Education

NEIGHBORHOOD SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES

Rocky Ridge is home to one of the Youngstown City School District’s secondary—Chaney High School—and one primary—Volney Rogers Elementary School—traditional educational pathway.

Once a Cowboy, always a Cowboy!
Additionally, just outside our neighborhood border, is Chaney Middle School. The Chaney High tradition runs deep across multiple generations of Westsiders and holds a cherished nostalgia with many of our Rocky Ridge families.

Rocky Ridge youth also have options to attend schools in our surrounding communities, including Austintown Fitch, Ursuline and Mooney Catholic High Schools, Austintown Middle & Elementary Schools, Kirkmere Elementary School, St. Christine’s Elementary School & Early Childhood Learning Center, Heaven’s Little Angels Child Care & Pre-School, and Summit Academy.

While Youngstown’s public library system (now known as the Public Library of Youngstown and Mahoning County [PLYMC]) had its beginnings in 1880, the West Side branch in our Rocky Ridge Neighborhood has been a part of us since 1928 and further remodeled/expanded in 1965.

The former West Side Library…

…has become the Michael Kusalaba Library.

What stands today at 2815 Mahoning Avenue is the completely reconstructed, Michael Kusalaba Library. Made possible by the namesake’s fund, this dramatic piece of architecture reimagined what the library experience in today’s world of information and technology brings to our community. With a Makers Space, music studio, meeting spaces, and more, this educational landmark is far from the many rows of bookshelves and card catalogs of the past!

Currently, there are two “Little Free Libraries” in our Rocky Ridge Neighborhood. Take a book, replace a book, and enjoy the offerings at 1939 Ridgelawn Avenue and our Rocky Ridge Gardens at 118 South Hazelwood Avenue.

LFL at Rocky Ridge Gardens, 118 South Hazelwood Avenue