officials have not shied away from criticizing James and his school. Valerie McKitrick, a member of the Akron Public Schools Board of Education, expressed disbelief that not a‍ single​ child passed the state math test in three years. The poor performance has been defended by I Promise School officials, who argue that students are more than ⁢just⁢ test scores.

It’s ‌not just politicians who endorsed James’s school. Liberal education activists at the Center for American Progress also praised the initiative. Neil Campbell, a former director at the think tank, hailed schools like I Promise as what America’s kids need. James Hagopian, author of “Black Lives Matter at School: An Uprising ‌for Educational Justice,” commended‌ James for establishing a public school that doesn’t drain ‌resources ⁤from other schools.

However, within the Akron Public Schools system, the sentiment is different. Keith Liechty-Clifford, the district’s​ director of school improvement,⁢ finds the school’s performance discouraging. Derrick Hall, the board president, laments the significant allocation of public resources without seeing the expected change.