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State Investigation Prompts Columbus Families to Navigate School Closures
State investigation at two high schools and district plans to shutter more buildings hit families navigating new attendance rules and altered funding formulas.
How we reported this
The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce opened an investigation this month into testing irregularities at Independence High School and Walnut Ridge High School, both part of Columbus City Schools, after the district invalidated every spring 2026 score from those buildings.
Why the probe and closures matter to Columbus households
Parents and students now face uncertainty over whether test results will count toward graduation requirements or school report cards, while the district weighs closing four more buildings on top of the five already approved in December. The moves arrive alongside a new state law that tightened health and attendance standards and a $60 billion budget from Governor Mike DeWine that changed school funding calculations without finishing the 2021 fair-funding overhaul.
Residents in neighborhoods served by Independence High School and Walnut Ridge High School will feel the immediate effects first, because invalidated scores can delay diplomas and shift students into different academic tracks. District leaders have said the additional closures would cut operating costs and keep the system in line with upcoming state legislation, but families must now consider longer bus rides or new school assignments if those buildings shut.
Bargaining and virtual options give families choices
Columbus teachers returned to the bargaining table this week after the union ratified a two-year re-opener covering the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 school years that addresses scheduling and compensation. At the same time, enrollment remains open for the Ohio Digital Learning School for grades 9-12 and the Ohio Virtual Academy for grades K-12, both tuition-free public options run through K12 and available to any Ohio student.
These developments affect daily routines for thousands of Columbus households that rely on predictable calendars, reliable transportation, and clear graduation pathways. The testing investigation and closure discussions add pressure on families already adjusting to the new attendance rules that took effect this week under the recently signed law.
Columbus City Schools has not released a timetable for the four additional closures, but residents can monitor the district website for updates on which buildings may close and how boundary changes would work. Families seeking alternatives can still apply for seats at the two virtual academies before the 2026-2027 year begins.