The top reported proficiency rate is 8% in Math. The lowest is 3% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Windsor Stem Academy (k-6)
Windsor STEM Academy serves grades prekindergarten through 6 in Columbus, drawing a small enrollment from the surrounding East Side neighborhood. The school's name signals a STEM focus, but state testing results reveal that this commitment has not yet translated into strong academic outcomes. In math, about one in thirteen students tested scored at proficient levels; in English language arts, about one in twelve. Science proficiency was notably lower, with only a single student reaching proficiency among those tested. The school's proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile of schools across Franklin County's districts, indicating that Windsor is among the lowest-performing schools in its regional peer set.
The student body is predominantly Black, reflecting the East Side Columbus neighborhood in which it sits. A small share of students identify as Hispanic, white, or multiracial; Asian enrollment is minimal. The school does not report free-or-reduced-price-lunch eligibility or English learner and special education enrollment counts, so the full socioeconomic and language profile is not available from public data. The school's enrollment is modest for its grade span, distributed fairly evenly across grades kindergarten through 6.
Columbus is one of the fastest-growing large cities in the United States and home to a diversified economy anchored by Ohio State University, JPMorgan Chase, OhioHealth, Nationwide Insurance, and several Fortune 500 companies. The metro economy continues to expand, though the city's neighborhoods show sharp variation in resources and conditions. The housing market in the school's zip code sits below the state average home value, with median rents tracking near affordability benchmarks. The broader city is experiencing rapid population growth and significant new housing and employment development, particularly around Intel's planned semiconductor campus, though a projected housing shortage looms.
Columbus City Schools is navigating substantial structural change. In December 2024, the district voted to close and consolidate five schools; a year later, facing state funding cuts, the board approved closing four more schools, eliminating transportation for students in grades K-8 who do not attend their neighborhood or lottery school, and cutting staffing. These decisions directly reshape school availability, busing eligibility, and class sizes across the district. On the instructional side, the district shifted all elementary literacy teaching to the science of reading in 2021, aligning with Ohio's statewide 2024 mandate; all CCS elementary teachers have been trained in LETRS. In November 2023, voters approved a property tax levy that adds lasting annual cost for families considering a move into the district while funding expanded prekindergarten and building maintenance.
A parent considering Windsor STEM should understand that the school's test results do not yet reflect the performance level most families seek. The proficiency rates are substantially below the county median. The school sits within a district undergoing rapid consolidation and budget reductions that will affect transportation access and staffing. The pedagogy and resources that Windsor brings to STEM instruction in a K-6 neighborhood setting merit a closer conversation with the school itself about how the curriculum is resourced and how scores may evolve under the new literacy initiative and in the face of ongoing district changes. A parent may want to look into current staffing levels, class sizes, and whether Windsor faces closure or boundary changes under the district's ongoing realignment.
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