Akron Magazine Rates North Canton Schools Tops in Area

By Dottie McGrew

Folks who live in the North Canton School district know that our schools are top notch. Nevertheless, it is always nice to receive a compliment, especially when the tribute comes from a publication geared to that larger city immediately north.

Akron Life & Leisure magazine, in its August issue, rated North Canton as the premier district among 28 school district surveyed in the Akron area.

The magazine’s survey focused on eight criteria: final graduation rate, student-to-teacher ratio, foreign languages, advanced placement courses, non-athletic extracurricular activities, the number of sports offered, whether pay-to-play and the number of computers per student. Information was obtained from the school districts and the Ohio Department of Education.

Points, totaling a possible 36, were assigned to each category. North Canton City School
came out on top with a total of 32 points.

North Canton schools excelled in almost every category. With a graduation rate of 99.8 percent and a student-to-teacher ratio of 18.9 to 1, it’s easy to see why. Hoover High School offers 15 Advanced Placement courses, among the highest number offered at any of the districts rated. North Canton also offers 25 different sports and 48 non-athletic extracurricular activities.

In addition, Akron Life and Leisure awarded kudos to the city of North Canton, noting our “quaint, walkable downtown where a variety of local businesses thrive, scenic community parks and beautiful residential areas.” North Canton ranked among the safest communities surveyed, according to the magazine.

Copley-Fairlawn City Schools came in second in the magazine’s survey; Kent City Schools took a third; Tallmadge City Schools fourth and Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools was fifth. Hudson City Schools took an Honorable Mention.