The Family Connector
Dear CCS Community,
As many of you know, the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) released its 2023-2024 Ohio School Report Cards on Friday, September 13, 2024.
View the district report card for Columbus City Schools here.
Columbus City Schools earned a two-star overall state report card rating for the second consecutive year. The report cards provide insights, with each school and district receiving an overall rating of one to five stars based on five key areas: Achievement, Progress, Gap Closing, Graduation, and Early Literacy.
I want to reflect on the strides we are making as a district. While the report card provides numbers and data, behind every percentage point is a story of growth, hard work, and dedication—from our students and educators.
First, I would like to acknowledge the incredible work accomplished in the Career Technical Education (CTE) program, where we earned 4.5 stars out of 5. This achievement demonstrates how we equip students with real-world skills and opportunities, preparing them for graduation, meaningful careers, and higher education.
Whether mastering technical skills or earning industry-recognized credentials, our students show up, work hard, and are prepared for their futures. CTE is a pathway to success for our students in their post-secondary plans.
We're also seeing notable growth in English Language Arts, particularly at the third-grade level, where proficiency increased by 6.2%. Our early literacy initiatives, backed by the Science of Reading, are helping students develop the foundational skills in phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Every percentage point represents more students becoming confident, capable readers, and that's a victory we can all celebrate.
Another area where we're making an impact is post-secondary enrollment. Over half of our graduates are moving on to higher education, with 34.1% enrolling in two-year programs—23.7% above the state average!
CCS students are stepping boldly into their futures, taking advantage of programs like The Columbus Promise, which guarantees tuition-free education at Columbus State Community College. When we remove financial barriers, we unlock potential. Our students are betting on themselves, and we're right there with them every step of the way.
Last year, the district introduced a new math goal to bridge the gap between elementary, middle, and high school. As a result, third grade through high school students have shown steady progress, improving or maintaining their performance on the Ohio State Test in mathematics across all grade levels. Our growth reflects the district's commitment to strengthening math skills throughout students' educational journeys.
Here is an overview of Columbus City Schools' achievement highlights for the 2023-2024 school year:
The graduation rate is 78.3% for the four-year cohort students.
The attendance rate is 83.2%.
Post-secondary enrollment in higher education institutions is 55.3%.
Post-secondary enrollment in 2-year institutions is 34.1%.
Third-grade proficiency increased by 6.2% over the previous school year in English Language Arts.
Seventh-grade math focus remains steady. The district targeted math proficiency as a new Board Goal for the 2023-2024 school year.
I understand that some of you may feel discouraged by our overall two-star rating. Let me assure you this is just one part of our story. Numbers don't capture the complete picture of the passion and commitment that lives in our schools. We recognize there is still work to be done to fully align with our Portrait of a Graduate vision to enhance student achievement further.
Every day, our teachers, principals, staff, and community partners work diligently to support our students, close gaps, and ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive. We are laying the groundwork for lasting success—and it's paying off.
As I look ahead, I am filled with hope and determination. Yes, we still have work to do, but every challenge is an opportunity. Columbus City Schools is on a mission to become the number one school district of choice.
We will continue investing in our students, educators, and community partnerships, which will strengthen us. We aim for every child, regardless of background or zip code, to have the tools to succeed in school and beyond.
We encourage you to review your school's individual report card on the Ohio Department of Education's Report Card Portal. Please view our recent Board of Education presentation for a more detailed discussion and insights.
Columbus City Schools is a community that believes in our students' abilities and bright futures. I applaud our students, teachers, and staff for working together, making meaningful strides, and moving forward purposefully.
Thank you for your trust, support, and commitment to our students.
Sincerely,
Dr. Angela Chapman
Superintendent/CEO, Columbus City Schools
