Overview
Performance Academies runs a network of tuition-free public charter schools across Ohio (Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Dayton). It governs multiple K–12 campuses through non-profit boards with a centralized support team that provides curriculum development, teacher training, special education, and administrative services to achieve economies of scale. The Mind & Body program pairs extended academic time with daily fitness, including over 100 extra hours of core learning and about 1.4 hours of structured activity in sports like soccer and martial arts, while maintaining small class sizes, uniforms, and daily character lessons. Its High School Readiness Program helps 8th graders apply to top high schools and secure scholarships; the goal is to offer a scalable, tuition-free public education option that prepares students for high school and beyond.
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Simplify's take
What believers are saying
- On June 22, 2026, Performance Academies announced Cincinnati Performance Academy, extending its footprint.
- Eastland Performance Academy won State Board Momentum and Ohio Department of Education Quality School recognition.
- The network still collects millions in Ohio foundation funding, including $5.34 million for Harvard Avenue.
What critics are saying
- On September 4, 2026, Ohio flagged six Performance Academies schools for testing anomalies.
- Eastland Performance Academy ranked bottom 50% statewide on September 16, 2026 public data.
- A sustained integrity investigation can trigger sponsor sanctions, enrollment losses, and school closures.
What makes Performance Academies unique
- Performance Academies runs 19 Ohio schools with tuition-free public enrollment and open access.
- Its Mind Body model pairs daily fitness with extended academics across K-8 and high school.
- Centralized operations, curriculum, and teacher training create scale across Columbus, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Dayton.
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