Akron Early College High School celebrated with downtown parade
The Akron Public School received five stars on the latest state report card and was the top-performing public high school in Ohio for the third consecutive year.
Students from Akron Early College High School cheer as they walk in a parade up South Main Street in Akron on Thursday, Nov. 5, to celebrate the school’s latest academic feat. The specialty school received five stars on the latest state report card and was the top-performing public high school in Ohio for the third consecutive year. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Chants of “AECHS” echoed through downtown Akron on Thursday.
Bookended by Akron’s safety forces, hundreds of Akron Early College High School students marched up South Main Street from near the Polsky Building to Lock 3, waving signs and pom poms in celebration of the school’s latest academic feat. The specialty school received five stars on the latest state report card and was the top-performing public high school in Ohio for the third consecutive year.
It received accolades and proclamations from the city, Statehouse and Congress. Families, alumni and community members joined students at Lock 3 to celebrate the school’s continued success.
Members of Akron Early College High School’s cheerleading squad participate in a rally at Lock 3 park following a parade on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, to celebrate the school’s latest academic feat. The specialty school received five stars on the latest state report card and was the top-performing public high school in Ohio for the third consecutive year. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)Retired school secretary Lorie Needham embraces Akron Early College High School students during a parade in downtown Akron on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, to celebrate the school’s latest academic feat. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Excellence is not determined by ZIP code, Akron Board of Education President Barbara Sykes told the sea of cheering students with blue and gold pompoms and an estimated 150 family and community supporters.
“Every child deserves the opportunity to achieve greatness — and you are our greatness,” she said.
Akron Early College draws students from throughout Akron Public Schools and neighboring districts, allowing them to earn college credits from the University of Akron while still in high school.
Visual journalist Ryan Loew collected these moments as he walked the parade route on Nov. 5.
Akron Early College High School 9th grader Chrys Rodriguez, holds up a phone to film during a rally that followed a parade in downtown Akron on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, to celebrate the school’s latest milestone. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)Students from Akron Early College High School walk in a parade down South Main Street in Akron on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, to celebrate the school’s latest academic feat. The specialty school received five stars on the latest state report card and was the top-performing public high school in Ohio for the third consecutive year. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)Tom O’Neil, principal at Akron Early College High School, prepares to lead students in a parade down South Main Street in Akron on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, to celebrate the school’s academic success. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)Members of Akron Early College High School’s cheerleading squad participate in a rally at Lock 3 park following a parade on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, to celebrate the school’s latest academic feat. The specialty school received five stars on the latest state report card and was the top-performing public high school in Ohio for the third consecutive year. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)Members of Akron Early College High School’s pep band perform at Lock 3 park following a parade on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)Tori Peake, a member of the safety team at Akron Early College High School, throws candy to students during a rally at Lock 3 park that followed a parade on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, to celebrate the school’s success. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)Akron Mayor Shammas Malik speaks during a rally for Akron Early College High School students that followed a parade in downtown Akron on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, to celebrate the school’s latest academic feat. The specialty school received five stars on the latest state report card and was the top-performing public high school in Ohio for the third consecutive year. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)Akron Early College High School students, along with University of Akron mascot Zippy, walk to Lock 3 park following a parade in downtown Akron on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, to celebrate the school’s latest academic feat. The specialty school received five stars on the latest state report card and was the top-performing public high school in Ohio for the third consecutive year. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)University of Akron mascot Zippy participates in a rally for Akron Early College High School students following a parade in downtown Akron on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)University of Akron mascot Zippy embraces Akron Early College High School 9th grader Jaynom Habila, who with a friend drew a picture of the mascot, before a parade in downtown Akron on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026, to celebrate the school’s latest academic feat. The specialty school received five stars on the latest state report card and was the top-performing public high school in Ohio for the third consecutive year. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)University of Akron mascot Zippy places beads on the head of Akron Early College High School mascot Wally the Fighting Wallaroo, before a parade in downtown Akron on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026. (Ryan Loew / Signal Akron)
Multimedia reporter/producer (he/him)
Ryan Loew is Signal Akron's multimedia reporter/producer, meaning he tells stories through photos, video and writing. Originally from the Youngstown area, Ryan studied journalism at Kent State University and has worked in various newspaper, public media and nonprofit newsrooms in and out of Ohio over his nearly 20-year career. Ryan is interested in stories about people — our problems, our triumphs and everything else in between — that make us who we are. He believes visual journalism plays a powerful role in telling such stories and connecting us with our neighbors. When he’s not working, Ryan is going on hikes and bike rides, taking care of a more than 100-year-old house and learning to play the drums.
Education Reporter
Carissa Woytach joins Signal Akron to cover education after working at The Chronicle-Telegram in Lorain County for nearly a decade. Prior to that, she worked in St. Joseph, Michigan. She aims to focus on the impact schools have on the students, staff, families and communities they serve. She wants to highlight the good of local districts, while bringing to light the issues within them. She holds bachelor's degrees in journalism and photography from Cleveland State University. When not working, she can be found keeping track of her three cats, Buddy, Honey and Denali and wasting film throughout Northeast Ohio.
