Nationwide — One of the most celebrated basketball players of all time opened a school this past year. LeBron James’ I Promise School is a public elementary school for at-risk students in Akron, Ohio. The school is a partnership between the Lebron James Family Foundation and the school district. While many celebrities start charter and private schools, James decided a traditional public school is what his hometown needed. He reflected on his own experiences growing up to produce a state-of-the-art facility that has about a 20:1 student-to-teacher ratio. When he was a 4th grader, James missed 83 days of school; it was always a surprise to him whether or not he’d be attending school on any given day. That’s why he took the initiative to open an institution that offers opportunity and focuses on building bright futures for children.

The curriculum mainly prioritizes science, technology, engineering, and math. Students whose academic performance trails a year or two behind their peers are selected to attend. The school years and school days are designed to be longer than normal, so kids can fully engage in the school’s programming and focus on their education instead of their struggles outside of the classroom. In fact, one of the pillars at the school emphasizes dropping external “baggage” at the door. Additionally, the I Promise school offers after-school tutoring, attendance incentives, and free transportation for students within a two-mile radius.