Best Schools in Columbus, Ohio
285 schools · 172 Elementary · 32 Middle · 55 High · 26 Other
Choosing a school in Columbus?
Use this page to compare every school in Columbus by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Ecole Kenwood French Immersion
Elementary · Columbus City Schools District. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Maryland Elementary School
Elementary · Bexley City. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Montrose Elementary School
Elementary · Bexley City. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Columbus for 2026 are Ecole Kenwood French Immersion (9.3/10), Maryland Elementary School (9.0/10), and Montrose Elementary School (9.0/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 219 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
285
229 public · 56 private
Avg Score
5.9
out of 10
Median Home
$273,659
home value · ACS
Districts
84
serving the city
Schools
285
229 public · 56 private
Avg Score
5.9
out of 10
Median Home
$273,659
home value · ACS
Districts
84
serving the city
Rates 7.9/10 despite 94% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.6 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Columbus schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Columbus
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 219 rated schools; 285 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ecole Kenwood French Immersion | 9.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Maryland Elementary School | 9.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Montrose Elementary School | 9.0 / 10 |
| 4 | Bexley High School | 8.8 / 10 |
| 5 | Grandview Heights High School | 8.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Brookside Elementary School | 8.4 / 10 |
| 7 | Cassingham Elementary School | 8.2 / 10 |
| 8 | Northland Preparatory and Fitness Academy | 8.1 / 10 |
| 9 | South Mifflin Stem Academy (k-6) | 8.1 / 10 |
| 10 | Educational Academy for Boys & Girls | 8.0 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.9/10
- Median household income
- $64,869
- Median home value
- $273,659
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 41%
- Avg commute
- 21 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 43%
24% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Columbus compares
Ohio rank
#331 of 444
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.3
below Ohio avg (6.2)
Median household income
$65k
91% of Ohio median
Schools in this city
269
Education Snapshot
Columbus, OhioColumbus operates 277 schools across 84 districts, enrolling roughly 98,128 students in a level mix that skews heavily elementary: 168 elementary, 53 high, 31 middle, and 25 other or combined campuses. The city's average MySchoolScout composite rating of 5.3/10 — drawn from 262 scored schools — falls 1.1 points below the Ohio state average of 6.4/10, making individual school ratings a more useful benchmark than the city average. Charter schools account for 73 of the 277 total, so more than one in four Columbus schools sit outside a traditional district structure. Median household income of $62,177 runs 16% below the Ohio state median of $73,792. Adults holding a bachelor's degree or higher stand at 34%. The combination of below-average composite scores and below-median income means performance varies considerably across the city's 84 districts.
84 districts draw attendance lines through Columbus
Columbus is not one school system. 84 districts cut across the city limits, and the largest still holds only 51% of the public campuses.
Columbus City Schools District is the largest slice at 116 of 229 public schools — not a majority. Choosing a Columbus address is choosing a district first.
Among 219 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 2.5 to 9.3 — the spread is inside Columbus, not a citywide average.
73 of the 229 public schools are charters (32%), so the district split is not the whole market.
- Columbus City Schools District116 public · 51%
- South-Western City11 public · 5%
- Bexley City6 public · 3%
- Groveport Madison Local5 public · 2%
- Hamilton Local5 public · 2%
About Schools in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio presents parents with one of the larger public school landscapes in the Midwest — 224 ranked public schools spanning a wide performance range. The city average sits at 5.2 out of 10, which means most schools fall in the middle tier. Only 24 schools, roughly 11% of the total, score 7 or higher, so strong options exist but require deliberate searching.
The highest performers are concentrated in suburban districts bordering the city. Bexley High School leads all Columbus-area schools with a 9.3 out of 10, making it the benchmark for the region. Grandview Heights High School follows closely at 9.2. At the elementary level, Maryland Elementary and Montrose Elementary both score above 9.0, while Larson Middle School tops the middle school rankings at 9.1. These schools cluster in the Bexley and Grandview Heights districts, both independent municipal districts with their own tax bases and reputations distinct from Columbus City Schools.
Columbus City Schools itself is the dominant district by enrollment and geographic reach, serving the urban core. Performance within the district varies considerably across neighborhood boundaries. Families living in Columbus proper should check individual school scores rather than assuming district-wide results apply to their assigned school. Suburban districts like Dublin, Worthington, and Hilliard also serve families in the broader Columbus metro and generally post stronger average scores, though they fall outside the city's ranked pool covered here.
For parents making enrollment or relocation decisions, the 5.2 city average is a useful anchor point. A score at or above 7.0 puts a school in the top 11% locally — that's a meaningful filter when sorting options. If accessing a top-rated school is the priority, proximity to Bexley or Grandview Heights carries real weight. Parents zoned for lower-scoring schools should also research open enrollment policies, magnet programs, and charter options, which can expand access without requiring a move. The range from roughly 3.0 to 9.3 across Columbus schools is wide enough that two families living miles apart can have dramatically different public school experiences.
Elementary Schools
172 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 455 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.3 |
| 2 | 334 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.0 |
| 3 | 330 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.0 |
| 4 | 343 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.4 |
| 5 | 501 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.2 |
| 6 | 161 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.1 |
| 7 | 244 students · Pre-K–6th | 8.1 |
| 8 | 147 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.0 |
| 9 | 368 students · Pre-K–3rd | 8.0 |
| 10 | 377 students · 3rd–5th | 7.9 |
Show all 172 elementary schools in Columbus
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
32 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 449 students · 4th–8th | 8.0 |
| 2 | 143 students · 6th–8th | 7.7 |
| 3 | 592 students · 6th–8th | 7.4 |
| 4 | 474 students · 6th–8th | 6.9 |
| 5 | 580 students · 6th–8th | 6.9 |
| 6 | 453 students · 6th–8th | 6.7 |
| 7 | 511 students · 6th–8th | 6.4 |
| 8 | 340 students · 6th–8th | 6.2 |
| 9 | 726 students · 6th–8th | 6.2 |
| 10 | 475 students · 6th–8th | 6.2 |
Show all 32 middle schools in Columbus
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
High Schools
55 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 768 students · 9th–12th | 8.8 |
| 2 | 331 students · 9th–12th | 8.6 |
| 3 | 778 students · 9th–12th | 7.5 |
| 4 | 624 students · 9th–12th | 7.2 |
| 5 | 884 students · 6th–12th | 6.8 |
| 6 | 145 students · 9th–12th | 6.3 |
| 7 | 62 students · 9th–12th | 6.2 |
| 8 | 733 students · 9th–12th | 6.0 |
| 9 | 52 students · 11th–12th | 6.0 |
| 10 | 110 students · 10th–12th | 5.9 |
Show all 55 high schools in Columbus
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Other Schools
26 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,084 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.1 |
| 2 | 823 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.8 |
| 3 | 78 students · Pre-K–Pre-K | 6.7 |
| 4 | 56 students · 9th–10th | 6.2 |
| 5 | 211 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.9 |
| 6 | 320 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.7 |
| 7 | 729 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.6 |
| 8 | 218 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.6 |
| 9 | 361 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.6 |
| 10 | 455 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.1 |
Show all 26 other schools in Columbus
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Schools in Columbus
Columbus, Ohio · 285 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 28 ZIP codes
Median Income
$64,869
Median Home Value
$273,659
Median Rent
$1,165/mo
Population
903,108
College Educated
41%
Homeownership
43%
Avg Commute
21 min
Poverty Rate
20.7%
Community Profile
Columbus has a median household income of $64,869. It is a well-educated community where 41% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $273,659, with a median rent of $1,165/month. The area has a poverty rate of 20.7%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 21 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- Ohio
- Elementary
- 172
- Middle
- 32
- High
- 55
- Other
- 26
Resources
School Districts (84)
Ohio Achievement Charter Schools Inc. dba Millennium Commun
1 school · 481 students
Horizon Science Academy Columbus
1 school · 624 students
Graham School The
1 school · 145 students
YB Columbus Community School
1 school · 228 students
Focus Learning Academy of Southwestern Columbus
1 school · 397 students
Focus Learning Academy of Southeastern Columbus
1 school · 221 students
Focus Learning Academy of Northern Columbus
1 school · 672 students
International Acad Of Columbus
1 school · 306 students
Great Western Academy
1 school · 674 students
Arts & College Preparatory Academy
1 school · 461 students
Columbus Humanities Arts and Technology Academy
1 school · 633 students
A+ Arts Academy
1 school · 366 students
Columbus Arts & Technology Academy
1 school · 455 students
Columbus Preparatory Academy
1 school · 823 students
Summit Academy Middle School - Columbus
1 school · 40 students
Summit Academy Transition High School-Columbus
1 school · 38 students
Capital City Career Prep High School
1 school · 133 students
Oakstone Community School
1 school · 211 students
Educational Academy for Boys & Girls
1 school · 147 students
Midnimo Cross Cultural Middle School
1 school · 143 students
Westside Academy
1 school · 308 students
Summit Academy Community School-Columbus
1 school · 30 students
Whitehall Preparatory and Fitness Academy
1 school · 333 students
Northland Preparatory and Fitness Academy
1 school · 161 students
East Bridge Academy of Excellence
1 school · 142 students
Columbus Preparatory and Fitness Academy
1 school · 380 students
Charles School at Ohio Dominican University
1 school · 301 students
Early College Academy
1 school · 123 students
North Woods Career Prep High School
1 school · 92 students
South Scioto Academy
1 school · 237 students
Noble Academy-Columbus
1 school · 286 students
Horizon Science Academy Columbus Middle School
1 school · 453 students
KIPP Columbus
1 school · 2,084 students
Cesar Chavez College Preparatory School
1 school · 324 students
Performance Academy Eastland
1 school · 283 students
Sullivant Avenue Community School
1 school · 234 students
Horizon Science Academy Elementary School
1 school · 377 students
Renaissance Academy dba Bessie Sherrod Price Preparatory Aca
1 school · 76 students
Columbus Bilingual Academy-North
1 school · 516 students
Graham Elementary and Middle School
1 school · 301 students
Zenith Academy East
1 school · 139 students
Columbus Performance Academy
1 school · 173 students
Mason Run High School
1 school · 139 students
Road to Success Academy
1 school · 62 students
Central High School
1 school · 114 students
Capital High School
1 school · 84 students
Patriot Preparatory Academy
1 school · 729 students
Flex High School
1 school · 413 students
Zenith Academy West
1 school · 159 students
Bridge Gate Community School
1 school · 218 students
Westwood Preparatory Academy
1 school · 361 students
Kids Care Elementary
1 school · 134 students
South Columbus Preparatory Academy at German Village
1 school · 281 students
Great River Connections Academy
1 school · 1,681 students
Horizon Science Academy Primary
1 school · 386 students
Capital Collegiate Preparatory Academy
1 school · 166 students
North Columbus Preparatory Academy
1 school · 144 students
Central Point Preparatory Academy
1 school · 191 students
South Columbus Preparatory Academy at Southfield
1 school · 256 students
Franklinton Prep High School
1 school · 226 students
Valor Academy Inc.
1 school · 99 students
Franklinton High School
1 school · 117 students
The Academy for Urban Scholars
1 school · 375 students
Focus North High School
1 school · 191 students
A+ Children's Academy
1 school · 87 students
Metro Early College High School
1 school · 884 students
Imagine Columbus Primary Academy
1 school · 246 students
United Preparatory Academy
1 school · 851 students
Ohio Construction Academy
1 school · 117 students
Eastland Preparatory Academy
1 school · 320 students
Focus Learning Academy of Central Columbus
1 school · 128 students
Eagle Charter Schools of Ohio dba the Shepard School
1 school · 80 students
Bexley City
6 schools · 2,526 students
Columbus City Schools District
116 schools · 45,181 students
Grandview Heights Schools
3 schools · 1,148 students
South-Western City
34 schools · 21,873 students
Westerville City
24 schools · 14,533 students
Worthington City
19 schools · 10,848 students
Groveport Madison Local
11 schools · 6,239 students
Hilliard City
24 schools · 16,164 students
Hamilton Local
5 schools · 3,151 students
Dublin City
24 schools · 16,736 students
Unity Academy
1 school · 56 students
Legacy Academy of Excellence
1 school · 170 students
Other Major Cities in Ohio
Top metros statewide by school count.
Featured Rankings
See our in-depth rankings with interactive maps, score breakdowns, and school spotlights.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Columbus, Ohio
How many schools are in Columbus, Ohio?
Columbus has 285 schools, including 229 public and 56 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Columbus, Ohio?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Columbus is 5.9 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Columbus, Ohio?
The top-ranked school in Columbus on MySchoolScout is Ecole Kenwood French Immersion with a composite score of 9.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in Columbus, Ohio?
The top-ranked elementary school in Columbus on MySchoolScout is Ecole Kenwood French Immersion with a composite score of 9.3/10.
What is the best middle school in Columbus, Ohio?
The top-ranked middle school in Columbus on MySchoolScout is Larson Middle School with a composite score of 8.0/10.
What is the best high school in Columbus, Ohio?
The top-ranked high school in Columbus on MySchoolScout is Bexley High School with a composite score of 8.8/10.
How many school districts serve Columbus, Ohio?
Columbus is served by 84 school districts: Ohio Achievement Charter Schools Inc. Dba Millennium Commun, Horizon Science Academy Columbus, Graham School the, Yb Columbus Community School, Focus Learning Academy of Southwestern Columbus, Focus Learning Academy of Southeastern Columbus, Focus Learning Academy of Northern Columbus, International Acad of Columbus, Great Western Academy, Arts & College Preparatory Academy, Columbus Humanities Arts and Technology Academy, A+ Arts Academy, Columbus Arts & Technology Academy, Columbus Preparatory Academy, Summit Academy Middle School - Columbus, Summit Academy Transition High School-Columbus, Capital City Career Prep High School, Oakstone Community School, Educational Academy for Boys & Girls, Midnimo Cross Cultural Middle School, Westside Academy, Summit Academy Community School-Columbus, Whitehall Preparatory and Fitness Academy, Northland Preparatory and Fitness Academy, East Bridge Academy of Excellence, Columbus Preparatory and Fitness Academy, Charles School at Ohio Dominican University, Early College Academy, North Woods Career Prep High School, South Scioto Academy, Noble Academy-Columbus, Horizon Science Academy Columbus Middle School, Kipp Columbus, Cesar Chavez College Preparatory School, Performance Academy Eastland, Sullivant Avenue Community School, Horizon Science Academy Elementary School, Renaissance Academy Dba Bessie Sherrod Price Preparatory Aca, Columbus Bilingual Academy-North, Graham Elementary and Middle School, Zenith Academy East, Columbus Performance Academy, Mason Run High School, Road to Success Academy, Central High School, Capital High School, Patriot Preparatory Academy, Flex High School, Zenith Academy West, Bridge Gate Community School, Westwood Preparatory Academy, Kids Care Elementary, South Columbus Preparatory Academy at German Village, Great River Connections Academy, Horizon Science Academy Primary, Capital Collegiate Preparatory Academy, North Columbus Preparatory Academy, Central Point Preparatory Academy, South Columbus Preparatory Academy at Southfield, Franklinton Prep High School, Valor Academy Inc., Franklinton High School, The Academy for Urban Scholars, Focus North High School, A+ Children's Academy, Metro Early College High School, Imagine Columbus Primary Academy, United Preparatory Academy, Ohio Construction Academy, Eastland Preparatory Academy, Focus Learning Academy of Central Columbus, Eagle Charter Schools of Ohio Dba the Shepard School, Bexley City, Columbus City Schools District, Grandview Heights Schools, South-Western City, Westerville City, Worthington City, Groveport Madison Local, Hilliard City, Hamilton Local, Dublin City, Unity Academy, Legacy Academy of Excellence.
What is the education level in Columbus, Ohio?
According to Census data, 41% of adults in Columbus have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Columbus, Ohio?
The median household income in Columbus is approximately $64,869 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Columbus, Ohio?
Yes, Columbus has 56 private schools alongside 229 public schools. The top-rated private school is Columbus Montessori Education Center with a score of 9.0/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Columbus, Ohio?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Columbus is 17.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Columbus, Ohio?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
Related reading
- Best States for Public Schools in 2026: A Complete Rankingdata insights
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- The Funding Paradox: Why the Federal School Choice Tax Credit Might Boost Your Local Public Schoolschool choice
- The New School Choice Map: Is Your State Participating in the Federal Tuition Tax Credit?data insights
- Moving for Schools: How to Find the Best Schools Before You Relocateguides
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Ohio Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.