Youngstown school leaders outlining district reconfiguration plan at meeting
In order to advance students’ educational opportunities, leaders of a local city school district announced a consolidation plan that’ll bring Youngstown middle and high school students together in 2026.
The Youngstown City School District released a reconfiguration plan in May which starts by merging Chaney High School and East High School into one central high school.
In the second phase of the district’s transition, the district plans to merge Chaney Middle School and East Middle School into a single integrated campus at the current East Middle School site.
YCSD invites the community to a town hall at 5 p.m. June 18 in the auditorium of East High School, located at 474 Bennington Ave. in Youngstown.
The high school unification will start in the 2026-2027 school year, and Rayen Early College High School and Rayen Early College Middle School will remain operating.
The district is starting by seeking scholar and family input on what to call the central schools and new mascots during the 2026-2027 school year.
What motivated merging the schools in YCSD?
Youngstown Board of Education president Juanita Walker and superintendent Jeremy Batchelor released a statement emphasizing that this transition will “enhance the educational experience for all scholars.”
“It is our responsibility to ensure that our schools provide the best possible learning, growth, and development environment,” Walker and Batchelor said. “With state cuts a possibility, alongside House bills such as Ohio Senate Bill 127, the district had to plan for the immediate future. We remain committed to a transparent transition, with little disruption, while ensuring every decision prioritizes our scholars.”
According to Walker and Batchelor, the district’s reconfiguration has been discussed in public committee meetings for over a year.
“Together, we can create a district that not only meets the needs of our current students but prepares us for a future of growth,” they said.
According to the school district, the merger increases access to expanded career and technical education through Choffin Career and Technical Center.
“Over 80% of our juniors and seniors already participate at Choffin Career and Technical Center, and the consolidation allows the district to align those pathways under one unified system further,” YCSD reported.
