The top reported proficiency rate is 54% in Social studies. The lowest is 20% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on West Broad Elementary School
West Broad Elementary School serves a solid cross-section of Columbus from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The school enrolls a diverse student body with roughly equal representation across white, Black, Hispanic, and multiracial students. About a quarter of the enrollment is from early grades (pre-K and kindergarten), with numbers settling into the lower half of the full enrollment range by fifth grade.
The school sits on West Broad Street in the 43204 zip code area of Columbus, part of the city's neighborhoods west of downtown. Columbus itself is experiencing rapid growth and economic development, with major employers spanning healthcare, finance, government, education, and manufacturing. Housing values in the 43204 area are below state and national benchmarks, and rents are moderate; the affordability picture suggests housing costs are manageable relative to income for many families, though rental markets have tightened.
State test results from 2024-25 show that academic proficiency is low across subjects. In English language arts, a modest share of students scored at proficiency levels. Mathematics proficiency was lower still. Science results, based on a smaller tested group, were also below proficiency for most students. These patterns place West Broad well below the midpoint among the county's schools in overall proficiency. The school's single year of trend data does not yet show a trajectory, and Ohio testing baselines have changed, so direct year-to-year comparison is not straightforward. State testing applies only to grades 3 through 5 at an elementary school, so proficiency rates reflect that grade band alone. The school's earlier success on social studies (based on an older snapshot) suggests the school has areas of strength, but current data point to a need for instructional focus in core academic subjects.
Families should know that West Broad Elementary is slated for closure at the end of the 2025-26 school year as part of a district realignment plan approved by the Columbus City Schools Board of Education in December 2024. The district redraws school boundaries when buildings close, so students will attend different schools starting in 2026-27. Additionally, the district approved major budget cuts in December 2025 that include elimination of bus transportation for K-8 students attending schools other than their neighborhood or lottery school; this is a concrete change affecting how families get children to and from school. Parents considering West Broad should verify current enrollment procedures and ask the district directly about the transition timeline and where students from this building will be reassigned.
The district itself has a property tax levy approved in November 2023 that funds expanded pre-kindergarten, building maintenance, and programs previously supported by federal COVID relief. This creates a lasting cost for homeowners and renters in the district and signals the district's commitment to early-childhood programming and infrastructure.
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