The top reported proficiency rate is 40% in English language arts. The lowest is 38% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on East Franklin Elementary School
East Franklin Elementary sits in a Columbus neighborhood of mixed income and substantial ethnic diversity. The school serves prekindergarten through grade four, with enrollment distributed relatively evenly across grades, heavier in kindergarten and grade two. The student body is roughly evenly split between white students and those who identify as Hispanic, Black, Asian, or multiracial, with no single group dominating. Free-or-reduced-price-lunch data and counts of students with IEPs or English learner status were not available from the data provided.
The school's recent state test results in math and English language arts, administered to grades three and four, show proficiency at the lower end compared to other tested schools in Franklin County. Across the county's public and charter schools included in academic comparisons, East Franklin's overall proficiency sits in the bottom quartile. In math, the proportion of students reaching proficiency levels was under two-fifths; in English language arts, it was closer to two-fifths. The school tested nearly all enrolled students in these grades, so participation was complete, but the share meeting state standards trails the countywide median substantially.
The housing market in the school's zipcode shows values in the modest range, with median home prices below state and national benchmarks. Rents have drifted upward over the past year and remain moderate relative to income, making the area more affordable than many Columbus neighborhoods. The area is part of Columbus's broader rapid growth, though housing appears to be straining to keep pace with demand across the metro.
East Franklin Elementary is a regular public school within South-Western City Schools, which in April 2025 voted to join the National School Board Leadership Council, an organization whose stated positions on special education placement and English learners differ markedly from those of many districts and have prompted sustained parent and teacher concern. Parents with students in special education or receiving English learner support may want to look into the district's current approach to these services and where they may be headed. The district is also implementing a tighter kindergarten enrollment age cutoff starting in the 2026-2027 school year, narrowing the window for late-summer birthdays.
South-Western City Schools completed a durable facilities upgrade in 2022, building four new middle schools, though this does not directly affect an elementary feeder. The school's test performance and the district's recent governance signals suggest this is a moment for families to engage directly with the school and district about priorities and practices before committing to enrollment.
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