“I’m just trying to understand why”: LeBron James’ $25.5M foundation faced academic criticism while creating new opportunities for Akron’s youth

LeBron James’ connection with Akron goes well beyond basketball. His foundation has spent years supporting children in his hometown through education and family programs. But the work has also faced difficult questions. The I PROMISE School came under academic scrutiny after disappointing state test results in 2023. Three years later, the foundation continues to back Akron’s children, with a new Nike partnership giving students another opportunity to learn, grow and build confidence.The latest program adds a different kind of lesson. Instead of focusing only on grades, it puts students in the pool and teaches them a skill that can stay with them for life. Poor test results put LeBron James’ I PROMISE School under serious scrutinyThe criticism became public in July 2023 after Akron Public Schools reviewed state testing data from the 2022-23 school year. The I PROMISE School, which opened in 2018 with support from the LeBron James Family Foundation, faced questions over the academic progress of its students.The numbers were difficult to ignore. No eighth-grade student at I PROMISE had passed the state math test for three straight years, according to reporting published on August 1, 2023. That result drew concern from Akron school officials, especially because I PROMISE serves students who enter school already behind academically.Akron Public Schools Board President Dr. Derrick Hall questioned the results during a July 24, 2023, board meeting. He acknowledged that the pandemic could have affected student performance, but he also pointed out that other students without the same level of resources were performing better.“I’m just trying to understand why. I think it’s fair to ask that question,” Hall said during the meeting.Hall also expressed disappointment because he had hoped I PROMISE could become a model for other schools in the district. His comments put the focus on a difficult issue for LeBron James’ foundation: providing more resources does not automatically guarantee stronger test results.The foundation did not walk away from the school after the criticism. Instead, it stressed its long-term commitment to the students and their families.“When we started this work to wrap around students through education, we entered this partnership with Akron Public School for the long haul,” the foundation said in a statement released after the test results. It also said the work required “long term commitment, hard work, and a lot of love and care.”That response is important because the foundation’s work has continued well beyond the classroom.Nike partnership gives Akron students another opportunityOn Sept. 2, 2026, the I PROMISE School highlighted its fourth consecutive summer working with Nike on a swim camp. The program gave students the chance to learn swimming while building confidence.The school said first-time swimmers worked through their fears, while returning swimmers took on leadership roles and helped their peers. The program also involved the Firestone High School swim team and U.S. Sports Camps.The latest financial records also show the scale of the foundation behind the work. Its 2024 Form 990 listed $25.52 million in total assets and $20.96 million in net assets. The foundation reported $7.53 million in revenue and $11.06 million in expenses that year, with about $9 million going toward program services.So the criticism over I PROMISE’s academic results remains an important part of the foundation’s story. But it is not the whole story. LeBron James’ foundation continues to put resources into Akron’s youth, and the Nike swim program shows how that mission now reaches beyond test scores and into skills, confidence and experiences.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.