Case Study: Tuscaloosa City Schools achieves reliable 1:1 Chromebook connectivity and centralized network management with Extreme Networks

Tuscaloosa City Schools Amplifies Technology to Enhance Learning

Tuscaloosa City Schools serves more than 10,000 Pre-K–12 students across 21 schools and supports roughly 14,000 users and 15,000+ devices in over 2.25 million square feet. Faced with a 1:1 Chromebook initiative, high-density device traffic and only two network staff, the district’s aging infrastructure couldn’t reliably support digital learning. Tuscaloosa City Schools turned to Extreme Networks, deploying ExtremeWireless™, ExtremeSwitching™ and ExtremeManagement™ for a single-pane-of-glass, scalable switching and wireless solution.

Extreme Networks delivered high-density access points and centralized management that let the two-person IT team manage the entire network from one location. The new Extreme Networks solution enabled full value of the Chromebook program, increased continual network utilization from about 70% to 80% with peaks in the mid-90s, supported richer digital learning (virtual field trips, Google Hangouts, online testing) and reduced travel/time-to-troubleshoot across the district — measurable gains in capacity, reliability and operational efficiency.

Tuscaloosa City Schools

Chris Jenks

Director of Technology