Whitney M. Young Gifted & Talented Leadership Academy

The school building that is now home to Whitney Young was opened in 1951 as Hoban Dominican High School, an all-girls Catholic School. In 1971 the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (formally Cleveland Municipal School District) brought the school from the Cleveland Diocese. When the Cleveland Municipal School District first opened Whitney Young in 1971 (a few months after the death of Whitney Young, who died March 11, 1971), it was an all-girls school.[9]

• 1973-1974 School year—school opened as Whitney M. Young Junior High School
• 2003-2004 School year—name changed to Whitney M. Young School
• 2008-2009 School year—name changed to Whitney M. Young High School
• 2010-2011 School year—name changed to Whitney M. Young Gifted & Talented Leadership Academy

In the 2003–2004 school year the Cleveland Municipal School District begin adding one additional grade level to Whitney Young until reaching grade 12. Whitney Young's first high school graduating class was the Class of 2007 with former principal Alisa McKinnie. In June 2009 Whitney Young held its first eighth grade promotion (Class of 2013) since it added secondary courses to the school in 2003.

• 1973-1974 School year—school opened with grades 7-8
• 2003-2004 School year— changed to grades 6-9
• 2004-2005 School year— changed to grades 6-10
• 2005-2006 School year— changed to grades 6-11
• 2006-2007 School year— changed to grades 6-12
• 2010-2011 School year— changed to grades 2-12

The Transformation Plan that was announced on Tuesday, January 5, 2010 categorized Whitney Young as a Growth School.[10] This plan called for major changes throughout the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.[11] Growth Schools are schools that are showing the strongest absolute academic performance or strong improvement trends. These schools will be provided the autonomy and support they need to continue to improve student outcomes, with a strong expectation for continued growth.[12] This plan also called to close Gracemount School, which is less than two miles from Whitney Young. Gracemount served gifted students in grades K-8, but ranked in Academic Emergency. With Gracemount closing, their students in grades 2-8 labeled gifted will be sent to Whitney Young effective the 2010–2011 school year. As part of the Transformation Whitney Young would begin serving grades 2-12 effective the 2010–2011 school year.[11]

CMSD hosted a Transformation Community Meeting for Whitney Young on Wednesday, January 6, 2010 at John F. Kennedy High School. Parents, staff, community members and students were welcome and encouraged to attend the meeting. Whitney Young's Principal Karen Byron-Johnson informed parents about the district's plans for Whitney Young in the coming weeks and school year.[13]

CMSD Board voted on the plan on March 9, 2010 and approved it.

The Main Building is the front building of the school. The Office, Principal's Office, Cafeteria, Gymnasium, high school/ main Media Center, high school/ main Computer Lab and Auditorium are all located within the Main Building. All visitors must enter in this building before proceeding to the Annex or anywhere throughout the school.

All high school students classes are located in the Main Building, known as the "High School". Some high school students take an art class in the Annex, this however is the only time high schoolers are in the annex. High School students switch classes just as every other high school, all classes are 50 minutes including lunch periods.

The tunnel is an extended brick wall walkway between the Main Building and the Annex. The tunnel contains lockers for Junior High students. The Annex is the back building of Whitney Young, it contains The Assistant Principal's Office, Grades 2-8 Media Center and Grades 2-8 Computer Lab. All rooms in this building is distinguished with an "A" at the end (EX: Room 208A, Room 303A, 214A)

All Elementary students classes are in the "Annex". There is one class per grade level for students in grades 2–5. Students remain in these classes all day, with the exception for Breakfast, Lunch, Physical Education and Music classes which are located in the high school.

All Junior High students classes are also located in the Annex. There are typically two-three classes per grade level for students in grades 6–8. Students switch classes throughout the day (with 50 minute periods) and remain in the Annex with the exceptions of Foreign Language Classes, Lunch, Breakfast, Gym, Music, and Band which are located in the high school.

• Boys' football
• Boys' basketball
• Girls' basketball
• Girls' Volleyball
• Cheerleading
• Hi-Steppers
• Chess
• Website Club
• Co-Ed Track
• Co-ed bowling
• Band
• Class officers
• Student Government
• Class representatives
• National Honor Society (sophomores, juniors and seniors only)
• Yearbook staff
• Peer mediation
• Y.E.T.T - A Christian student leadership team
• Gospel choir
• Toys for Tots
• Effective Leadership Academy (ELA) (seniors only)
• Cleveland Institute (CI) (sophomores, juniors and seniors only)
• Volunteer and community service

• Boys' Basketball
• Girls' Basketball
• Girls' Volleyball
• Band
• Choir
• After-school Tutoring
• Class Representatives (Grades 7 & 8 only)
• National Junior Honor Society
• Poetry Club
• Peer Mediation
• Gospel choir
• Drama Club

• After School Tutoring

• Whitney Young also offers Special Olympics track, basketball and bowling for students in special education classes.

In October 2009 the high school Lady Warriors Volleyball team won their fourth consecutive championship game, going undefeated for three consecutive years; with Coach Paul Baker. The middle school Lady Warriors Volleyball team came in second place; with Coach Debra White.[19]

On February 11, 2010 and February 10, 2011 Whitney Young boys' high-school basketball team lost the championship game against Ginn Academy at John Adams. March 4, 2010 Whitney Young girls' high-school basketball team lose the championship game against Cleveland School of the Arts at John F. Kennedy.