Thank you for your interest in Columbus Academy!
We are honored that you are considering Columbus Academy for your child's education. Our admissions process offers ample opportunities for your family to get to know our students and teachers, and for us to get to know you and your child. We encourage you to explore our website to learn more about our special community.
If you are applying for the following 2023-2024 school year, please click here to complete an online inquiry form in Blackbaud.
Should you have any trouble accessing Blackbaud, click here to view a video tutorial from Chris Cea in our Admissions Office at 614-509-2220.
We will reply with information about the admissions process, upcoming events and application deadlines. Families who wish to enroll more than one child should submit separate inquiries for each child.
Application timeline
Our application for the 2023-2024 school year will be available in September. The best way to learn about Columbus Academy is to take a tour. At that time we will have our parent interview which is an opportunity for you to share about your child’s needs and his/her educational experience.
We look forward to receiving appropriate transcripts and teacher recommendations by the first week in January. Screening for our Lower School applicants and interviews for our applying Middle and Upper School students will be conducted in January 2024. ISEE testing for students applying to grades 5-12 will need to be completed by February 12.
If you have already inquired, you can login to MySchoolApp to continue your application.
For families applying for admission, the deadline for applying for tuition assistance is February 1. Parents of accepted students are notified of tuition assistance decisions in early March. Families should apply through School & Student Services of NAIS by clicking here. Please note, tuition assistance is not available for our Explorers Program.
Scheduling a personal tour of Columbus Academy
A personal tour is an opportunity to preview how your family will experience education at Columbus Academy. Students who will be entering Grades 6-12 are encouraged to tour our campus alongside their parents. Younger students (entering Explorers Program through fifth grade) typically do not attend the introductory tour.
We encourage campus tours in the fall (September, October and November). Personal tours of our campus are given during school days. Please email admissions@columbusacademy.org or call the Admissions Office at (614) 509-2220 to schedule a tour!
Assessments and screenings (begin in January of each year)
Explorers Program (3-year-olds) applicants' screening will take place in January. Please contact our Admissions Office (614-509-2220) for details.
Lower School Applicants (PreK–Grade 4) participate in age-appropriate screening involving Columbus Academy-designed assessments and standardized tests. Sign-up dates/times for screening will be available in December.
Middle and Upper School Applicants (Grades 6–12)
- Option 1: ISEE exam at Columbus Academy ($140 ERB cost)
Columbus Academy will give the ISEE on our campus four times this winter. Masks and social distancing are required, along with proper COVID-19 protocol observed before, during and after the exam. Click here for more information.
- Option 2: ISEE At-Home exam ($200 ERB cost)
Students have the option to take the ISEE At-Home exam. Software downloads and system checks prior to the at-home exam are required by ERB, proctored by ProProctor. Click here to register for the at-home exam.
- Option 3: ISEE testing at the ProMetric testing center in Worthington ($200 ERB cost). Click here to register at a testing center.
Note: applicants who have recently taken the ERB, ISEE, SSAT, PSAT, ACT or SAT may be excused from testing at the discretion of the Director of Admissions.
First-round decisions by March 1
Applications completed by February 14 are eligible for first-round decisions which are announced by early March. Enrollment contracts and deposits are due back approximately 10 days later. Families applying for tuition assistance need to complete the application by early February 2022. Tuition assistance is not available to those entering or currently enrolled in our Explorers Program.
For more information about tuition assistance, watch this video from Director of Admissions and Tuition Assistance John Wuorinen.
Click here to begin the tuition assistance request process. To learn about how to apply for tuition assistance, watch this how-to video from Nancy Velasquez in our Admissions Office.
For students applying after March 1, Academy follows a rolling admissions process with shadow days and screenings arranged individually
Because first-round admissions decisions are announced in early March, parents are encouraged to begin the admissions process in the fall. An ideal timetable would be as follows:
- Optional: Tour the school in the fall/winter and attend an Admissions event.
- Submit application before the December holidays via MySchoolApp.
- Submit appropriate transcripts and teacher recommendations by the first week in January.
- Sign up applicant for ISEE testing before February (for Grades 5 and up) or for screening/testing beginning in January.
- Receive first-round admission decisions in early March.
We invite you to tour our world! Click the button below to schedule your personal tour of campus.