Kindergarten readiness rose from the previous year at 63 of 68 Columbus City Schools elementary schools that reported state assessment results, according to an analysis of Ohio data released Sept. 30, 2026. At 43 schools, readiness was also higher than before the COVID-19 pandemic, using 2018-19 as the comparison year. The state assessment measures skills including social-emotional development, letters and numbers. The data show broad improvement across the district, but they do not establish what caused the gains. Columbus City Schools Superintendent Angela Chapman said children who begin kindergarten without foundational skills can require years of support to catch up. She said access to high-quality early learning before kindergarten can help students succeed. The city has invested more than $1 million in taxpayer funds in Future Ready Five, a local nonprofit working to improve kindergarten readiness in lower-income Franklin County ZIP codes. The organization has developed its program over the past two and a half years and now serves 77 schools and about 1,035 children, CEO Mario Basora said. Columbus City Schools also provides early learning through its own pre-kindergarten classrooms. In 2024, more than half of Franklin County children were considered not ready for kindergarten, the figures show. The assessment’s results matter beyond the first school year: local education leaders say early readiness can affect later academic progress and longer-term outcomes. At Alpine Elementary, where a pre-K program serves some students, about 80% of kindergarteners were assessed as ready in the 2025-26 school year. The school’s not-on-track share fell to 19.6%, from 32.7% in 2024-25 and 41.4% in 2018-19. Principal Sarah Foster said children who attended the school’s pre-K class often arrive in kindergarten with a stronger foundation. Foster welcomed the results but said she would like to see more pre-K classrooms so all incoming kindergarteners have the opportunity to attend. She credited Alpine’s teachers for working closely together to support students. The gains were not universal: five of the 68 schools had a larger share of students not on track than the previous year. Three of those five nevertheless remained above their pre-pandemic readiness level, according to the analysis. The districtwide trend points to progress, while the remaining gaps and calls for broader pre-K access underscore the importance of sustained early-childhood support for families across Columbus.