YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO
August 2026
Proficiency in literacy is one of the top (if not the highest) elements of education and learning that determines student success. In addition to opening various pathways of opportunity, proficient readers have the opportunity to develop an appreciation for the written word; they are more easily able to adapt, to acquire knowledge and skills, and may even learn to read for fun.
The education team at Horizon Science Academy Youngstown fully understands the scope of instilling strong literacy skills in each of their students. Educators at this campus refuse to allow any student to fall behind in their ability to read and write, and their efforts are now nationally recognized.
As part of a data journalism project for The 74 – nonprofit news organization which covers education in the United States, from early childhood through college and career – Horizon Science Academy recently earned the distinction of being named a Bright Spots Top School, which is an honored bestowed upon schools whose efforts in student literacy give students the skills, support and social mobility they deserve.
The Selection Methodology
Schools with lower poverty rates will outperform schools which serve disadvantaged students. Poverty level, however, does not necessarily correlate with what each school is or is not doing; this means that household income level does not immediately predetermine each child’s ability to learn, and schools are working diligently to counter negative trends.
In 2025, The 74 projected to discover the schools that received higher marks in teaching third graders to read, and how it related to their predicted outcome given the level of poverty of the school’s population. Nearly 42,000 schools were studied, and of those, only 2,158 (approximately 5%) were selected as Bright Spots Top Schools in beating the odds in literacy education. Among those schools is Horizon Science Academy Youngstown, whose ambition to invest in students and prepare them for life beyond the classroom has provided clear dividends in the form of reading, comprehension, and writing.
Learn to Read, Read to Learn
The Bright Spots Project highlights schools where students thrive, particularly within environments where economic conditions are not in their favor, and specifically, where third-grade literacy scores outpace expectations.
No members of our community are more aware of the importance of this distinction than the educators, families, administrators of HSA Youngstown. To be named a Top School in this capacity is indeed a high honor, but it means far less than knowing the students are prepared for moving forward – in their academics, in their homes, in their lives, and eventually in their careers.
Concept Schools applauds the team at HSA Youngstown for beating the odds, at such an exceptional rate. This a win, in every sense of the word, which will equate to long-term success for all. We commend this school for the effort, the work, the passion, and the dedication they emphasize in student literacy, for this skill will have lasting implications that will enable positive contributions to Youngtown and beyond.
Congratulations to ALL!
Learn more about the Bright Spots program via The 74 website.
