Private Schools Around Columbus, OH
Acton Academy Columbus is the private school option I wish I had when I was growing up. Actually, as a Dublin Scioto HS graduate, I wish my K-12 experience was learner-driven. Unfortunately, at the time, Acton Academy did not exist and it has only recently become much more feasible to have a learner-driven school. The information age we live in today allows for self-paced learning and for students to driven their own education.
My journey to Acton started by my desire to find the best school for my daughter. While the Dublin school system is highly ranked, I wondered why my experience at Dublin Scioto did not match the lofty rankings. I read a dozen books, watched countless YouTube / Ted Talk videos on education, spent time considerable reading education blogs and following educators on Twitter. And then I finally came across Courage To Grow. I was inspired to take a trip down to Austin to check out the school. Watching 7-9 year old students run a 3-hour exhibition without adult intervention was incredible and convinced me that I needed to bring the education model back to Columbus. But before I did, I took a deep look at the private schools around Columbus along with my notes. Note that the notes were mine as I researched the schools and won’t reflect everyone’s views.
I was really surprised to see how few non-religious private schools there are around Columbus. The vast majority of private schools are religious (primarily Christian schools). Note the list below does not include charter schools. I will detail those in a different blog post.
I share these because I believe parents should have knowledge about options for their children in order to make an informed decision. And while I believe Acton is the model for a 21st century education, the truth is we’re not for everyone and cannot offer everything some parents would like (e..g., We’re not a religious school).
Learner-Driven (vs. Teacher-Led) school focused on learning to learn, learning to do, and learning to be education
About: Acton Academy students innovate, create, and collaborate while preparing for real-world challenges rather than classroom exams.
Approach: Combines aspects of Montessori, Reggio Emilia and brings cutting edge, adaptive technology; Project-Based, STEM focus
Ages: 6-11 (Elementary Studio) with plans to build Middle School and High School
Tuition: $11,300 (Discount of $1,500 for founding families)
Location: Dublin, OH 43017
Considered the premier K-12 private school around Columbus.
Teacher-driven curriculum, similar to public schools
Huge playground around the Campus.
Upper school (High School) very focused around college admissions and readiness
Cost: $25,000+ annually for elementary school
Grades: K-12
Location: Gahanna, OH 43230
Goal: Bring quality Christian education to the community
Grades: K-8
Location: Columbus, OH 43219
Mission: Empower girls to discover their distinct potential as learners and leaders
Grades: Pre-K - 12
Location: Columbus, OH 43209
Provide a strong, comprehensive Jewish education, within a modern Orthodox Zionist framework, to inspire learning, living, and growing in Judaism as a life-long commitment.
Grades: K - 12
Location: Columbus, OH 43213
About: Saint Agatha Catholic School, in partnership with the parish, fosters academic excellence and social responsibility, so all students learn, live and thrive in faith.
Grades: K - 8
Location: Columbus, OH 43221
Saint Mary School German Village
Grades: Pre-K -8
Location: Columbus, OH 43206
About: College-preparatory school
Grades: Pre-K - 12
Cost: $23,400 annual fee for all Lower school grade levels (K-4)
Location: Columbus, OH 43220 (Upper Arlington)
Mission statement: With Christ as our example, and Christian values as our guide, we provide a Catholic education where students are empowered to become active stewards of our diverse community and God's world.
Grades: Pre-K - 8
Location: Columbus, OH 43209
About: The Bonner Academy at Cross Creek integrates education and intensive mental health treatment for middle and high school students with behavioral/psychological disorders and their families, to reduce barriers to learning and education.
Location: Columbus, OH 43204
About: The Bonner Academy at Rosemont, a non-public charter school, provides integrated mental health and educational programming for elementary school students with serious behavioral/psychological disorders that affect their ability to function in their assigned public school, home setting, and community.
Location: Columbus, OH 43211
Mission: Calumet Christian School exists to equip students to become spiritually, relationally, and intellectually minded contributors within their classroom and respective local communities.
Grades: Pre-K - 8
Location: Columbus, OH 43202
About: College-Prepatory school: Ninety percent (90%) of Oakstone students are taking college courses and studying college-level calculus by their senior year of High School studies.
Tuition: $28,500 annual fee
Grades: Daycare, K-12
About: Independent and intentionally small private school
Grades: Pre-K - 8th grade
Location: Columbus, OH 43214 (Clintonville)
Columbus Montessori Education Center
Ages: Daycare, Pre-K - 6th grade
About: Elementary children experience an individualized program in multi-age groupings with a comprehensive curriculum that includes traditional subject areas as well as enrichment activities in the arts. Each class offers a child-to-teacher ratio of 22-to-1.
Tuition: $10,900 (Elementary)
Location: Columbus, OH 43227
Gloria S Friend Christian Academy
Permanently closed in 2021
Christian private school with a goal to help Columbus’ inner city youth overcome challenges and thrive in the body of Christ
Grades: K - 8
Location: Columbus, OH 43211
High Street Christian Academy (HSCA)
Purpose: To assist parents in their God-given responsibility of educating their children.
Location: Columbus, OH 43235
Mission: To help our students to become self-disciplined, independent, lifelong learners who integrate the Gospel message into their lives in order that they may live fully in the rapidly changing, complex society.
Location: Columbus, OH 43213 (Whitehall)
Founded in 1922, Immaculate Conception School is a Catholic school with a strong STEM / Project-Based curriculum.
The School is a member of the archdiocese of Columbus.
Grades: K - 8
Location: Columbus, OH 43214 (Clintonville)
The mission of Liberty Christian Academy is to provide a quality Christian education in a Christ-centered environment in order to reach students for Christ and equip them to serve God and impact the world through biblical thought and action.
Grades: K - 12
Tuition: $5,300 - $6,000
Location: Pataskala, OH 43062
About: Mansion Day School is a coeducational preschool through 5th grade preparatory day school that embraces diversity and instills confidence.
Grades: Pre-K - 5
Mission: Mater Dei Academy, a Christ-centered community working together in an atmosphere of mutual respect, guides students to grow in catholic values, to discover their potential, and to achieve success.
Grades: Pre-K - 8
Location: Columbus, OH 43213 (Whitehall)
New Beginnings Christian School
About: A Christian school dedicated to educating the students of today for tomorrow. We offer individualized education for those students who need help.
Grades: Pre-K - 8
Location: Columbus, OH 43207
About: Christian education focused on building the next generation of world changing disciples for Christ through innovative hands-on education.
Childcare - 8th
Location: Gahanna, OH 43230
Mission: To educate our children to embody Catholic values and beliefs while establishing a strong foundation for lifelong learning.
Grades: K - 8
Location: Columbus, OH 43214 (Clintonville)
Red Oak Community School offers a learner-centered approach to education for families dedicated to cultivating joy in learning, fostering self-confidence and agency, and preparing students to be environmental stewards and champions of social justice
Part-time and Full-time program
Lots of nature-based learning
Ages: 6 - 11
Location: Columbus, OH 43214 (Clintonville)
Mission: To educate the whole child through our Catholic Faith
Grades: Pre-K - 8
Location: Columbus, OH 43220
A Diocese of Columbus school
Grades: K - 8
Location: Columbus, OH 43229
About: St. Catharine Catholic School is a learning community that values spiritual growth and promotes academic achievement for all students through a rigorous implementation of Diocesan curriculum.
Grades: K - 8
Location: Columbus, OH 43209
Mission: The St. Cecilia School of community is a source of hope and direction for our students by challenging and empowering them to achieve academically, grow in the Catholic faith, and reflect Christian holiness in their actions and words.
Grades: K - 8
Location: Columbus, OH 43228
St. James The Less Catholic School
About: St. James the Less Catholic School is a fully chartered and accredited school by the Ohio Catholic Accreditation Association. Founded in 1949, the school is one of the oldest in the diocese and serves students from St. James, St. Elizabeth, Holy Cross, St. Thomas, and Santa Cruz parishes and surrounding areas.
Feeder school to St. Francis DeSales HS
Grades: K-8
Location: Columbus, OH 43224
Mission: Catholic Montessori community committed to a learning environment that respects the uniqueness of each child in reaching his/her full potential.
Grades: Pre-K - 8
Location: Columbus, OH 43201
Mission: To create a meaningful Catholic foundation, centered in Christ, to develop the whole student: academically, spiritually, and morally, in preparation for the ever-changing challenges of life.
Grades: K-8
Location: Columbus, OH 43204
St. Matthew the Apostle Catholic School
Mission: As a Catholic school community of believers who know, love, and serve Jesus Christ, we celebrate the sacramental life of the Church, proclaim the saving message of Christ, and share the love of the Lord through academic rigor, self-discipline, and service to others.
Grades: Pre-K - 8
Location: Gahanna, OH 43230
Mission: Their mission is to instill life-long Catholic values while providing students with a foundation to be knowledgeable and competent members of society.
Feeder school to St. Francis DeSales HS
Grades: K-8
Location: Columbus, OH 43224
About: Catholic school that follows the Diocesan curriculum
Grades: Pre-K - 8
Location: Worthington, OH 43085
About: St. Paul's Lutheran School exists to provide a high quality academic education in a safe environment from a Bible-based, Christ-centered perspective that reveals the way of salvation.
Grades: K-8
Location: Columbus, OH 43206
About: Diocesan course of study; Prepares students for success at Bishop Watterson High School, Saint Charles Preparatory High School, Cristo Rey, and other similarly rigorous college-preparatory high schools
Location: Columbus, OH 43220
About: St. Vincent Prep Academy is a full-service accredited school that combines academics with behavioral health treatment for children from pre-school through elementary school.
Grades: Pre-K - 5
Location: Columbus, OH 43205
Mission: Nurture children spiritually, physically, academically and socially as they grow in Christ-likeness
Grades: Pre-K - 5
Location: Columbus, OH 43230
Mission: Educate children with a Christ-centered focus
Grades: Pre-K - 9
Location: Columbus, OH 43224
About: Private school with a focus on Islamic / Quran studies
Grades: K-8
Location: Columbus, OH 43229
About: Tree of Life Christian Schools is a Christ-centered student-focused community committed to advancing knowledge, cultivating wisdom, and developing resiliency in students while they explore who they are and discover who God has created them to be.
Grades: Pre-K - 12
Location: Polaris, Northridge, Dublin, Clintonville
Trinity Catholic Elementary School
About: School of the Diocese of Columbus
Grades: K-8
Location: Columbus, OH 43212
About: Worthington Adventist Academy is chartered by the State of Ohio for grades K-8 and is supervised and accredited through the Ohio and Columbia Union Conferences of Seventh-day Adventist. WAA was founded by and continues to be sponsored through the congregation of the Worthington Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Grades: K-8
Location: Worthington, OH 43085
Vision: Worthington Christian School will pursue excellence in teaching and learning out of love for God and the world He has made. Students will develop a curiosity about creation, cultivate a love for truth, beauty, and great ideas, and exhibit wisdom that reveals God’s kingdom.
Grades: K-12
Location: Worthington, OH 43085
Worthington Christian Westview Elementary