NBA superstar LeBron James turned his hometown connection into a school that gives children more than classrooms

For LeBron James, returning to Akron has never been only about revisiting the place where his basketball story began. The NBA superstar has spent years investing in the city that raised him, and one of his biggest efforts is a school built around an idea that education cannot stop at the classroom door. The I PROMISE School, opened in Akron, Ohio, in 2018 through a partnership between the LeBron James Family Foundation and Akron Public Schools, was created to support students who needed additional academic and personal help. But its mission goes well beyond lessons, grades and tests.

A school shaped by LeBron’s Akron childhood

James grew up in Akron and has often spoken about the challenges he faced as a child. When the I PROMISE School opened, Reuters reported that he had missed 83 days of school during fourth grade. That experience helped shape the thinking behind the school. It was designed for children who could otherwise “fall through the cracks”, with the foundation combining academic intervention with support for families.

The school initially opened with 240 third- and fourth-grade students. Its longer school day and additional summer learning were part of an effort to give students more time and resources to succeed.

More than lessons inside a classroom

The defining feature of I PROMISE is its wraparound approach. The school has a Family Resource Center that connects families with food assistance, basic necessities, medical support, employment resources and other services. It also works with community organisations to provide legal and mental-health support. That approach reflects the foundation's belief that problems at home can directly affect a child's ability to learn.

Community Legal Aid, which works with I PROMISE families, says its programme addresses issues including housing stability, financial difficulties, employment and family stability because “a child can only be successful in school when other aspects of their life are under control.” The school itself describes the philosophy as treating the institution as a “home” where students are supported and families are included.

The support continues beyond school

James' involvement in Akron has also expanded beyond the school building. The I PROMISE programme has included college support and other opportunities for students, while the foundation has developed initiatives around housing and community services. In 2025, Akron Public Schools reported that the I PROMISE School had 343 students from third through eighth grade. The school also had a legal resource, food pantry, community room and Family Resource Center.

The foundation's work has increasingly extended into the wider community. Its efforts include housing projects intended to give families greater stability, reflecting the idea that educational success can depend on circumstances outside school.

A hometown promise that keeps expanding

What began as a basketball superstar's desire to give something back to Akron has developed into a much broader experiment in community support. James once described the school's purpose as bringing together the resources and expertise needed to keep children on a better path. Years later, the model continues to connect education with food, housing, healthcare, legal assistance and family support.

For James, the project represents something different from another charitable donation. It is an attempt to build a system around children and the people raising them and to turn a personal connection to Akron into an opportunity that can last well beyond his basketball career.