New mascot, school names, and logo unveiled as Youngstown City Schools move toward merger

As part of a sweeping reconfiguration plan, the Youngstown City School District (YCSD) is preparing to merge its two traditional high schools and middle schools into unified institutions—and on Monday, the district unveiled the new identity that will define that future.

Phase 1 of the reconfiguration will take effect in the 2026–27 school year, consolidating Chaney and East High Schools into one high school and Chaney and East Middle Schools into one middle school. The new schools will be housed at the current East buildings.

To accompany the merger, YCSD announced its new mascot: the "Defenders," represented by an owl. The owl—indigenous to Ohio—was chosen for its symbolism of wisdom, resilience, and strength.

Superintendent Jeremy Batchelor said student voices played a key role in the selection.

“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.”

The updated school names—Youngstown High School and Youngstown Middle School—replace the originally proposed name “Youngstown Unified” following community feedback.

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

The new logo, which incorporates red, blue, yellow, black, and white, will begin appearing on shirts, signage, and materials this year, with a full rollout in 2026. Batchelor said the colors honor past identities while creating a unified district image.

“We want our young people to be the next leaders of the city of Youngstown,” he said. “So we’re spending this year bringing students, families, and staff together to build a shared culture.”

In the months ahead, YCSD plans to hold community events and launch student-led initiatives to prepare for the merged schools. Batchelor says the district will also begin hiring the principals for both the new high school and middle school in the coming weeks, giving them time to help lead the culture-building process throughout the upcoming school year.

"We want our students and families involved in shaping what it feels like when we walk into these new schools," Batchelor said.

For more on the reconfiguration plan and upcoming changes, you can visit here.