Worst schools in Columbus? (Hamilton, Lancaster: neighborhoods, school district, taxes)

[spotch]

I know many of the city of Columbus schools are pretty bad but does anyone know which schools in Columbus are the worst? I'm thinking along the lines of high schools but I'll take any information I can get.

Thanks!

[LancasterNative]

All the ones run by the government.

Seriously though, if you're just talking Columbus City schools...I'm not that familiar with the variances among high schools across the district.

Streetcreed might be the best qualified person to speak on this...

[columbusnative1985]

as a graduate of columbus public schools(2003) i can give you the lowdown on the good and bad high schools. i graduate from northland high school, which is located in the northland area which is quite nice, especially the area around the school. this is your typical 1960s and 1970s era neighborhood, with a good deal of older, retired residents and families. other good high schools include fort hayes(downtown), centennial(bethel road/OH 315), and whetstone(clintonville). just about every other high school is not the best especially east, south, independence, mifflin(which is located by easton town center of all places), north, walnut ridge. west high school could probably be considered one of the better, although it is located in the hilltop, but is right by the westgate park area, which is becoming a very nice(but always has been) a very nice part of the west side.

[streetcreed]

Also, another really good Columbus City High School is the Columbus Alternative High School on the North Side of the city. It is ranked EXCELLENT by the state year after year, the city of columbus schools have open enrollement, so most high schools are made up of students from all over the district.

I second the above poster's opinions.

Another Columbus High School that's good:
The the open enrollement Fort Hays Arts Speciality High School is state of the art, and even attracts students from the best suburban schools, attending for half a day, to spealize in the fine or performing arts.

Centennial High School (bethel/NW Columbus)

Whetstone High School (Clintonville)

and Northland and Beechcroft on the NE side are known for being alright.


Columbus East and South could most likely be considered two of the worst in the columbus metro, they are in some neighborhoods of innercity columbus with very high poverty rankings, but they did just move out of academic emergency, and are now rated a little better, and both are getting renovated, so only time will tell if the poor student population can continue their improvements.


I really do not think that any of the main suburban high schools are known for being bad at all. I would say that I have heard of issues in the high schools in Whitehall or Groveport.

[LancasterNative]

Originally Posted by columbusnative1985

centennial(bethel road/OH 315)

For a long time, I didn't even realize Centennial was a Columbus high school! I just kindof assumed it belonged to Arlington or someplace else... Kinda pathetic on me, huh?

[streetcreed]

For a long time, I didn't even realize Centennial was a Columbus high school! I just kindof assumed it belonged to Arlington or someplace else... Kinda pathetic on me, huh?

I know me too! I lived here since the mid 80s, and did not realize it was a Columbus school for quite some time. I think that the same goes for Independence High School on Refugee Rd on the far east side. I just realized where that is.

The last of the "new" columbus high schools were built in the late 70s (maybe early 80s not sure) neighborhoods, and Centennial, Independence, and Beechcroft are the districts "3" high schools that were built in the last post WWII areas of Columbus' annexing not to go to suburban schools.

[LancasterNative]

I know someone who graduated from Whitehall-Yearling a number of years ago (early '90s) who said even back then it was getting "pretty rough." Come to think of it, she was a bit on the tough/rowdy side herself, so for her to say that...

That's funny what you said about Independence. That's the one I always used to confuse with Bishop Hartley, a Catholic HS built about the same time, but located off Livingston Rd. west of Hamilton...

[macsports2]

Originally Posted by streetcreed

I know me too! I lived here since the mid 80s, and did not realize it was a Columbus school for quite some time. I think that the same goes for Independence High School on Refugee Rd on the far east side. I just realized where that is.

The last of the "new" columbus high schools were built in the late 70s (maybe early 80s not sure) neighborhoods, and Centennial, Independence, and Beechcroft are the districts "3" high schools that were built in the last post WWII areas of Columbus' annexing not to go to suburban schools.

Do you know anything about the High schools in Grove City? I know Grove City High and Central Crossing are rated the best ones in that area.

[LancasterNative]

Originally Posted by macsports2

Do you know anything about the High schools in Grove City? I know Grove City High and Central Crossing are rated the best ones in that area.

I can tell you this much: the SW City school district is huge. It serves Grove City, which is perhaps its best-known component. But it also includes incorporated Galloway, Georgesville, and Urbancrest...plus Franklin, Jackson, Pleasant, and Prairie townships! It pretty much covers the whole SW quarter of the county. I believe it's the 6th-largest district in Ohio, with at least 4 high schools.

I'm thinking it's also gotta be the largest Ohio school district with a substantial rural constituency. The other big districts are all urban.

For a district as large as it is, SW seems to do a decent job from all that I've heard. They've come through some tough times recently (funding), but weathered the storm and gotten things back on track.

[macsports2]

Originally Posted by LancasterNative

I can tell you this much: the SW City school district is huge. It serves Grove City, which is perhaps its best-known component. But it also includes incorporated Galloway, Georgesville, and Urbancrest...plus Franklin, Jackson, Pleasant, and Prairie townships! It pretty much covers the whole SW quarter of the county. I believe it's the 6th-largest district in Ohio, with at least 4 high schools.

I'm thinking it's also gotta be the largest Ohio school district with a substantial rural constituency. The other big districts are all urban.

For a district as large as it is, SW seems to do a decent job from all that I've heard. They've come through some tough times recently (funding), but weathered the storm and gotten things back on track.

What I don't understand is why they were having such financial problems with the taxes in that area being so high?