Education

Youngstown Schools Reveal New Mascot, Names, and Logo Ahead of Major Merger

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The Youngstown City School District is entering a transformative chapter in its history. As part of a sweeping reconfiguration plan, the district will merge its two existing high schools, Chaney and East, into a single, unified Youngstown High School.

The same consolidation will occur at the middle school level, creating the new Youngstown Middle School. Both institutions will be located at the current East buildings, with the changes taking effect in the 2026–27 school year.

To reflect this new direction, the district unveiled a fresh identity on Monday, centered around a powerful new mascot: the Defenders. Represented by an owl, an animal native to Ohio, the symbol was chosen for its associations with wisdom, resilience, and strength. According to Superintendent Jeremy Batchelor, students played a central role in the decision-making process.

“This was the overwhelming choice of the students,” Batchelor said. “We definitely wanted to honor that, and we felt like it was fitting for what we’ve been trying to talk about in the district.”

Originally, the merged schools were to be called “Youngstown Unified,” but after listening to community feedback, the district opted for a simpler, more familiar naming approach: Youngstown High School and Youngstown Middle School. Batchelor said the goal was to avoid making the name a point of division.

“We heard a lot of feedback where folks weren’t thrilled about it,” he explained. “We didn’t want that to become a stumbling block for what we’re trying to do.”

A new logo featuring a color scheme of red, blue, yellow, black, and white will begin appearing on shirts, signage, and school materials throughout this year. The design reflects both a respect for the schools’ histories and a vision of unity for the future.

Looking ahead, the district plans to host community events and roll out student-led initiatives aimed at shaping the culture of the new schools. Hiring for the principal roles at both institutions will begin in the coming weeks, giving the new leaders time to help build a sense of shared purpose leading up to the 2026 launch.

“We want our young people to be the next leaders of the city of Youngstown,” Batchelor said. “So we’re spending this year bringing students, families, and staff together to build a shared culture. We want our students and families involved in shaping what it feels like when we walk into these new schools.”

The changes reflect more than just a logistical shift, they represent a renewed commitment to unity, student voice, and community-driven progress in the city’s public education system.

Most importantly, the district affirmed its respect for students’ right to participate in decisions that impact their lives, recognizing their voices not only as important, but essential to building a school culture they can truly call their own.

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