Columbus Preparatory Academy

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Columbus, Ohio - 1 schools

An equity score of 35/100 ranks Columbus Preparatory Academy #590 of 821 districts in Ohio (state average 46). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $8,863 per pupil, Columbus Preparatory Academy ranks #962 of 981 Ohio districts by per-pupil spending (Ohio districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

841
Total Enrollment
1
Schools
$8,863
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Columbus Preparatory Academy operates 1 public schools serving 841 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Ohio. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Franklin County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $8,863 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, among the bottom 99 of 981 Ohio districts by per-pupil spending. See how Ohio compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 7.7% local, 74.9% state, and 17.4% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 35/100, ranked #590 of 821 in Ohio against a state average of 46, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 398.5:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 35.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 31.1% White, 28.2% African American, 16.8% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Columbus Preparatory Academy, enrolling 797 students (100% of the district's total enrollment).

Columbus Preparatory Academy accounts for 94.8% of all Columbus Preparatory Academy student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Columbus Preparatory Academy a distant remainder — means Columbus Preparatory Academy-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: combined. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Because it contains a majority of the affected population, enrollment-weighted aggregates will sit closer to this entity's reported fields than to those of smaller peers; an unweighted entity count answers a different question.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Columbus Preparatory Academy student-counselor ratio is 399:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Columbus Preparatory Academy chronic absenteeism rate is 35.1% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

17.4%
Federal
74.9%
State
7.7%
Local

Funding Equity

35
Equity Score
590 / 821
State Rank
46
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 1 schools in Columbus Preparatory Academy.

White 31.1%
Hispanic or Latino 16.8%
African American 28.2%
Asian 14.2%
Multiracial 6.4%
Other 3.3%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

398.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
35.1%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Columbus Preparatory Academy

School Enrollment
Columbus Preparatory Academy
Charter
797

How Columbus Preparatory Academy Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Ohio districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Trumbull Career & Tech Ctr Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Tri-Village Local Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Minster Local Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Seneca East Local Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Mapleton Local Similar size Higher spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Columbus Preparatory Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Ohio

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Columbus City Schools District
45,338 students · 118 schools · $22,307/pupil
Compare vs Columbus Preparatory Academy →
Cincinnati Public Schools
35,585 students · 65 schools · $19,413/pupil
Compare vs Columbus Preparatory Academy →
Cleveland Municipal
33,998 students · 95 schools · $24,161/pupil
Compare vs Columbus Preparatory Academy →
Olentangy Local
23,281 students · 27 schools · $13,848/pupil
Compare vs Columbus Preparatory Academy →
Toledo City
21,814 students · 57 schools · $20,477/pupil
Compare vs Columbus Preparatory Academy →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Columbus Preparatory Academy

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Columbus City Schools District →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Columbus Preparatory Academy?

Columbus Preparatory Academy has 1 school, including 1 combined. Total enrollment is 841 students.

How much does Columbus Preparatory Academy spend per student?

Columbus Preparatory Academy spends $8,863 per student. The district has an equity score of 35/100, ranking #590 in Ohio.

What is the demographic composition of Columbus Preparatory Academy?

Columbus Preparatory Academy students are 31.1% White, 28.2% African American, 16.8% Hispanic or Latino, 14.2% Asian, averaged across 1 school. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Columbus Preparatory Academy?

Columbus Preparatory Academy has an equity score of 35/100, ranking #590 out of 821 districts in Ohio.