The top reported proficiency rate is 38% in Social studies. The lowest is 7% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Burroughs Elementary School
Burroughs Elementary sits in south Columbus as a neighborhood regular public school serving prekindergarten through fifth grade. The school enrolls a small to mid-sized group of students with a diverse composition: roughly a third Black, a quarter Hispanic, and a quarter white, with roughly a tenth multiracial and a small number of Asian students. About a third of students are in the earliest grades (pre-K and kindergarten), and enrollment runs fairly evenly across the remaining grades through fifth.
The school's academic performance on Ohio's state tests is notably low across measured subjects. In math, measured grades three through five, proficiency sits well below the level seen at most elementary schools in the county. English language arts shows a similar pattern. In science, where a smaller group of students was tested, the proficiency rate drops further. A social studies result from several years ago is not current enough to reflect the school's present academic standing. The school maintains strong participation in state testing, with nearly all students taking the assessments.
For context, the school's overall proficiency rate places it in the bottom quartile among elementary schools in Franklin County districts. This is a straightforward reading: students here are not catching up to grade-level benchmarks at the rate observed in comparable schools across the region.
Columbus City Schools, the district serving Burroughs, is navigating significant change. In late 2024 and again in December 2025, the board voted to close and consolidate schools and cut the budget substantially in response to state funding reductions. These decisions include eliminated transportation for K-8 students attending schools outside their neighborhood assignment or a lottery lottery school. For families using busing, this is a material shift in school access. The district also formally shifted to science-of-reading instruction in elementary grades starting in 2021, ahead of Ohio's 2024 statewide mandate, which means all elementary teachers have been trained in the approach and delivery has changed across the grade band.
The broader Columbus housing market shows home values modestly below the state benchmark, with median rents near the state-wide mid-range. The metro is growing rapidly—among the fastest in the nation—though housing supply is straining to keep up with demand. Voters approved a property tax levy in 2023 that funds operating costs and improvements on a permanent basis, a lasting fiscal commitment baked into property tax bills for residents.
A parent considering Burroughs should understand that this school's students are underperforming on state assessments, and a parent may want to look into that further with the school to understand what supports are in place and what trajectory the school is on. The school is small enough to allow personalized attention, and the neighborhood setting offers what many families seek in an elementary anchor. At the same time, families should weigh the academic landscape against their own goals and the specific supports available.
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