The top reported proficiency rate is 57% in Social studies. The lowest is 36% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Madison Elementary School
Madison Elementary School is a small public school in Columbus serving kindergarten through fifth grade, with enrollment of around 371 students. The school sits in a residential area of the city and draws from a neighborhood that is economically challenged: a substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The student body is racially and ethnically diverse, with a majority of students identifying as Black, and meaningful representation of Latino, white, and multiracial students, as well as smaller populations of Asian and Native American students.
The school's state assessment results show proficiency rates that fall below the performance midpoint for schools tested in the same grade band across Franklin County. In mathematics, roughly two out of five students tested reached proficiency. In English language arts, the proportion was slightly lower. In science, just under half of tested students met the proficiency threshold. These results reflect a real academic gap relative to peers in the county. Importantly, only one year of testing data is available in the system, so trends cannot be assessed; a parent may want to ask the school directly about performance trajectory and recent instructional efforts to improve achievement.
The school participates in the Community Eligibility Provision, which means all students receive free breakfast and lunch at no cost to families regardless of household income—a tangible, ongoing cost-of-living support. The district as a whole has faced infrastructure challenges: voters rejected bond issues in 2024 and 2025 that would have funded new school buildings and expansions. Madison Elementary itself, as an elementary school serving younger grades, is not directly affected by the open-concept middle school buildings that have been the subject of concern in the district, but the failed referendums do signal capacity and facilities pressures across the district that may affect long-term planning.
The housing market in the school's zip code, like much of Columbus, has shown some stability. Home values and rental rates reflect affordability that is somewhat below the state average but broadly consistent with the metro area's rapid growth and continued housing shortage. The neighborhood sits within Columbus, a fast-growing state capital where employment is anchored by healthcare, insurance, finance, government, education, and manufacturing. The area is car-dependent for most daily travel, though the city operates a public transit system that offers free rides to high school students and connects many schools to library branches and other community resources.
For families considering Madison Elementary, the primary question is fit around academic support and student outcomes. The proficiency rates indicate that students arrive with significant learning challenges and are not yet demonstrating grade-level mastery at high rates. The school's curriculum and instructional methods are not detailed in available data. The school does provide a diverse peer community in a Columbus neighborhood and full access to meals. A parent would want to speak directly with the school about reading and math intervention programs, classroom-by-classroom support structures, and any available academic acceleration pathways to understand how Madison approaches the achievement gap evident in its assessment results.
See more original research from School Decision →