New Albany-plain Local, OH

Original Research by School Decision on New Albany-plain Local

New Albany-Plain Local is a suburban Franklin County district serving pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade across five schools in New Albany and the surrounding area. The district enrolls a diverse student body with a substantial majority identifying as white, a meaningful Asian population, and smaller Black and Hispanic communities. The racial composition is roughly evenly distributed between white students and all other groups combined.

State proficiency results from the most recent year show strong performance across tested subjects. Math and English language arts proficiency both sit in the mid-range, while science proficiency is notably higher. Social studies proficiency is the district's clearest strength. The district's overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among Franklin County's districts. Student participation in state testing is very high, suggesting reliable measurement across the student population. Only current-year data is available, so trend analysis and year-over-year change cannot be determined.

Chronic absenteeism stands well below the county median, indicating that attendance is a relative strength. The district's per-pupil current spending falls in the middle range for county districts, slightly below the median, suggesting a fiscally restrained operational posture.

A graduation rate for the district was not reported, and no free-or-reduced-price-lunch count or rate appears in the data provided. Staffing, enrollment in special education programs, English learner enrollment, and course-access detail were also not available.

The district sits in one of the region's most affluent housing markets. Home values are substantially higher than state and national medians, and rental costs similarly exceed state benchmarks. Housing affordability, measured as price-to-income ratio, is above the national benchmark, meaning prospective homebuyers and renters in this market face above-average cost burdens. The median home value has appreciated modestly year over year, and rental markets have declined slightly in recent quarters.

Two property-tax initiatives have reshaped the district's operations and funding landscape. In November 2022, voters approved a permanent improvements levy to fund recurring facility maintenance and infrastructure work across the K-12 campus. More recently, in November 2024, voters approved a bond measure tied to enrollment growth. The new bond funds construction of a dedicated elementary school for all-day kindergarten and grades one and two, facility renovations, expanded transportation, and a districtwide restructuring of which building students attend at each grade level. This new school is targeted to open in the 2027-28 school year and directly responds to projected enrollment growth. The bond measure replaces an expiring Community Authority millage; households outside the Community Authority pay an additional property-tax obligation for the bond. This is a multi-year structural change affecting student assignment and campus organization, and parents with young children should understand the timing and grade-level transitions it will create.

In August 2025, the district adopted a student personal communication device policy banning cell phones and smartwatches during the instructional day, including transitions and lunch. Devices must be powered off and stored out of sight. This implements state law but represents a material shift in school culture and daily student experience that families navigate differently.

The district's academic foundation is solid, with proficiency rates above county medians and strong attendance. The housing market and property-tax climate reflect both the district's desirability and the cost of entry for families. The ongoing capital expansion and grade-level reorganization create a period of transition that prospective families should evaluate in light of when they plan to enroll students.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

5,065

Grades

PK–12

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 6%

Black 12%

White 63%

Asian 11%

Two+ 7%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

69%

—

Gr 4

70%

—

Gr 5

89%

—

Gr 6

56%

—

Gr 7

74%

—

Gr 8

57%

—

Gr 38

69%

—

Math

Gr 3

60%

—

Gr 4

76%

—

Gr 5

76%

—

Gr 6

68%

—

Gr 7

59%

—

Gr 8

66%

—

Gr 38

68%

—

Science

Gr 5

75%

—

Gr 8

60%

—

Gr 38

68%

—

Schools in this District

5 schools are officially reported under this district.

New Albany Primary School

New Albany High School

New Albany Middle School

New Albany Early Learning Center

New Albany Intermediate School

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

1 grade reported

86%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

86%

Grades 3-8

Science

1 grade reported

86%

Grades 3-8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$526,385

Year-over-year change+1.3%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$347K to $579K

vs. state typical2.15x

vs. national typical1.43x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
43054	New Albany	$579K	+1.1%	76.2%
43081	Westerville	$359K	+1.6%	21.5%
43230	Gahanna	$347K	+2.3%	2.3%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,610/mo

Year-over-year change-0.2%

Range across 3 ZIP codes$1,559 to $1,624/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (3 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
43054	New Albany	$1,624	-0.5%	76.2%
43081	Westerville	$1,566	+0.6%	21.5%
43230	Gahanna	$1,559	+2.2%	2.3%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$2,656/mo

Home price / national median income6.3x

Annual rent / national median income23.1%

Est. mortgage exceeds rent by$1,046/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$244,844 (+3.6% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.