Summary:
ZIP code 43204, on Columbus's west side, contains 15 schools serving grades K–12: 8 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high, and 3 alternative/charter schools, enrolling about 7,500 students, most of them in Columbus City Schools District or South-Western City, with the rest spread across charter operators.
Academic results vary enormously. Columbus Preparatory Academy is the clearest standout, with a 96.3% graduation rate, 30.5% chronic absenteeism, and proficiency well above state averages in most subjects, averaging roughly 72% across its listed tests. Columbus Preparatory and Fitness Academy is the most improved school in the ZIP, gaining about 23 points in simple proficiency average from one year to the next. Among traditional public schools, Binns Elementary School leads with a 2-star rating and about 51% average proficiency, well above its district. The two high schools contrast sharply: Franklin Heights High School graduates 91.5% with roughly 51% proficiency, while West High School graduates 75.8%, reports 84.1% chronic absenteeism, and averages about 22%. At the low end are Burroughs Elementary School (about 11% average) and Sullivant Avenue Community School (about 18%).
Chronic absenteeism is the ZIP's biggest shared challenge: 9 of 15 schools exceed 50%, and 3 exceed 70%. The lowest rates belong to Zenith Academy West (22.2%), Columbus Preparatory Academy (30.5%), and West Franklin Elementary School (30.8%), while West High School, Hilltonia Middle School, and Westmoor Middle School have the highest. Math is a repeated weak spot, though Westmoor's Algebra I (63.6%) and Zenith's 4th grade math (80%) are bright spots. Per-student spending (2018–2019) ranges from $6,156 to $12,075 and does not clearly predict results.
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