The top reported proficiency rate is 34% in English language arts. The lowest is 5% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Duxberry Park Alternative Elementary School
Duxberry Park Alternative Elementary School serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Columbus, a fast-growing state capital that has emerged as one of the country's largest metros. The school is a small, neighborhood-based public elementary serving an enrollment that skews toward the younger end of the elementary band, with a substantial majority of students who are Black and a meaningful share who are multiracial. The school's stated mission centers on arts integration across the curriculum—an alternative pedagogy rather than a traditional grade-level structure.
On state testing, the school's proficiency results are well below both state and county benchmarks. In the most recent school year, fewer than half of tested students in the third through fifth grades met proficiency thresholds in English language arts; the proportion meeting proficiency in math was lower still. Science proficiency was extremely low, with only a handful of students tested and just one reaching proficiency. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand whether the school's alternative instructional approach is reflected in how it prepares for or approaches standardized assessments, or what supports are in place for students who are not on grade level. These numbers represent the school's measured performance in isolation; data on trends over time was not available for review.
The school sits within Columbus City Schools, which has undergone significant organizational change. In December 2025, facing major state funding cuts, the district board voted to close Duxberry Park Arts Impact Elementary, along with three other schools, and to eliminate transportation for K-8 students attending schools other than their designated neighborhood school or a lottery school. This closure is material: it means the school's current students and families will be assigned or reassigned to other buildings at the end of the school year. A family considering enrollment would need to confirm directly with the district whether the school remains open for new admissions or whether transition to a receiving school has already begun.
Columbus itself is in strong growth, with a diversified economy anchored by Ohio State University, healthcare systems, insurance and finance, and major corporate campuses. Housing is affordable relative to national benchmarks, though the market is tight and rents are flat to slightly declining. The city's neighborhoods vary sharply—dense, walkable historic districts downtown and in German Village contrast with more dispersed, car-oriented residential areas on the outer ring. Public transit is available through COTA, and the district provides free transit passes to high school students; elementary students do not have that benefit.
The closure announcement and the broader context of district realignment are significant considerations. A parent interested in this school should connect directly with the district to understand enrollment status, the timeline for closure, and where students will be transitioned.
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