Youngstown Schools Announce Defenders Mascot, Merge Planned 2026

The Youngstown City School District is consolidating Chaney and East High Schools and Middle Schools into unified institutions starting in the 2026–27 school year, with the new schools located at the current East buildings. The district has unveiled the new school names as Youngstown High School and Youngstown Middle School, moving away from the initially proposed "Youngstown Unified" after community feedback. The mascot for the merged schools will be the "Defenders," symbolized by an owl indigenous to Ohio, chosen for its representation of wisdom, resilience, and strength, reflecting student input and community values. The new logo features colors red, blue, yellow, black, and white, designed to honor past identities while fostering a unified district image. Superintendent Jeremy Batchelor emphasized the importance of student, family, and staff involvement in building a shared culture and preparing for the transition through upcoming community events and student-led initiatives. The district will also soon hire principals for the new schools to lead culture-building efforts throughout the next school year.