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LeBron James’ ‘I Promise School’ Students Can’t Pass Basic Math Test

LeBron James’ ‘I Promise School’ Students Can’t Pass Basic Math Test

LeBron James’ ‘I Promise School’ was the subject of a scathing report this past week.

The ‘I Promise School’ in Akron, Ohio, was opened in 2018 with the goal of helping at-risk children.

It is supported by the LeBron James Family Foundation and receives the same government funding – federal and local – as any other public school would.

Unfortunately, issues have arisen.

According to Jennifer Pignolet of the Akron Beacon Journal, “this fall’s class of eighth graders at the I Promise School hasn’t had a single student pass the state’s math test since the group was in the third grade.”

There are two specific problems that seem to be worrying school board members the most: the performance of disabled black students and the fact that, despite the resource being allocated, some ‘I Promise’ students are doing worse than peers who qualified for the school but opted to go elsewhere.

“Two of I Promise’s biggest subgroups of students, Black students and those with disabilities, are now testing in the bottom 5% in the state, landing the school on the Ohio Department of Education’s list of those requiring targeted intervention,” Pignolet wrote.

She then added that, “comparing I Promise students to their peers who qualified for the school but attend elsewhere shows that I Promise students are doing worse in some cases, despite the extra staff and wraparound services.”

Even on a granular level, the stats look troubling.

“The incoming group of eighth graders, the ones who haven’t tested proficient on the math test in three years, weren’t always struggling at that level,” the report noted.

“Their first year in the school, when they were in the third grade, 17% of the class tested proficient in math. The following year, there were no tests because of COVID, and ever since, they have not had one student pass the test. On the English test this spring, 8% of them tested proficient.”

LeBron obviously has a lot to deal with. Given his son, Bronny’s, recent health scare and the effect it had on the Los Angeles Lakers star, ‘I Promise’ probably isn’t currently high on his priority list.

That said, a recently-released video does show what LeBron did after Bronny was discharged from the hospital – and it seems like he is returning to the normal swing of things.

Maybe that will include reviewing and fixing what is going on at ‘I Promise’ right now.

One way or another, if the situation at ‘I Promise’ doesn’t get remedied, more tough questions are coming LeBron’s way. Will he address them at any point in the foreseeable future? Time will tell.

Related: Kawhi Leonard Outfit To Ex-Spurs Teammate’s Wedding Goes Viral (Photos)

Anthony Amador

A graduate from the University of Texas, Anthony Amador has been credentialed to cover the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, San Antonio Spurs, Dallas Mavericks and high school games all over the Lone Star State. Currently, his primary beats are the NBA, MLB, NFL and UFC.
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