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Columbus Preparatory Academy

Public, Charter, Alternative Grades K-12
562nd
SchoolDigger Rank ?
of 1,558 Ohio Alternative Schools
Better than 64% of Ohio alternative schools
Summary

Columbus Preparatory Academy is a public charter school serving 823 students in grades K-12 in Columbus, Ohio. The school has seen a steady increase in its four-year graduation rate, rising from 81.3% in 2021-2022 to a projected 86.4% in 2024-2025. However, the school has also experienced a concerning rise in chronic absenteeism, from 4.7% in 2020-2021 to a projected 34.2% in 2024-2025.

Academically, Columbus Preparatory Academy consistently outperforms the state average on Ohio State Tests across multiple subjects and grade levels. For example, in 2024-2025, the school had 77.3% of 3rd graders proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 61.3%. The school also had 84.6% of students proficient or better in American Government, compared to the state average of 72.6%. However, the school's rising chronic absenteeism rate and increasing percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, from 36.74% in 2022-2023 to a projected 59.54% in 2023-2024, suggest the school may be facing challenges in supporting its student population.

When compared to nearby charter schools, Columbus Preparatory Academy stands out for its strong academic performance. For instance, in 2024-2025, the school had 76% of 3rd graders proficient or better in Mathematics, compared to 34.3% at Ohio Connections Academy and 62.9% at KIPP Columbus. The school's spending per student, at $7,697 in 2018-2019, is also higher than nearby schools like Oakstone Community School ($5,709) and Special Education Center ($5,199).

797
Students ?
20.1
Student/teacher ratio ?
$7,831
Per pupil spending ?
59.5%
Free/discounted lunch ?
 3330 Chippewa St
       Columbus, OH  43204-1653

(614) 275-3600

District: Columbus Preparatory Academy

Racial breakdown:

White:
31.1%
African American:
28.2%
Hispanic:
16.8%
more
 See top rated Ohio elementary schools

 Compare Columbus Preparatory Academy to nearby alternative schools!
At a glance
Ranking trend: Declining — 95th percentile in 2022 → 57th in 2025
Strengths
Above the Ohio median (64th percentile)
Worth a look
!Ranking has slipped — down 38 percentile points since 2022
!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing
Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?
This school64%
Ohio avg60%
Elementary school
562nd of 1,558
Ohio public elementary schools ?
Top 36%▼ down 36 pts since 2015
From top 1% (2015) to top 36% (2025)
See the entire ranking list of Ohio Elementary Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
Middle school
560th of 1,036
Ohio public middle schools ?
Bottom 46%▼ down 54 pts since 2015
From top 1% (2015) to bottom 46% (2025)
See the entire ranking list of Ohio Middle Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
High school
367th of 855
Ohio public high schools ?
Top 43%▼ down 43 pts since 2019
From top 1% (2019) to top 43% (2025)
See the entire ranking list of Ohio High Schools →
SchoolDigger rating ?
Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)
Elementary school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankOhio percentileRating
202568.1562 of 155863.9%★★★☆☆
202465.3650 of 157758.8%★★★☆☆
202353.6886 of 159644.5%★★☆☆☆
202272.2515 of 158867.6%★★★☆☆
202178.2378 of 161076.5%★★★★☆
201993.93 of 167699.8%★★★★★
201894.02 of 163699.9%★★★★★
201793.91 of 165199.9%★★★★★
201695.51 of 167899.9%★★★★★
201594.41 of 168499.9%★★★★★
201490.51 of 168799.9%★★★★★
201389.92 of 170199.9%★★★★★
201288.14 of 170999.8%★★★★★
201174.7408 of 168675.8%★★★★☆
201045.81145 of 166231.1%★★☆☆☆
200929.51281 of 161020.4%★☆☆☆☆
20088.51470 of 15827.1%☆☆☆☆☆
200711.01468 of 16098.8%☆☆☆☆☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankOhio percentileRating
202587.437 of 61594.0%★★★★★
202479.282 of 60386.4%★★★★☆
202367.3131 of 61078.5%★★★★☆
202275.2100 of 60183.4%★★★★☆
202192.825 of 53395.3%★★★★★

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankOhio percentileRating
202454.449 of 8139.5%★★☆☆☆
202353.150 of 8037.5%★★☆☆☆
202271.731 of 7860.3%★★★☆☆
202177.015 of 7880.8%★★★★☆
201880.62 of 7097.1%★★★★★

English Language Learner

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankOhio percentileRating
202592.111 of 28196.1%★★★★★
202463.977 of 25870.2%★★★★☆
202357.883 of 23965.3%★★★☆☆
202288.014 of 21393.4%★★★★★
202185.221 of 18388.5%★★★★☆
201898.11 of 17499.4%★★★★★

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankOhio percentileRating
202561.2640 of 145255.9%★★★☆☆
202461.9642 of 146656.2%★★★☆☆
202348.0877 of 148340.9%★★☆☆☆
202266.6569 of 148861.8%★★★☆☆
202167.6510 of 146765.2%★★★☆☆
201989.133 of 150297.8%★★★★★
201893.03 of 151899.8%★★★★★

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankOhio percentileRating
202560.786 of 25966.8%★★★☆☆
202450.9103 of 23456.0%★★★☆☆
202343.5124 of 23346.8%★★☆☆☆
202268.842 of 21680.6%★★★★☆
202185.418 of 18990.5%★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankOhio percentileRating
202578.3252 of 147382.9%★★★★☆
202463.8555 of 148462.6%★★★☆☆
202358.7632 of 144756.3%★★★☆☆
202274.9284 of 141980.0%★★★★☆
202180.1190 of 140486.5%★★★★☆
201996.73 of 146599.8%★★★★★
201897.72 of 146599.9%★★★★★

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankOhio percentileRating
202574.0414 of 146671.8%★★★★☆
202462.5656 of 148555.8%★★★☆☆
202355.3790 of 149847.3%★★☆☆☆
202273.2443 of 151870.8%★★★★☆
202184.1215 of 149985.7%★★★★☆
201894.61 of 153699.9%★★★★★

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankOhio percentileRating
202552.7641 of 117545.4%★★☆☆☆
202459.3552 of 119053.6%★★★☆☆
202338.3863 of 121529.0%★☆☆☆☆
202265.3456 of 124263.3%★★★☆☆
202160.1549 of 124956.0%★★★☆☆
201894.12 of 130999.8%★★★★★
Middle school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankOhio percentileRating
202550.7560 of 103645.9%★★☆☆☆
202437.6673 of 104635.7%★★☆☆☆
202356.6516 of 104850.8%★★★☆☆
202268.3337 of 101766.9%★★★☆☆
202180.2179 of 103782.7%★★★★☆
201995.51 of 105099.9%★★★★★
201896.71 of 101099.9%★★★★★
201796.81 of 103899.9%★★★★★
201697.71 of 105099.9%★★★★★
201596.11 of 103599.9%★★★★★
201490.01 of 100899.9%★★★★★
201390.81 of 100199.9%★★★★★
201289.43 of 98999.7%★★★★★
201182.681 of 92591.2%★★★★★
201071.3304 of 89566.0%★★★☆☆
200935.2652 of 85824.0%★☆☆☆☆
200813.1742 of 83511.1%★☆☆☆☆
20078.9763 of 8378.8%☆☆☆☆☆

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankOhio percentileRating
202572.388 of 44280.1%★★★★☆
202458.2139 of 42967.6%★★★☆☆
202372.382 of 43681.2%★★★★☆
202287.830 of 41392.7%★★★★★
202197.411 of 38597.1%★★★★★

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankOhio percentileRating
202173.320 of 6971.0%★★★★☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankOhio percentileRating
202545.9552 of 93841.2%★★☆☆☆
202426.9697 of 94226.0%★☆☆☆☆
202341.5599 of 94336.5%★★☆☆☆
202262.0378 of 92559.1%★★★☆☆
202177.4182 of 91080.0%★★★★☆
201895.31 of 89799.9%★★★★★

Hispanic

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankOhio percentileRating
202551.4126 of 26251.9%★★★☆☆
202426.5174 of 23927.2%★☆☆☆☆
202360.086 of 24965.5%★★★☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankOhio percentileRating
202559.6408 of 98358.5%★★★☆☆
202428.5713 of 98927.9%★☆☆☆☆
202374.4191 of 97480.4%★★★★☆
202276.0155 of 94783.6%★★★★☆
202195.212 of 92398.7%★★★★★
201998.71 of 94599.9%★★★★★
201899.51 of 92499.9%★★★★★

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankOhio percentileRating
202547.6538 of 95443.6%★★☆☆☆
202441.3587 of 95838.7%★★☆☆☆
202354.9464 of 96351.8%★★★☆☆
202265.3321 of 94666.1%★★★☆☆
202177.5180 of 92480.5%★★★★☆
201897.31 of 91699.9%★★★★★

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankOhio percentileRating
202545.9462 of 77740.5%★★☆☆☆
202441.0502 of 79536.9%★★☆☆☆
202355.4374 of 80553.5%★★★☆☆
202255.1377 of 80953.4%★★★☆☆
202178.6143 of 78181.7%★★★★☆
201992.86 of 79699.2%★★★★★
201896.91 of 78199.9%★★★★★
High school ranking
Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankOhio percentileRating
202557.4367 of 85557.1%★★★☆☆
202464.5275 of 86468.2%★★★☆☆
202372.5157 of 86781.9%★★★★☆
202283.841 of 83695.1%★★★★★
202176.297 of 81988.2%★★★★☆
201990.61 of 83699.9%★★★★★

African American

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankOhio percentileRating
202375.665 of 32379.9%★★★★☆
202295.56 of 30698.0%★★★★★

Asian

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankOhio percentileRating
202280.220 of 8777.0%★★★★☆

Female

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankOhio percentileRating
202556.5417 of 80948.5%★★☆☆☆
202444.8505 of 79836.7%★★☆☆☆
202371.8220 of 81372.9%★★★★☆
202293.74 of 79499.5%★★★★★
202173.0167 of 77578.5%★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankOhio percentileRating
202571.2172 of 81578.9%★★★★☆
202460.0324 of 82260.6%★★★☆☆
202386.942 of 80594.8%★★★★★
202298.52 of 77399.7%★★★★★
202196.46 of 76399.2%★★★★★

Male

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankOhio percentileRating
202565.0295 of 81763.9%★★★☆☆
202466.4291 of 81664.3%★★★☆☆
202370.4227 of 81972.3%★★★★☆
202284.567 of 80891.7%★★★★★
202187.237 of 77895.2%★★★★★

White

YearAvg scoreStatewide rankOhio percentileRating
202561.6312 of 74858.3%★★★☆☆
202459.0333 of 75455.8%★★★☆☆
202376.6144 of 75681.0%★★★★☆
202290.123 of 74996.9%★★★★★
202169.9178 of 72775.5%★★★★☆
How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)
Elementary school
English Language Learner (2025)96th percentile+32 vs school
African American (2025)94th percentile+30 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2025)83rd percentile+19 vs school
Male (2025)72nd percentile+8 vs school
Hispanic (2025)67th percentile+3 vs school
Female (2025)56th percentile-8 vs school
White (2025)45th percentile-18 vs school
Asian (2024)40th percentile-19 vs school
Middle school
African American (2025)80th percentile+34 vs school
Asian (2021)71st percentile-12 vs school
Low Socio Economic Status (2025)58th percentile+13 vs school
Hispanic (2025)52nd percentile+6 vs school
Male (2025)44th percentile~ school
Female (2025)41st percentile-5 vs school
White (2025)41st percentile-5 vs school
High school
African American (2023)80th percentile~ school
Low Socio Economic Status (2025)79th percentile+22 vs school
Asian (2022)77th percentile-18 vs school
Male (2025)64th percentile+7 vs school
White (2025)58th percentile~ school
Female (2025)48th percentile-9 vs school
By subject vs Ohio (2024-2025) ?
American History86%+15 vs state
American Government85%+12 vs state
Science70%+7 vs state
English II70%+10 vs state
English Language Arts68%+8 vs state
Biology68%~ state avg
Algebra I55%-5 vs state
Mathematics55%~ state avg
Geometry34%-8 vs state

3.0
2 ratings · 2 written reviews
51
40
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11
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What people are saying
by a student
Monday, October 29, 2018

Open Quote This was the school i went to up until 5th grade it is very strict and they only teach to the test and not skills at all they rush you into everything and expect you to know everything it is awful Close Quote


by a parent
Monday, August 23, 2010

Open Quote My daughter has been at this school since the First Grade! She has excelled at all of her schoolwork! This school has pushed her when she has needed it and let her grow and flourish! We absolutely LOVE this School Close Quote





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Frequently Asked Questions about Columbus Preparatory Academy

In the 2024-25 school year, 797 students attended Columbus Preparatory Academy.

Columbus Preparatory Academy ranks 562nd of 1558 Ohio alternative schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Students at Columbus Preparatory Academy are 31% White, 28% African American, 17% Hispanic, 14% Asian, 6% Two or more races, 2% Pacific Islander, 1% American Indian.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Ohio Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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