This month, the Superintendent’s Community Facilities Task Force presented a plan that would see up to 20 potential school buildings in Columbus face the possibility of closure under nine different recommended scenarios.
Although there are nine proposals, some are substitutes for each other and the Board of Education may or may not approve them all. During a series of meetings earlier this year, the task force considered factors such as building occupancy, or how full a building is, transportation data and whether a building is outdated without substantial renovation, The Dispatch previously reported.
A story about two schools: The Columbus City Schools board is emphasizing the potential for consolidation
Under some of the task force’s recommendations, special programs such as Columbus Alternative High School or Duxberry Arts Impact Elementary could move to another building or consolidate at another school.
Also included are each school’s Ohio Department of Education state report cards, including how many out of five possible stars each school received overall and how many they received in the progress category, which measures how well a school improves year over year.
You can view a full breakdown of each scenario on the CCS website, where you can also provide feedback on individual proposals.
Broadleigh Elementary
Under one proposal, Broadleigh Elementary, on the East Side, would close and consolidate with area schools.
CCS Preparatory School for Boys
Under a proposal for the Boys Preparatory program, the school would close its current location at the former Eastmoor Middle School and operate as a separate school within the CCS Preparatory School for Girls, on the Near East Side.
At only 23.2% full, CCS Preparatory School for Boys is the most underutilized CCS school.
Buckeye High School
Under one proposal, Buckeye Middle School on the South Side would close and middle school students would attend a new Marion Franklin Middle School.
Cranbrook Elementary
Under proposals, Cranbrook Elementary, on the northwest side, would close and consolidate with area schools.
Columbus Alternative High School (building)
Under one proposal, Columbus Alternative High School would close its current location on McGuffey Road in North Linden and move to the current location of Downtown High School, which would merge with Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center. In another proposal, Columbus Alternative High School would move to the current location of East High School.
Columbus Alternative High School was recently named one of the best in the state by U.S. News and World Report.
Columbus Gifted Academy Program
In one proposal, the Columbus Gifted Academy would move to Dominion Middle School and Oakland Park Elementary School. In another scenario, Columbus Gifted Academy would move to Ridgeview Middle School after that school consolidated with Dominion Middle School. The current location in Italian Village would close.
Duxbery Park Arts Impact Elementary
In one scenario, Fort Hayes would take students from Duxberry Park Arts Impact Elementary and create a K-12 arts program on the Fort Hayes campus. In another proposal, Duxberry students would return to their home schools or partner with Fort Hayes. The current Duxberry School is on the northeast side.
Fairwood Elementary
Under proposals, Fairwood Elementary, in Driving Park, is expected to close and consolidate with other K-6 schools.
Hubbard Elementary
Under proposals, Hubbard Elementary, built in 1896 in Victorian Village, would close next to Cranbrook Elementary and consolidate with local schools.
Innis Elementary
Under one proposal, Innis Elementary, on the city’s northeast side, would be consolidated with other schools in the area.
Johnson Park High School
Under one proposal, East High School would take over Eastmoor Academy and East High School’s boundary would be adjusted. The current Eastmoor Academy building would become a middle school with students from Johnson Park and Sherwood Middle Schools, both of which would eventually close.
Lindbergh Elementary
Lindbergh, in addition to West Broad and Valleyview Elementary Schools, would consolidate with other area elementary schools under one proposal. Lindbergh is located on the West Side.
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Opening year: 1958
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Occupancy: 78.7 (236 students for 300 capacity)
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State report cards: 3.5 stars overall, five stars in progress
North Linden Elementary
North Linden Elementary would close and consolidate with other area schools under one proposal.
Northtowne Elementary
Northetowne Elementary, in Northland, would close and consolidate under one proposal.
Marion-Franklin High School
Under one proposal, South High School would become the regional high school serving Marion-Franklin high school students. Marion-Franklin High School, on the south side, would eventually close.
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Opening year: 1951
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Occupancy: 43.8% (443 students for 1,012 capacity)
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State report cards: 1.5 stars overall, one star in progress, 1 star in graduation
Moler Elementary
Under two different proposals, Moler, Siebert and Fairwood elementary schools are expected to consolidate with elementary schools from other areas. Moler is located on the south side.
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Opening year: 1967
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Usage: 65.5% (311 students out of 475)
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State Report Cards: 2.5 stars overall, 3 stars in progress)
Sherwood High School
Under one proposal, East High School would take over Eastmoor Academy and East High School’s boundary would be adjusted. The current Eastmoor Academy building would become a high school, with students attending Johnson Park and Sherwood high schools, both of which would eventually close.
Siebert K-6 Elementary
Under two different proposals, Siebert, Fairwood and Moler elementary schools are expected to consolidate with elementary schools from other areas.
At 120% occupancy, Siebert Elementary, in Merion Village, is the most overcapacity school in the district.
Valleyview Elementary
Valleyview, in addition to Lindbergh and West Broad elementary schools, would consolidate with other area elementary schools under one proposal. Valleyview is located on the city’s Far West Side.
West Broad Elementary
West Broad, in addition to Lindbergh and Valleyview elementary schools, would consolidate with elementary schools from other areas under one proposal. West Broad Elementary is located on the West Side.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Your Guide to the 20 Proposed School Closings in Columbus City
