AKRON, Ohio-Summit Academy Management, an Akron-based charter school operator, has purchased the former St. Mary’s of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in southeast Canton for $525,000 from the Catholic Diocese of Youngstown. The property spans 2.9 acres and includes the former church building, rectory, convent, and school.
Summit Academy’s Canton Elementary has occupied parts of the church grounds since 2003 and plans to continue serving students, including those with special education needs, at this location. Future plans may involve relocating Summit Academy Secondary School to the new property, with an expected enrollment of 135 students for the coming school year. The former St. Mary’s property previously housed a nonprofit for homeless teen girls and leased a portion of the school to Head Start. St. Mary’s closed officially in November 2023 after 123 years of operation.
