The top reported proficiency rate is 29% in English language arts. The lowest is 0% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Fairwood Alternative Elementary School
Fairwood Alternative Elementary School serves students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in Columbus, one of the Midwest's fastest-growing cities. The school is a regular public school within the Columbus City Schools District, located at 726 Fairwood Avenue on the south side of the city.
The school enrolls a small-to-midsize student body across eight grade levels, with the largest classes in first and second grade. The student population is predominantly Black, with a smaller representation of students of multiple races and very small numbers of students from other racial and ethnic backgrounds. Demographic data on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility and special-education and English-learner enrollment were not available in the records reviewed.
Academic performance at Fairwood is significantly below grade level across tested subjects. In 2024-25, fewer than one in four students in grades three through six scored at proficient or above on the state math assessment, with English language arts proficiency only modestly higher at roughly one in three students. Science proficiency was zero across the small cohort tested, and historical social studies data from 2017 show similarly low proficiency. When compared to other schools in Franklin County, Fairwood's overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile. State testing data show high participation rates, meaning these results reflect actual student performance rather than a testing-access issue.
The school sits in a Columbus neighborhood where median home values are below the state benchmark and rental costs are moderate. The surrounding 43205 zip code reflects affordability relative to national medians, though home values have declined modestly year-over-year. Columbus itself is experiencing rapid growth and major job creation, anchored by large employers in healthcare, finance, government, and technology, but this growth has not yet translated into strong academic results at this particular school.
A parent considering Fairwood should be aware of two significant developments affecting the school's future. The district approved a property tax levy in 2023 that provides ongoing revenue for operations and building maintenance, and the state has implemented a science-of-reading mandate affecting all elementary literacy instruction. More critically, the Columbus City Schools Board voted in December 2025 to close Fairwood Alternative Elementary at the end of the 2025-26 school year as part of a broader budget reduction, along with three other schools and significant cuts to staffing and transportation. This means that families currently enrolled or considering enrollment should verify the timeline and learn where students will be reassigned or transferred under the district's school realignment plan.
A parent may want to look into the school's academic support structures and any enrichment programming directly with the school, and should confirm current enrollment status and future placement plans with the district given the pending closure.
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