Text Options for the Visually Impaired Font Size: a- A+ Color: A A A Revert 
Close vision bar
Open vision bar

Public Information

Vince Colaluca
 
Welcome to the Austintown Local Schools. I am Vincent Colaluca and I am the proud superintendent of the Austintown Local Schools.  I have served this district for 12 years as a Director of Instruction and now as Superintendent.  We have accomplished so much throughout the history of the district.  We are very pleased and proud of the educational services and general contributions we provide to the Austintown community.
 
The landscape of education in Ohio and the nation continues to evolve and we evolve with it both educationally and financially.  The current Local Report Card that was released from the Ohio Department of Education highlights the academic and financial accountability based on the state’s platform.  We recognize that there are some areas that we want to improve and are taking strategic and intentional measures to do just that.  We also are very proud of the areas where we have shown tremendous growth from last year’s Local Report Card.  We are so proud of the increase in our overall K-3 Literacy Grade from the lowest ranking up two total grades to a C which shows exactly the type of growth that is expected; we also had that same component growth in the area of Gap Closing.  This growth is an absolute tribute to the work of our administrators, teachers, and students to ensure that we are following research based educational strategies and the results are rising and rising fast.
 
We will work diligently to continue our growth in all areas.  Our Falcon Focus 2020 Strategic Plan continues to guide us in the four goal areas of Academics, Communication, Customer Service, and Budget Transparency.  Our District Leadership Team works through the Ohio Improvement Process to ensure we maintain integrity in moving towards our goals.  Please keep watching us as our Falcons Nation soars to continuous improvement and as we continue to provide great academics, extracurriculars, and support services to our students and families.  Listed below are highlights of some of the great things going on in Austintown that make the Falcon Nation what it is.  If you ever have questions about Austintown, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at vcolaluca@austintownschools.org.
 
Go Falcons!
Vincent S. Colaluca
 
Community Overview
 
The Austintown Local School District is located in Mahoning County in northeastern Ohio, two miles west of the City of Youngstown. It consists of approximately 25 square miles and is located on the Mahoning River. Austintown Schools educate over 4,000 students between our four school buildings. These buildings include the elementary, intermediate, middle, and high school.
 
Early Warning System
 
Austintown School District is participating in a three-year pilot program in collaboration with Mahoning County Juvenile Court, called the EARLY WARNING SYSTEM. The focus of the program is to identify students who struggle with attendance, behavior, and grades in an attempt to provide early interventions to help students successfully graduate high school.  
 
The Early Warning System is currently in use at both AMS and Fitch High School. Every fifth through twelfth grader is tracked through a software program. Scores are given based on the number of unexcused absences, in-school and out-of-school suspensions, and the number of core classes the student has failed.
 
These scores are completely confidential, but allow an Early Warning Team made up of teachers, administrators, and guidance counselors to review the data, and plan positive interventions for students whose score shows them to be at risk of dropping out.
 
The Early Warning Federal Grant also provides money for staff training, and other positive programs to be established. It incorporates community resources such as Meridian Health and PsyCare, and counseling services, with school and court resources.
 
Once the grant period is complete, the Early Warning Program should sustain itself in the Austintown Schools since the training and intervention programs will be firmly in place.
 
Other Community Partnerships
 
The Austintown Local School District is proud of the many community partnerships we have established throughout the years. We appreciate the continued support for the following:
 

  • Early Warning System (listed in detail above)

  • Mahoning Valley Prepared for Success (MVPS)-  career readiness program

  • United Way

  • Community Connectors through the Chamber of Commerce

  • Falcon Forward - nonprofit organization

  • Greenwood Chevrolet
 
District Highlights
 

  • A broad and comprehensive curriculum of academic, gifted, and vocational offerings are available.

 

  • New this year is the Falcon Lighthouse Center “A Beacon for Autism” providing opportunities for our students with Autism right on our campus.

 

  • Both the Elementary and Intermediate building have sensory rooms for our students with special needs and Autism. Our typical students do enjoy visiting these rooms as well.

 

  • Austintown provides a small school feel, providing “nests” in each grade at the lower levels. This is especially beneficial for the elementary children for hands on learning!

 

  • All students in grades 6-12 receive a Chromebook as a one on one learning tool.

 

  • Students can benefit from the 11 dual credit courses (College Credit Plus) right on our campus!

 

  • Over 20 athletic programs and numerous extra-curricular activities are available to our students.

 

  • The Speech & Debate Team is ranked in the top 10% of schools in the nation receiving the National 100 Club Award from the National Speech and Debate Association. In 2017, Johnna Blystone qualified for the National Speech & Debate Tournament as a Freshman!

 

  • Austintown Schools have a graduation rate of 95% compared to an 82.2% state average

 

  • Graduating classes are consistently offered over $5 million dollars in scholarship money each year.

 

  • Our STEM program offers an ambassador program for 5th grade students and classes at the middle and high school level.

 

  • Our soap box derby and robotics teams are both nationally ranked.

 

  • Students participate in the operation of Austintown Community Television on Armstrong Cable System.

 

  • Austintown Schools are proud of a 97% Accelerated Program (AP) calculus passage rate.

 

  • The Fitch High School military style marching band travels the country performing for Veteran organizations

 

  • The Fitch High School Choir travels around the country performing at Veteran’s Hospitals.

 

  • Student organizations such as National Honor Society, Student Council, Key Club, and Interact Club focus on community involvement and service projects.