Oh how I loved Indianola... thank god my parents were progressive enough to realize that not all…read morekindergartners were meant to sit in rows of desks! Indianola is an alternative school that allows kids to be kids - you start each day on the "carpet" as a group and then go to work stations around the classroom depending on what you want to pursue. Age groups are mixed, diversity is omnipresent and creativity ensues! I was mapping constellations in 3rd grade and did a project on Kwanzaa in 4th... not your run-of-the-mill elementary school experience. And try finding a better school motto than "friends are like rainbows." Can I go back to school here now? Please?

I went to Indianola Elementary from 1955 - 1961. Then it was more traditional in some ways, but…read morethere were students from the neighborhood, which was relatively poor, and students whose parents were professors at OSU. There was a section of the school for deaf and hard of hearing students, and kids were bused in from Fort Hayes Army Base. So it was a diverse, lively, nurturing place. But the picture here is Indianola Junior high, which is off of Fourth Street.

Update: on a later visit, found another big, nice playground on the back corner of the school…read more More for bigger kids- more open, more climbing stuff. Not much shade. Between the two, an excellent place for kids.

Review for playground only. And what a playground: huge, multiple areas, stuff for little and big…read morekids. All the classics plus lots of new-style climbing stuff. Plenty of tables and benches, with shade, for tired parents. Wood chips everwhere. Loads of green space nearby for kites, etc. Courts nearby. K had a blast. I had places to sit and relax. Street parking near the playground; a lot on the other end of the school I think. Really great park/playground.

This review is for the playground only. As you can see, it is located at a school, so you'll need…read moreto time your visit for non-school hours/times of year. The playground is huge and fantastic, and it is located in close proximity to Sunny 95 Park, creating a really nice large space for play. The playground features a large merry-go-round, several traditional swings, seven different slides, an obstacle course that includes climbing, jumping, and strategy to complete, and this neat large net to climb and explore. There is also a Safety Town type set up that's very cute, featuring things like a fire station and police station play areas, and tiny streets with signs that kids can ride their bikes and scooters on and practice the rules of the road. We actually stumbled across it during a visit to Sunny 95 Park, so we had parked over there and walked over, but it looked like the school also has parking available. There are benches and picnic tables available around, and the picnic tables have some wonderful shade under the trees.

We're here for the playground, so the review is just for that. Two playsets, plus hopscotch and…read moreother stuff marked on blacktop. Large fenced-in area, with benches for parents. Lots to climb, plenty of slides, etc. Baby K loved it. Marked "no pets," but people treat it as a dog park. Not an issue for us since we have 3 dogs, but in general big loose dogs and kids don't mix.

We're delighted with Clinton Elementary for our children! Currently located in the Short North at…read moreOld Hubbard, Clinton will be moving back into a newly renovated High Street/ Clinton Heights location in 2012. If you are a believer in public education and want a rigorous, safe and family-oriented education for your child, Clinton is a place to explore!

St. Mary is a great school- excellent academically, a reasonable value for a private school, and…read moregreat staff. Lots of activities and fundraisers throughout the year: Christmas tree sale, food truck fest, a gala, etc. And, a huge expansion/renovation this year. A beautiful new cafeteria, completely rebuilt classrooms in the big building, and more. A new playground and play area out front, study alcoves, gifted area, computer stations, etc. Well thought out and flexible. The teachers and students are thrilled.

We love this school! The staff is so awesome. Caring, friendly, compassionate. They really care…read moreabout each student. The principal takes the time to learn each students name, and recognize their family. They do a lot of fun activities throughout the year. A really great community of people!

Trinity United Methodist School TUMPS_ If you have little…read moreones, consider enrolling them into TUMPS. IF YOU CAN GET IN this is a great place to send the youngun's. The instructors/teachers are incredibly hands-on with their teaching and always have something unique planned for the kids. Any teacher that maintain the attention spans of 10 youngsters simultaneously has my vote of confidence. A great investment when the kids just think they're playing when they're actually learning heaps. If you cannot get in for school, consider the summer school they have at TUMC. BUT take my advice and register early as this is THE hip and happening place for the pre-schoolers in Grandview and Arlington.

This review is just for the gym. Went to a kids' basketball game here. The school buildings look…read morelike typical '60s elementary school design. Nice enough inside, nothing fancy. The gym is small, but has nice bleachers and a pretty slick scoreboard for an elementary school. Plenty of parking, and located beside a public school with a large park and playing fields between them. We will be checking out Catholic schools for Baby K, so we'll be doing some research on this one.

This is my family's 4th year at the school and we could not be happier. I have 2 students and would…read morestrongly recommend it for the following reasons. First, the strong support and encouragements given by teachers and staff. My children know all teachers, and they know them. Everyday they come home to stories about how this teacher helped them this day and another, the next. When we have had issues arise, I have always been impressed by how communicative the teachers have been and how receptive they are to listen to my concerns, and those of my child. It truly has been a loving environment from day one. Second, tying to the support and encouragement, I have seen amazing academic results each year because of teachers taking the time to address individual needs and work with my children. My children feel confident when it comes to learning and have been well prepared when it's come time to take tests. Third, I love the fact my kids are growing in their Catholic faith through partaking in community service, attending mass weekly, and daily religious instruction. I feel confident that they are becoming good stewards of their faith and better and more compassionate human beings because of it. Lastly, I love the sense of community. Parents and students alike enjoy spending time at the school and school functions. The smaller class sizes facilitates getting to know each family and it also encourages and enables any and everyone to be involved with the school. At St. Agatha you are not a face that gets lost in the crowd.

We have been with MCH for the past 4 years; both of my children did 2 years of preschool there. My…read morekids each have very different personalities and learning styles, and both absolutely thrived at MCH! The student-teacher ratio is perfect, and the Montessori approach to learning has been wonderful. Our eldest entered Kindergarten confident and ready. We will be so sad when our second child finishes this school year at MCH, but she is well prepared to move on to Kindergarten! We will really miss all the fantastic, patient teachers who have been so supportive and communicative throughout our time there. I whole heartedly recommend MCH!

All 3 of my kids have gone to MCH. We have had the best experience! They have learned so much!…read more They have made great friends (and I have too, bonus). There is little to no turnover. All 3 kids had the same teachers all the way through. The student teacher ratio is perfect . They entered 1st grade in confidence!

I love CPA! My son has attended for 3 years, and it is a classic educational environment!read more

My children started at CPA during COVID. It was already a very challenging time for them being…read moreremote and starting a new school. I appreciated the creativity and devotion of the teachers during that challenging time and it set the tone for when they went back to in-person learning. It takes very special people to be able to educate and mold children and the staff at CPA have exceeded my expectations! I am so grateful for the kindness, compassion, and obvious joy they take in teaching. My high schoolers will without a doubt be prepared for college and more!

I can't really say much since my kids don't attend school here. They only come here once a week for…read moreCheer practice. The grounds are clean and the school is kept up. There are always lots of activities going on here. The school is in a very nice location.