Pickerington schools (Columbus, Fairfield, Westerville: house prices, best schools, colleges)

[jprince17]

Not sure if I should have made this a separate post or not. But, we've been visiting the area and have found a few places we like more than others. My husband really like Pickerington (space, lower taxes, cheaper house price) but the schools seem to be rated much lower than Lewis Center, Dublin amd Westerville. The same style of house we found 30K less wity cheaper taxes and a large yard as compated to the other areas. Our girls would be attending the schools from early elementary school until graduation. Can anyone speak on the schools there?

I'm looking at ODE, report card, great schools. It looks like the schools wed be zoned for are Sycamore Creek, Diley Middle and Pickerington Ridgeview.

Also, are there any areas of Pick that we should avoid?

[schmave]

Pickerington schools are very good. Have been for years. Personally, I think they are every bit as good as Dublin and Olentangy.
As far as where to avoid, any of the areas of Columbus and Reynoldsburg zoned to Pickerington schools are not that nice and have been going downhill in recent years, though not nearly as much as the adjacent areas across the line in Franklin County. The area you mentioned is pretty nice and I'd recommend it and the school district to anyone.

[wrightflyer]

The cheaper price is probably because you aren't in Franklin or Delaware Counties. Fairfield County is nice, don't get me wrong, but the demand outpacing supply is much more noticeable in the northern stretches of Franklin County (Dublin / Westerville) and throughout large swaths of central and southern Delaware County (Olentangy / Westerville). That is likely a big reason the price is 30K +/- higher than Pickerington. There are also more shopping amenities in the other locations versus Pickerington.

Pickerington is nice and has grown in the last 20 years along with much of Columbus, but it is still suburban at best and rather exurban in parts. For someone wanting land and space, Pickerington and/or Bloom Carroll schools would be good and relatively affordable choices in comparison to Delaware County properties.

I'd also agree the schools aren't much lower on a quality scale. Maybe slightly lower, but keep in mind Upper Arlington, Bexley, Olentangy and Dublin have some of the best schools in the entire state. So being slightly lower than those isn't that bad. Westerville is probably on par with Pickerington but not at the same level as Dublin / Olentangy. And even those districts will have superior schools inside their own borders, such as Dublin Jerome High School or Olentangy Liberty High School.

[PerryMason614]

Originally Posted by wrightflyer

There are also more shopping amenities in the other locations versus Pickerington.

Overrated, IMHO. How many times do people need to go to a mall anymore? You have just about everything you need along OH 256, with River Valley close by for trips to JCPenney and Elder-Beerman and a few of the more popular mall stores.

Originally Posted by wrightflyer

I'd also agree the schools aren't much lower on a quality scale. Maybe slightly lower, but keep in mind Upper Arlington, Bexley, Olentangy and Dublin have some of the best schools in the entire state. So being slightly lower than those isn't that bad. Westerville is probably on par with Pickerington but not at the same level as Dublin / Olentangy. And even those districts will have superior schools inside their own borders, such as Dublin Jerome High School or Olentangy Liberty High School.

School ratings are a function of the type of student you have. Since the areas you mentioned are higher income areas, on average, those people are some of the brightest people in the area. The fact that Pickerington is even in the same league with them tells me the school district punches well above its weight in class.

[jprince17]

Originally Posted by wrightflyer

The cheaper price is probably because you aren't in Franklin or Delaware Counties. Fairfield County is nice, don't get me wrong, but the demand outpacing supply is much more noticeable in the northern stretches of Franklin County (Dublin / Westerville) and throughout large swaths of central and southern Delaware County (Olentangy / Westerville). That is likely a big reason the price is 30K +/- higher than Pickerington. There are also more shopping amenities in the other locations versus Pickerington.

Pickerington is nice and has grown in the last 20 years along with much of Columbus, but it is still suburban at best and rather exurban in parts. For someone wanting land and space, Pickerington and/or Bloom Carroll schools would be good and relatively affordable choices in comparison to Delaware County properties.

I'd also agree the schools aren't much lower on a quality scale. Maybe slightly lower, but keep in mind Upper Arlington, Bexley, Olentangy and Dublin have some of the best schools in the entire state. So being slightly lower than those isn't that bad. Westerville is probably on par with Pickerington but not at the same level as Dublin / Olentangy. And even those districts will have superior schools inside their own borders, such as Dublin Jerome High School or Olentangy Liberty High School.

Thank you so much! One of the reason we liked Pick was due to the space you can get, were coming from DC and land is definitely at a premium. Our top priority with location would be the schools that are zoned and the rating for where we buy. I can deal with traveling north for shopping. We kinda do that now, lol. I got kinda concerned since the ratings from greatschool were average for the elementary and high (Pickerington North, which we told is better than Central) but the only middle school had a rating of 3.


When we viewed Dublin, we loved it. However, I just cant fathom paying 11K in taxes every year on top of a mortgage. That just scares me. The house prices are very affordable..but add on taxes..ouch!!

[jprince17]

Originally Posted by PerryMason614

School ratings are a function of the type of student you have. Since the areas you mentioned are higher income areas, on average, those people are some of the brightest people in the area. The fact that Pickerington is even in the same league with them tells me the school district punches well above its weight in class.

I didn't realize that Pickerington was in the same league/running of the other areas. This helps quite a bit.

[PerryMason614]

Originally Posted by jprince17

I didn't realize that Pickerington was in the same league/running of the other areas. This helps quite a bit.

Like the other poster said, maybe a notch below but still excellent schools. This has nothing to do with the schools so much as that the other districts have a high concentration of high income professionals. And high income professionals are generally smart, have good study habits and produce smart kids. Pickerington doesn't have as many blue bloods but it holds its own.

Like I said, school rankings are a function of the type of student who goes to school there. If you live in a community like Upper Arlington, where a good chunk of the OSU professors and law firm partners live, the student base is going to be top notch and this means the district ranks high.

They all teach out of the same textbooks and they all go to the same teacher colleges. The student is the difference.

[jprince17]

I wonder how many in those professions choose not to live in those areas. I'm thinking we'll be good if we choose that area. Well fingers crossed we can narrow our community search down to 2 next weekend. Loo king at Westerville and Lewis Center again. Thank you again

[PerryMason614]

Originally Posted by jprince17

I wonder how many in those professions choose not to live in those areas. I'm thinking we'll be good if we choose that area. Well fingers crossed we can narrow our community search down to 2 next weekend. Loo king at Westerville and Lewis Center again. Thank you again

There are a decent amount of people who are professional and who live in the Pickerington area. Nothing like Bexley or Upper Arlington, but they're there.