Original Research by School Decision on Briggs High School
Briggs High School serves grades nine through twelve in Columbus, a fast-growing state capital and Ohio's largest city. The school sits in a diverse urban environment where residential neighborhoods range from historic German Village and Victorian enclaves to industrial-turned-arts districts and tree-lined family areas. Columbus itself is anchored by major employers in healthcare, finance, insurance, education, and government, with five Fortune companies headquartered locally. The metro is among the fastest-growing in the nation and ranks consistently in the top tier for economic development. Housing values in the school's zip code are below both state and national benchmarks, and rent is moderately priced relative to income. A student commuting to Briggs has access to free unlimited public transit through the Central Ohio Transit Authority's Student Success Card, which all ninth through twelfth graders in Columbus City Schools receive.
Briggs enrolls roughly a thousand students, with notably uneven distribution across grades: the freshman class is substantially larger than the sophomore, junior, and senior classes. The student body is racially and ethnically mixed, with substantial representation of White, Black, and Hispanic students, as well as smaller shares of Asian students and students identifying with two or more races. The school's demographics reflect the broader Columbus urban composition.
Academic performance at Briggs, measured by Ohio's state assessments in 2024-25, shows wide variation across subjects. In English language arts, approximately a third of students met proficiency benchmarks. In social studies, roughly half did. Science proficiency was similar to English language arts. Mathematics proficiency was notably lower, with just over one in ten students meeting the standard. Only one year of state assessment data is available, so no trend direction can be determined. The data provided does not include other common measures such as graduation rate, chronic absenteeism, or special-population detail. A parent may want to look into the school's graduation rate and how it supports students in mathematics, which is where the current proficiency gap is widest.
The district has undergone significant change. In late 2024 and again in December 2025, Columbus City Schools announced major school closures and budget cuts in response to substantial state funding reductions. These restructurings have affected school assignments, transportation eligibility for younger students, and staffing across the district. Families already in the district or considering a move should confirm current boundaries and transportation policies directly with the school or district, as these are actively shifting. The district shifted elementary literacy instruction to science-of-reading methodology starting in 2021 and trained teachers in that approach in the years since, aligning with Ohio's 2024 statewide curriculum mandate. A new property tax levy approved by voters in 2023 provides continuing operating funding and supports expanded pre-kindergarten and facility improvements.
Briggs is a regular public high school without magnet or charter designation. The school is part of Columbus City Schools, which covers the city of Columbus and immediate surroundings.
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