New Albany-Plain Local School District
Encyclopedia
The New Albany-Plain Local School District is located in and around New Albany, Ohio
in central Ohio
, about 20 miles (32.2 km) northeast of downtown Columbus, Ohio
. The school district covers an area of 26 square miles (67.3 km²), all (except for a small amount in Licking County
) located in the northeast corner of Franklin County, Ohio
. The district features eight buildings serving grades K-12 (including New Albany High School
) all on one centrally-located campus. The schools are connected by tree-lined walkways, and are surrounded by an 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) nature preserve.
Most of the district is located in New Albany, with the rest in unincorporated Plain Township
and the city of Columbus. New Albany-Plain Local is the only school district in Ohio in which every school is designated a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education. All of the district's schools have been accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
.
The average daily enrollment in the New Albany-Plain Local School District in the 2008-2009 school year was 3,932. The racial makeup of the students in the district was 78.2% White
(non-Hispanic), 9.7% Asian
or Pacific Islander, 6.3% Black
(non-Hispanic), 1.7% Hispanic
, and 3.9% Multi-Racial. Due to a large Jewish population in the district, schools are closed on Yom Kippur
each year. 100% of district teachers had completed at least a Bachelor's Degree
, and 71.2% had completed at least a Master's Degree
. The graduation rate for the class of 2008 was 98.3%.
In 1955 the Ohio General Assembly eliminated the requirement that cities and school districts have common borders.From the 50s through the 70s the City of Columbus
aggressively annexed land, causing concern for local school districts. In 1980 the suburban school districts together persuaded the Ohio General Assembly to place a two year moratorium on all big-city school district transfers. Concerned legislators asked school officials to work out a solution to the growing "turf war" over the changing school district boundaries. In 1982, when little progress was made toward arriving at an agreeable solution, the General Assembly extended the moratorium for another two years, but stated they would not renew it again in 1986. Once again, the districts were directed to develop permanent boundary and annexation agreements. State Representative Michael Stinziano (Columbus) and other community and education leaders convened a series of negotiations with the Franklin County school district officials in 1986. These officials eventually reached an agreement, the “Joint Agreement Among and Between the Boards of Education of Certain School Districts in Franklin County, Ohio”, nicknamed “Win-Win”. The agreement established mechanisms to predict school district boundaries among the twelve member districts. It set procedures for Columbus to acquire new territory in the future, and established revenue sharing between Columbus City Schools and the suburban districts. The success of the agreement's adoption resulted in the Ohio General Assembly’s approval, and Governor Celeste’s signing of the agreement.
The current brick schools were built in the late 1990s and 2000s. The Intermediate Elementary opened in 1999 and replaced two former elementary buildings, one of which was demolished and one used to be leased by the Columbus Jewish Day School.Now the Elementary school is slowly running out of teaching space therefore is slowly moving 2-4 classes from each grade every year into the annex. New Albany Middle School opened in August 2002. Prior to that, middle school classes were held in New Albany High School. The Primary Elementary opened in August 2003. Kindergarten and first grade were moved to that building and the Intermediate Elementary became for grades 2-5 only. The current New Albany High School was built in 1996. The school was expanded in 2002 to include an additional academic wing with offices, a new high school football stadium and additional locker rooms. Those improvements were completed in 2004.
New Albany High School (Ohio)
Plain Township, Franklin County, Ohio
New Albany, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,711 people, 1,263 households, and 1,030 families residing in the village. The population density was 415.7 people per square mile . There were 1,424 housing units at an average density of 159.5 per square mile...
in central Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, about 20 miles (32.2 km) northeast of downtown Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. The school district covers an area of 26 square miles (67.3 km²), all (except for a small amount in Licking County
Licking County, Ohio
Licking County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 166,492. Its county seat is Newark and is named for the salt licks that were in the area....
) located in the northeast corner of Franklin County, Ohio
Franklin County, Ohio
Franklin County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. In 2010 the population was 1,163,414, making it the second largest county in Ohio and the 34th largest county in population in the United States. Franklin County is also the largest in the eight-county Columbus, Ohio...
. The district features eight buildings serving grades K-12 (including New Albany High School
New Albany High School (Ohio)
New Albany High School is a public high school located in New Albany, Ohio, part of the New Albany-Plain Local School District. New Albany is a four-year comprehensive high school accredited by the Ohio Department of Education. It has been nationally recognized as a School of Excellence...
) all on one centrally-located campus. The schools are connected by tree-lined walkways, and are surrounded by an 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) nature preserve.
Most of the district is located in New Albany, with the rest in unincorporated Plain Township
Plain Township, Franklin County, Ohio
Plain Township is one of the seventeen townships of Franklin County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 5,926 people in the township, 2,215 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Geography:...
and the city of Columbus. New Albany-Plain Local is the only school district in Ohio in which every school is designated a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the U.S. Department of Education. All of the district's schools have been accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
North Central Association of Colleges and Schools
The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools , also known as the North Central Association, is a membership organization, consisting of colleges, universities, and schools in 19 U.S. states, that is engaged in educational accreditation...
.
The average daily enrollment in the New Albany-Plain Local School District in the 2008-2009 school year was 3,932. The racial makeup of the students in the district was 78.2% White
White
White is a color, the perception of which is evoked by light that stimulates all three types of color sensitive cone cells in the human eye in nearly equal amounts and with high brightness compared to the surroundings. A white visual stimulation will be void of hue and grayness.White light can be...
(non-Hispanic), 9.7% Asian
Asian people
Asian people or Asiatic people is a term with multiple meanings that refers to people who descend from a portion of Asia's population.- Central Asia :...
or Pacific Islander, 6.3% Black
Black
Black is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light...
(non-Hispanic), 1.7% Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
, and 3.9% Multi-Racial. Due to a large Jewish population in the district, schools are closed on Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur , also known as Day of Atonement, is the holiest and most solemn day of the year for the Jews. Its central themes are atonement and repentance. Jews traditionally observe this holy day with a 25-hour period of fasting and intensive prayer, often spending most of the day in synagogue...
each year. 100% of district teachers had completed at least a Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's degree
A bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
, and 71.2% had completed at least a Master's Degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
. The graduation rate for the class of 2008 was 98.3%.
History
In the 1820s in Plain Township, schooling had been taught in log cabins. In 1821, a frame school building was built on Central College; the teacher was Jacob Smith. In 1874, a new brick school was built in the Village. In 1956, a new elementary school (now known as "the annex") was built.In 1955 the Ohio General Assembly eliminated the requirement that cities and school districts have common borders.From the 50s through the 70s the City of Columbus
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
aggressively annexed land, causing concern for local school districts. In 1980 the suburban school districts together persuaded the Ohio General Assembly to place a two year moratorium on all big-city school district transfers. Concerned legislators asked school officials to work out a solution to the growing "turf war" over the changing school district boundaries. In 1982, when little progress was made toward arriving at an agreeable solution, the General Assembly extended the moratorium for another two years, but stated they would not renew it again in 1986. Once again, the districts were directed to develop permanent boundary and annexation agreements. State Representative Michael Stinziano (Columbus) and other community and education leaders convened a series of negotiations with the Franklin County school district officials in 1986. These officials eventually reached an agreement, the “Joint Agreement Among and Between the Boards of Education of Certain School Districts in Franklin County, Ohio”, nicknamed “Win-Win”. The agreement established mechanisms to predict school district boundaries among the twelve member districts. It set procedures for Columbus to acquire new territory in the future, and established revenue sharing between Columbus City Schools and the suburban districts. The success of the agreement's adoption resulted in the Ohio General Assembly’s approval, and Governor Celeste’s signing of the agreement.
The current brick schools were built in the late 1990s and 2000s. The Intermediate Elementary opened in 1999 and replaced two former elementary buildings, one of which was demolished and one used to be leased by the Columbus Jewish Day School.Now the Elementary school is slowly running out of teaching space therefore is slowly moving 2-4 classes from each grade every year into the annex. New Albany Middle School opened in August 2002. Prior to that, middle school classes were held in New Albany High School. The Primary Elementary opened in August 2003. Kindergarten and first grade were moved to that building and the Intermediate Elementary became for grades 2-5 only. The current New Albany High School was built in 1996. The school was expanded in 2002 to include an additional academic wing with offices, a new high school football stadium and additional locker rooms. Those improvements were completed in 2004.
Notable graduates
- Chase BuchananChase BuchananChase Buchanan Buchanan grew up and attended grade school and high school in New Albany, Ohio and now attends The Ohio State University and is a member of the tennis team) is an American men's tennis player.-Career:...
, tennis player - Graham RahalGraham RahalGraham Rahal is an American race car driver. He currently participates in the IZOD IndyCar Series. He is the son of 1986 Indianapolis 500 winner Bobby Rahal.-Early racing:...
, IndyCarIndyCarIndyCar is the trade name of an American-based open-wheel auto racing sanctioning body. IndyCar sanctions three racing series, the premier IZOD IndyCar Series with its centerpiece Indianapolis 500, and developmental series Firestone Indy Lights and the U.S...
driver and son of Bobby RahalBobby RahalRobert "Bobby" Woodward Rahal is an American auto racing driver and team owner. As a driver, he won three championships and 24 races in the CART open-wheel series, including the 1986 Indianapolis 500...
See also
New Albany, OhioNew Albany, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,711 people, 1,263 households, and 1,030 families residing in the village. The population density was 415.7 people per square mile . There were 1,424 housing units at an average density of 159.5 per square mile...
New Albany High School (Ohio)
New Albany High School (Ohio)
New Albany High School is a public high school located in New Albany, Ohio, part of the New Albany-Plain Local School District. New Albany is a four-year comprehensive high school accredited by the Ohio Department of Education. It has been nationally recognized as a School of Excellence...
Plain Township, Franklin County, Ohio
Plain Township, Franklin County, Ohio
Plain Township is one of the seventeen townships of Franklin County, Ohio, United States. The 2000 census found 5,926 people in the township, 2,215 of whom lived in the unincorporated portions of the township.-Geography:...