Columbus, Ohio's Best School ZIP Codes, Ranked (2026 Data)
By Sharon Ben-Moshe · August 10, 2026
Grandview Heights (43212) posts Columbus's top school score at 93/100 — well above the Ohio and national averages. See the full ranking, and why even Columbus's best school ZIP has a modest overall composite.
According to NCES assessment data, Columbus, Ohio's 43212 ZIP code (Grandview Heights) posts the metro's highest school score at 93 out of 100, well above Ohio's 73 statewide average and the 62 national average. Here's the full ranking, and why even Columbus's top school ZIP doesn't crack the top of the overall composite.
Columbus ZIP Codes Ranked by School Score
- 43212 (Grandview Heights): school 93, crime 25, overall 57
- 43235 (Northwest Columbus): school 82, crime 25, overall 52
- 43110 (Groveport): school 77, crime 25, overall 49
- 43240 (Polaris): school 73, crime 25, overall 48
- 43202 (Clintonville): school 66, crime 25, overall 44
- 43206 (German Village): school 66, crime 25, overall 44
Why the Top School ZIP Doesn't Have the Top Overall Score
Every ZIP on this list shares the same 25/100 crime score, well below Ohio's 65 state average and the 63 national average — Columbus falls to the county tier of NeighborScore's crime cascade, the same pattern seen in Houston's crime data. With crime fixed at 25 for every Columbus ZIP, the overall composite (53% crime, 47% school) is capped well below what the school score alone would suggest: even 43212's exceptional 93 school score only produces an overall composite of 57, because 25 × 0.53 (13.25) plus 93 × 0.47 (43.7) rounds to 57 — a "Fair" band score despite best-in-metro schools.
What This Means for School-Focused Buyers
For buyers prioritizing school quality in Columbus, the school score column — not the overall composite — is the number to compare directly against other metros. 43212's 93 stands up well against nearly any ZIP code nationally; its overall composite of 57 reflects Columbus's citywide crime data tier, not a weaker school system.
Bottom Line
Grandview Heights (43212) leads Columbus on school score at 93/100, more than 30 points above the national average, but a fixed citywide crime score of 25 keeps every Columbus ZIP's overall composite below 60. See the full NCES EdFacts data behind these scores, or browse more school rankings on NeighborScore.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Columbus ZIP code has the best schools?
43212 (Grandview Heights) posts the metro’s highest school score at 93/100, well above Ohio’s 73 state average and the 62 national average, according to NCES assessment data.
Why doesn’t Columbus’s top school ZIP have the highest overall score?
Every Columbus ZIP shares the same 25/100 citywide crime score, since Columbus falls to the county tier of NeighborScore’s crime cascade. That caps the overall composite even for top schools — 43212’s 93 school score still only produces an overall of 57 once crime is weighted in.
What is Columbus’s citywide crime score and how does it compare to the state average?
25/100 for every scored Columbus ZIP, well below Ohio’s 65 state average and the 63 national average.
How is Columbus’s overall score calculated from its school and crime scores?
Overall score equals crime × 0.53 plus school × 0.47. For 43212: 25 × 0.53 (13.25) plus 93 × 0.47 (43.7) rounds to an overall score of 57.