Maya RichardsonSome people may think that elementary school shouldn’t be taken seriously. It’s just the basic ABCs, math, and a lot of playtime, right? But not to my sister, who’s never settled for something sub-standard in her life.
When choosing a school for my niece, she didn’t just choose the nearest one because it was convenient or easy. She took her time looking for the best elementary school in Columbus to ensure she got the best quality of teaching and learning environment.
And with a lot of options out there, it’s kind of impressive how she was able to narrow it down to this shortlist of names that truly stand out in academics and community.
How much is the tuition fee for elementary schools in Columbus?
While public schools are free, tuition fees for private elementary schools in Columbus can range from $7,000 to $20,000 per year. This depends on the institution and financial assistance.
1. Glacier Ridge Elementary (GRE)
Address: 7175 Glacier Ridge Blvd, Dublin
Phone: +16147330012
Business Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:10 AM–3:40 PM
Glacier Ridge Elementary is part of the Dublin City Schools and serves students in grades K to 5. It has a good reputation, and in fact, it placed #1 in Best Public Elementary Schools in Union County and #8 in Ohio.
Its academic performance is impressive. GRE consistently outperforms both district and state averages, especially in subjects like math and reading. This is thanks to their personalized approach to ensure each student gets the right level of support.
Aside from the standard subjects, the school also offers special programs for talented students. For example, they can provide After School Activities (ASA), like LEGO robotics and coding.
Facility-wise, the school is well-equipped with many amenities like playground spaces and accessibility aids for students with special needs. Parents even mentioned that sometimes, the teachers use the Glacier Ridge Metro Park as an “outdoor classroom”.
The only downside of Dublin City Schools, like GRE, is the boundary challenges. To put it simply, it’s the district leaders who decide which school your child will be assigned to—not the families themselves—to prevent overcrowding.
Plus, they don’t allow students from outside the district to enroll, even if they pay tuition.
Wonderful teachers, administrators, and staff members
“We love GRE. I recommend families do their due diligence to verify the school zone before buying or leasing in this area due to recent school boundary line changes that are effective in the fall of 2025. Realtors and owners of properties affected by the boundary change do not always disclose it, even when you tour to buy or sign a 1-2 year rental lease, but you can call the district office to confirm the school. GRE has wonderful teachers, administrators, and staff members who make learning fun and engaging.”
- Parent, Great Schools Org Review
2. Immaculate Conception School
Address: 366 E N Broadway St.
Phone: +16142676579
Business Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM–2:45 PM
Immaculate Conception School was founded back in 1922 and is part of the Diocese of Columbus. It’s a Catholic school, so if you are looking for a place with both a Christ-centered environment and academic excellence, this can be a promising option.
The school is highly recognized in STEM and general academics. Many of its students consistently score above both the archdiocesan and national averages on NWEA MAP and HSTP testing.
They teach children from preschool through 8th grade—offering both standard subjects and some specialty ones like Fine Arts, Spanish, technology, and more.
And once students reach the 7th grade, they can choose from elective courses that include animation and introduction to engineering design.
Alongside the academic courses, there are also various activities for sports, technology, and worship.
For a Catholic school, the tuition fee of $7,000 to $12,000 can be expensive. However, many parents take advantage of the “Active Parishioner” (attending masses, giving donations, etc.) program to lower the costs.
Low-income families can also apply for scholarships and Diocesan Aid.
The community of this school is amazing
“Students are challenged academically and taught good morals and values along the way. The community of this school is amazing! I am proud to send our children here.”
- Parent, Great Schools Org Review
3. Ohio Avenue Elementary School
Address: 505 S Ohio Ave.
Phone: +16143656130
Business Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 AM–3:30 PM
Though not as academically competitive as the other public schools, Ohio Avenue Elementary School has a growing reputation for its Health Sciences Academy model.
This means that the curriculum offered here is enriched with health, science, and wellness education into every aspect of the Pre-K through 5th-grade experience.
Though they still follow the Ohio Learning Standards, they have enhanced them to basically expose students to healthcare careers. For students with special needs, they also offer IEPs, such as speech therapy.
Another thing we like is the trauma-informed approach to support the emotional and social needs of every student. Every personnel member in the building is trained to de-escalate problems and help students regulate their emotions quickly.
Apparently, parents mentioned that they can take these classes too. They can learn the same tricks the teachers use to help kids who may be showing “challenging” behavior.
Inclusive and supportive
“My family is zoned for Ohio Ave, and my kids were treated amazingly well there. Most of the staff are formally trauma-informed, and they are inclusive and supportive. The staff genuinely love the kids, and the principal runs a tight ship. I have one kid who needs extra help and they were accommodating beyond his IEP and tried to make him feel welcome. My other kiddo needed Gifted services and they differentiated in a way that higher-income schools we’ve been a part of simply refused to even try to do. She spent part of her day in the grade above her official one. The families served by Ohio Ave are historically in poverty with everything that comes with it, but the school does what it can to mitigate it. These are also the kids who live in the neighborhood, so your kids are going to see and meet a lot of these guys anyway.”
- Horizonboundklutz, Reddit
4. Alpine Elementary School
Address: 1590 Alpine Dr.
Phone: +16143655359
Business Hours: Monday to Friday, 9 AM–3:30 PM
Alpine Elementary School is a highly regarded public school with an impressive record. Academically, the school performs pretty well and is ranked #3 within the Columbus City Schools.
It’s known for always outperforming district averages, especially in subjects like reading and math.
The curriculum offered here covers both core subjects and their specialized “Unified Arts”. This includes Visual Arts, music, world language, and more—allowing students to discover their personal interests.
Students use technology in the classroom and have access to digital learning tools like i-Ready.
Overall, the academic performance seems solid. However, the student-teacher ratio is roughly 20:1, which is slightly higher than the district average. While not entirely a bad thing, it may mean the students get less individualized attention.
Also, feedback from parents is mostly positive, especially when it comes to diversity and inclusivity. Their kids are growing up in a “real world” environment rather than a bubble.
This is a wonderful school
“This is a wonderful school. The staff does a great job communicating with me, and they’ve somehow managed to get my son to come out of his shell. They are patient and kind, and I appreciate their efforts so much.”
- Parent, Great Schools Org Review
5. Scottish Corners Elementary (SCE)
Address: 5950 Sells Mill Dr, Dublin
Phone: +16147645963
Business Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:10 AM–3:40 PM
Scottish Corners Elementary consistently demonstrates strong academic performance and high rankings. The school is part of the Dublin City School District and is ranked #11 among the best public schools in Ohio and #5 in the Columbus area.
SCE’s curriculum is standards-based. They offer literacy, mathematics, science, and a range of specialized programs designed to support gifted students.
There’s also the special education support for students with disabilities. Available programs include speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, psychological services, and more.
We also like that there’s a strong parent community here. According to some families, they are highly involved through the school’s PTO, which allows them to organize events and a variety of volunteer opportunities throughout the year.
Similar to other Dublin City schools, the only downside is the boundary changes. Only district residents can enroll, and parents don’t get to decide the school assignments.
Decent school
“SCE is an exceptionally great school. My son is going to this school, and we saw lots of improvements. Teachers take personal attention, show a high level of professionalism and passion for their jobs. We love to visit the school, meet the teacher for meetings, as well as for functions. I would say this is a decent school in Dublin.”
- Parent, Great Schools Org Review
