The top reported proficiency rate is 28% in Social studies. The lowest is 13% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Fairmoor Elementary School
Fairmoor Elementary serves pre-K through fifth grade in a neighborhood near the south-central section of Columbus, a city in the midst of rapid growth and significant demographic change. The school enrolls about four hundred students, with a student body that is predominantly Black, alongside substantial populations of students of multiple racial backgrounds and smaller shares of Hispanic, white, Asian, and Native American students. Enrollment is fairly evenly distributed across the grade levels.
State test results for Fairmoor show proficiency rates that are low across all tested subjects. In math, about one in five students tested in grades three through five met the state's proficiency standard. In English language arts, the rate was somewhat higher but still below one in four. In science, proficiency was lower still. The participation rate in testing was high, indicating that nearly all eligible students were assessed. These results place Fairmoor in the bottom quartile when compared to elementary schools across Franklin County districts, based on overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades.
The broader district context matters for families considering this school. Columbus City Schools approved a property tax levy in late 2023 that represents a permanent increase in school funding and added to household costs for families in the district. More recently, in late 2024 and 2025, the district voted to close and consolidate multiple schools and to cut spending substantially in response to state funding reductions. These decisions have redrawn school boundaries and eliminated transportation for younger students attending schools other than their assigned neighborhood school or certain lottery schools, a material change to school access and logistics. The district also shifted all elementary literacy instruction toward the science of reading starting in 2021, moving away from balanced literacy approaches. All elementary teachers received training in this method, so all of Fairmoor's classroom teachers are now working within that framework.
Housing in the Fairmoor area is modestly priced relative to state and national benchmarks, and rents are similarly accessible. Monthly mortgage costs and rent-to-income ratios are both in moderate ranges for the region, making the area more affordable than many Columbus neighborhoods. The broader city is experiencing rapid population growth, with major new employers and housing development reshaping the metro. However, much of that new investment is concentrated in other submarkets, particularly north of downtown and in suburban areas, while central and south Columbus neighborhoods face older housing stock and less new residential development.
A parent considering Fairmoor should understand that the school's current test scores are significantly below the typical range for elementary schools in the county and reflect substantial learning gaps. The district's shift to science-of-reading instruction represents an intentional change in how literacy is taught, one aligned with Ohio's statewide direction, and may be worth exploring in conversation with the school. At the same time, the ongoing consolidations and budget pressures in the district are reshaping school access and staffing, so a parent may want to look into the district's current enrollment policies and the school's stability in the near term.
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