Accel Schools, styled ACCEL Schools, is a for-profit education management organization that operates 77 charter schools and 15 online schools primarily in Ohio. Accel schools have operated on significantly lower budgets than other Cleveland schools.

History Since 2014, it has taken over schools operated by I Can, Mosaica Education, and White Hat Management. According to the Wall Street Journal ACCEL Schools was launched in 2014. That year, the online school company K12 Inc. created Pansophic Learning, financed by Safanad Limited in Dubai. Accel was formed as Pansophic Learning's American-based charter school company.https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/01/14/charter-school-for-profit/ In 2015, Accel became the largest charter operator in the state of Ohio, taking over 40 schools.https://www.cleveland.com/news/2020/01/loophole-could-give-f-rated-charter-schools-millions-meant-for-better-schools.html In 2021, it had 50 schools and 23,000 students.https://www.wsaz.com/2021/11/10/wsaz-investigates-charter-school-concerns/

As of 2022, Accel's CEO was Ron Packard. Accel managed 73 charter schools, either brick and mortar or online, in Washington, Arizona, California, Colorado, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio, and was branching into West Virginia.https://www.wsaz.com/2021/11/12/charter-school-company-defends-its-poor-record-other-states/ 64 of Accel's operated schools were in Ohio. Its real estate arm in 2022 was Global School Properties, which purchased properties and would rent them to Accel-operated schools.

Accel has been criticized for allowing its charter schools in impoverished neighborhoods to go into "unlimited debt," then paying interest to Accel for the loans.

After issuing a notice of violation under the Toxic Substances Control Act to Accel in June 2024, later that month, the EPA ordered Accel Charter Schools Network to address lead paint and asbestos concerns at three of its schools in Ohio. This included restricting building access for testing.https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-announces-order-requiring-accel-charter-schools-network-inspect-and-abate-asbestoshttps://www.wkbn.com/news/local-news/asbestos-lead-paint-violation-at-3-local-schools-epa-issues-violations/ The schools later re-opened.https://www.wkbn.com/news/local-news/schools-expected-to-start-on-time-after-asbestos-lead-detection/

In 2024, Accel operated 77 in-person public charter schools, and 15 online schools. In December 2024, there were reports from former staff members that Cornerstone Academy, an Accel-owned school, had locked children in classrooms with a "nightlock" device. Accel confirmed the claims, calling the lock-ins a "training issue" that had not been authorized.https://www.10tv.com/article/news/investigations/10-investigates/former-staff-members-cornerstone-academy-claims-kids-locked-in-classrooms/530-c1e17ecd-0e5f-4f98-8674-a347a4e8e40e

Performance Across Ohio, Accel Schools has done well in rankings in Cleveland, however in Sandusky it isn't as high.

Schools Colorado Banning Lewis Preparatory Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Ohio

A+ Children's Academy, Columbus, Ohio Akron Preparatory School, Akron, Ohio Bridges Preparatory Academy, Tiffin, Ohio Broadway Academy At Mount Pleasant, Cleveland, Ohio Broadway Academy At Willow, Cleveland, Ohio Canton College Preparatory School, Canton, Ohio Capitol Collegiate Preparatory Academy, Columbus, Ohio Case Preparatory Academy, Akron, Ohio Cleveland Arts & Social Sciences Academy, Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland College Preparatory School, Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland Preparatory Academy, Cleveland, Ohio Columbus Arts & Technology Academy, Columbus, Ohio, K-12 Columbus Bilingual Academy, Columbus, Ohio Columbus Humanities Arts & Technology Academy, Columbus, Ohio Constellation Schools, 7 in Cleveland, Ohio, 2 in Elyria, Ohio, 1 in Lorain, Ohio, 3 in Parma, Ohio, 1 in Parma Heights, Ohio K-12 Cornerstone Academy, Westerville, Ohio East Academy, Cleveland, Ohio Eastland Preparatory Academy, Columbus, Ohio Euclid Preparatory School, Euclid, Ohio Fairfield Preparatory Academy, Hamilton, Ohio Foundation Academy, Mansfield, Ohio Franklin Learning Academy, Columbus, Ohio Hinckley Preparatory Academy, Hinckley, Ohio Innovative Career Academy, Cleveland, Ohio Lake Erie Preparatory School, Cleveland, Ohio Lincoln Park Academy, Cleveland, Ohio, K-8 Lorain Bilingual Academy, Lorain, Ohio Lorain Preparatory Academy, Lorain, Ohio Lorain Preparatory High School, Lorain, Ohio Marion Preparatory Academy, Marion, Ohio Monroe Preparatory Academy, Sandusky, Ohio Montgomery Preparatory Academy, Dayton, Ohio Mount Auburn Preparatory Academy, Cincinnati, Ohio Niles Preparatory Academy, Niles, Ohio North Columbus Preparatory Academy, Columbus, Ohio Northcoast Academy, Cleveland, Ohio Northeast Ohio College Preparatory School, Cleveland, Ohio Northside Preparatory Academy, Cincinnati, Ohio Northwest School of the Arts, Cleveland, Ohio, K-8 Ohio College Preparatory School, Maple Heights, Ohio Parma Academy, Parma, Ohio Riverside Academy, Cincinnati, Ohio Sagewood Preparatory Academy, Columbus, Ohio Sheffield Academy, Sheffield Village, Ohio Solon Academy, Solon, Ohio South Columbus Preparatory Academy at German Village, Columbus, Ohio South Columbus Preparatory Academy at Southfield, Columbus, Ohio Springfield Sports Academy, Springfield, Ohio STEAM Academy of Warren, Warren, Ohio STEAM Academy of Warrensville Heights, Warrensville Heights, Ohio, K-8 Strongsville Academy, Strongsville, Ohio Toledo Preparatory Academy, Toledo, Ohio University Of Cleveland Preparatory School, Cleveland, Ohio West Park Academy, Cleveland, Ohio, K-8 Western Toledo Preparatory Academy, Toledo, Ohio Western Toledo Preparatory Academy At Spring Meadows, Holland, Ohio Westlake Academy, Westlake, Ohio Wright Preparatory Academy, Canton, Ohio Youngstown Academy, Youngstown, Ohio

Michigan Barber Preparatory Academy, Highland Park, Michigan Inkster Preparatory Academy, Inkster, Michigan

West Virginia Eastern Panhandle Preparatory Academy, Kearneysville, West Virginia, K-10

Online Academy With Community Partners, headquartered in Mesa, Arizona Gateway Online Academy of Ohio, headquartered in Independence, Ohio Michigan Online School, headquartered in Gobles, Michigan OHDELA, headquartered in Independence, Ohio Pathfinder Career Academy of Ohio, headquartered in Independence, Ohio VPA (Virtual Prep Academy) @ Lucerne, headquartered in Lucerne Valley, California VPA of Florida, headquartered in Kissimmee, Florida VPA of Indiana @ Madison-Grant, headquartered in Muncie, Indiana VPA of Washington, headquartered in Starbuck, Washington VPA of West Virginia, headquartered in Kearneysville, West Virginia VPA of Arizona, headquartered in Mesa, Arizona VPA of Idaho @ D91, headquartered in Idaho Falls, Idaho VPA of Oklahoma, headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma VPA of Oregon, headquartered in Prairie City, Oregon VPA of Wyoming, headquartered in Diamondville, Wyoming

References