LeBron James opened I PROMISE School in 2018, providing academic, emotional and family support; its first students are now earning college scholarships

LeBron James’ I PROMISE School in Akron, Ohio, opened in 2018 as part of his long-running effort to support students in his hometown. Created through a partnership between the LeBron James Family Foundation and Akron Public Schools, the school was designed to provide more than classroom education, combining academic support with social-emotional resources and help for families. The school opened with 240 third- and fourth-grade students. The wider I PROMISE programme, however, began before the school, in 2011, and includes Akron students outside the school itself. In 2026, students in the programme reached an important milestone, with eligible seniors earning college scholarships to institutions including the University of Akron, Kent State University and Stark State College.I PROMISE School opened in Akron in 2018The I PROMISE School officially opened on July 30, 2018, with an inaugural group of 240 students in grades three and four. It was established through a partnership between the LeBron James Family Foundation and Akron Public Schools. The school was created to serve students identified as being behind academically and facing factors that could put them at risk of falling behind or leaving school. Its model combines traditional education with additional support intended to address challenges students may face outside the classroom. The school is a public school within Akron Public Schools, rather than a private school operated solely by James or his foundation.The I PROMISE programme started before the schoolAlthough the school opened in 2018, the broader I PROMISE initiative dates back to 2011. The LeBron James Family Foundation began working with Akron Public School students through the I PROMISE Program, providing academic assistance, incentives and support for students and their families. The programme eventually developed into a wider education initiative that included the dedicated I PROMISE School. This distinction is important because the I PROMISE School and the I PROMISE Program are not exactly the same thing. The programme includes students who attend other Akron Public Schools.Students can earn college scholarshipsJames announced a major college scholarship commitment in 2015, partnering with the University of Akron to provide eligible I PROMISE students with an opportunity to receive four-year college scholarships. The scholarships are not automatically awarded to every student who participates in the programme. Students must meet specific requirements to qualify. According to the foundation, eligible students must remain continuously enrolled in Akron Public Schools from grades three through 12, complete 120 hours of documented community service, graduate with at least a 3.0 GPA and achieve a minimum 20 ACT score.2026 brings a major milestoneThe I PROMISE programme reached another milestone in 2026, with eligible students earning scholarships to colleges including Kent State University, the University of Akron and Stark State College. The development represents the culmination of years of academic and personal support that began when many of the students were children. The foundation has also celebrated students who have already completed their university education, showing that the programme's impact now extends beyond high school graduation and college admission.First college graduates emergeIn 2026, nine I PROMISE students graduated from Kent State University and the University of Akron, according to the LeBron James Family Foundation. The graduates studied subjects including Molecular and Cellular Biology and Criminology and Justice Studies. Their graduation represents a significant step for an initiative that began with an emphasis on helping Akron students remain engaged in education. The programme has now reached the stage where students who entered its support system years ago are completing university degrees.Support continues after students reach collegeJames' initiative was designed to support students beyond simply helping them enter university. In 2016, the foundation established the I PROMISE Institute at the University of Akron. The institute provides resources and support intended to help I PROMISE students adjust to college life and remain on track towards graduation. The idea reflects the foundation's broader approach: helping students navigate academic, personal and financial challenges throughout their education rather than ending assistance when they finish high school.The programme now reaches more than 1,400 studentsThe initiative has also grown substantially since the school opened. The LeBron James Family Foundation says the broader I PROMISE programme now supports more than 1,400 students in Akron. This includes students enrolled at the I PROMISE School as well as Akron Public School students participating in the wider programme. The school itself has continued to develop its emphasis on academic achievement, STEM education, social-emotional learning and family engagement.Family support is part of the modelThe programme's approach extends beyond students' classroom performance. The I PROMISE School provides resources for families through initiatives including its Family Resource Center. The foundation has also developed the I PROMISE Village, a transitional housing programme intended to assist students and families facing housing instability and other serious challenges. The goal is to address some of the circumstances that can affect a child's education, recognising that academic success can depend on stability at home as well as what happens inside the classroom.From Akron classrooms to college degreesThe development marks a long progression for James' education initiative. The broader I PROMISE programme began in 2011, the college scholarship commitment was announced in 2015, the I PROMISE Institute followed in 2016, and the dedicated school opened in 2018. Now, in 2026, students connected to the programme are earning college scholarships while others have completed university degrees. The milestones offer a tangible measure of how James' education initiative has developed from a local programme supporting Akron schoolchildren into a long-term pathway towards higher education.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.