what are the educational opportunities in Columbus?

  • We're looking toward that cap-and-gown day from kindergarten onward.

Education at All Levels

It’s an understatement to say we love education in Columbus, Indiana! Whether you’re looking into K-12 learning for your kids (or future kids) or you’re planning to seek college degrees of your own, Columbus stands ready to deliver.

  • Hands-on learning starts young in the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation.

Public Education

Deeper Learning Works—that’s the motto of the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation and is a great description of the public education awaiting your family. Your kids will go to schools with diverse populations, with students speaking close to 60 languages. BCSC has nine elementary schools, two middle schools and two high schools, some of which offer Columbus Signature Academies: 

  • CSA New Tech High School with a STEM focus
  • CSA Central Middle School with a critical-thinking approach
  • CSA Lincoln Elementary for high academics with a family feel
  • CSA Fodrea Elementary focusing on academics and 21st century skill

BCSC also offers the Legado Spanish Immersion Academy at Clifty Creek Elementary for families who would like their children to be in a bilingual learning environment. Students are encouraged to engage in all types of extracurricular activities, from music and athletics to robotics and academic teams. Oh, and as you might expect in Columbus, many of our school buildings are examples of excellent architecture. 

  • Families who prefer private education have options in Columbus.

Private Education

Families who prefer sending their children to church-affiliated schools also have options in Columbus. Follow the links below to learn about these school offerings.

Columbus is also home to two Montessori Schools that serve children ages 2 through 6th grade:

  • Students can earn degrees from associate's through master's in Columbus.

Higher Education

You can choose from more 70 undergraduate and graduate programs available at the institutions here in Columbus. Indiana University Purdue University Columbus is a small campus of about 1,600 students with big opportunities to learn and conduct research with faculty members who are recognized experts in their fields. IUPUC offers both graduate and undergraduate degrees. Purdue Polytechnic is also part of a statewide network offering the same technology bachelor programs available at the main West Lafayette campus. The student population is a combination of recent high school grads as well as those already in the workforce. With many two-year programs available, Ivy Tech Community College is a great start for transferring to another university or going right to work with a newly acquired skill. All three of the programs described so far are located at the Columbus Learning Center. 

In downtown Columbus, you’ll find the J. Irwin Miller Architecture Program, part of Indiana University’s Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture + Design.

  • The CEC supports initiatives like the IU School of Art, Architecture + Design program.

Community Education Coalition

Further proof of the importance of education in Columbus is the Community Education Coalition (CEC), a partnership of education, business and community leaders focused on integrating the community learning system with economic growth and a high quality of life. CEC is an excellent example of how committed Columbus’ private businesses are to stepping up to improve public education.

One of the first projects was the Columbus Learning Center, which spans the campus locating classrooms and student services for IUPUC, Ivy Tech Community College, Purdue Polytechnic Institute and WorkOne. CEC also creates and supports transformative programs such as STEM Seamless Pathway/Adult Education Consortium, Indiana University School of Art, Architecture + Design, and Latino Education Outreach, to name just three of many. In 2017, CEC and its EcO Network initiative received a designation by Lumina Foundation as a Talent Hub—one of just 24 communities nationwide to be so named. The associated grant supports a regional initiative to help remove barriers Latino and low-income adults face in attaining college education.