Indianola Informal Alternative School in Columbus, Ohio

“Great education, great people, great location. Love it!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Superior parent involvement, caring staff.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“My child has been attending Indy since KD. She is now in third grade! While I was initially concerned that all of the recent building - hopping and rapid growth of the school would diminish what makes the school such a special place, I have since been pleasantly surprised. The school definitely feels less intimate than before, but the teachers and the PTO continue to strive to provide a communal experience for the students. The best part is: my child loves her school. She is excited about learning and she feels free to express her ideas. Our family has had a positive experience.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Indianola recently received among the highest standardized test scores in the district. As of this review, the program's off to an excellent start in a renovated building. For a program to have performed so well through a rough transition in a temporary building (confusing, cobbled-up physical space, lackluster resources) it is sure to make the utmost of the great resources that the permanent location offers. The Columbus School district is notorious for loosing student population to suburban flight(1971 body of 110.000; 55,000 in 2007). Rather than flee the district in the hopes of a better program, a community has instead galvanized around the concept of 'Quality Neighborhood Schools'. That's the difference. Rather than move individually to where a good school is offered, a community has decided to take it upon it's collective self to create a great school...and it's succeeding!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I love this school! The teachers and staff work hard to give the students a well rounded education to prepare them to be global minded citizens.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Kindergarten is too rigorous and the classes are quite large. One teacher is not sufficient for 28 students. Not a good school if your child needs individual attention.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I find this school very clique-ish and the parents are judgemental toward those who aren't 'alternative' enough. My child is very happy at Indianola, but I won't be sad to leave.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I attended Indi from Kindergarten all the way through 8th grade. This is a school with an amazing and involved community, and a school that has wonderful academic, arts, and extracurricular programs. The addition of sports teams this year and the completion of the middle school expansion have succeeded in making it even an even more well rounded program. All of my teachers at Indi have understood us as people and students; connected with parents and student alike; met our learning needs; and taught in an effective, interesting, informative, and useful way. I leave Indianola with fond memories and a excellent education.”
This review was posted by a student.

“What a breath of fresh air- excellence abounds here. Teachers and parents work in concert to make sure these children thrive with individualized programs designed to unearth their talents. With a connection to OSU, they have access to things like Italian classes and photography atypical for any elementary. Lottery is tough- more than 300 waitlisted in Kindergarten each year, but worth going for it. As a UA grad, I wanted something amazing without the attitude, and my family found that here.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Indianola is such a great school with a wonderful community a great curriculum really nice techers and we have great arts and now that we have moved to another building we have gym as do other schools. It think its good that we have dance and gym because dance keeps us active and energetic and gym encourages kids because its fun. We have a bigger building but its still not enough. Which is a problem. But overall its great!”
This review was posted by a student.

“I am a student in 4th grade at this school i just am starting 5th! I do agree that we have such a great community no one is excluded we respect differences and we have the most amazing teachers!but we have a lousy district and a bad school location I am glad we are expanding to k-8 and yesterday was our last day in the building (almost 100 years old!) I don't think our school has as much active/ athletic education as it should have but I think were growing and were becoming a larger group which will change things alot! -mounir lynch”
This review was posted by a student.

“Indianola is an amazing public school that is strongly supported by its staff and parents. It is certainly worth the effort of the lottery process. The school was recently expanded to house middle school and will become a K-8 school at a new location. Many exciting changes are occurring and much opportunity is on the horizon to expand informal-type education to older children. This school is really a jewel.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“I am absolutely thrilled that this program is now expanding to a K-8 program. My 4 children are all thriving at Indy and I would never have them anywhere else. The integrated curriculum, cooperative learning, arts integration, informal teaching/learning model is played daily out in this exemplary program. Even with the constraints of district, state and national standards and testing, the excellent teaching staff has managed to cover all that is required and much much more. Parent involvement is a huge part of the success of the school. You will see parents participating in learning experiences, doing guest speaking appearances, and volunteering around the school in countless ways every day. Parents are always welcome even in the middle school level classrooms. No wonder people are applying by the hundreds for a few coveted lottery seats each year. If only the Columbus Public School district would realize how exceptional this school is!”
This review was posted by a parent.

“This was my child's first year at Indianola and most of her experiences have been positive. The informal philosophy is fully embraced so if your child works best in highly structured environments this would probably not be a good match for your child. Although there are many opportunities for parents to be involved if you are new to the school it is somewhat difficult to get with the 'Indy Way of Doing' unless you know another parent who has been at the school. For the most part the teacher's are good at balancing an integrated curriculum. Although the school lacks significant diversity the staff is pretty open to feedback and suggestions. You'll love the principal.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Indianola is the sole reason we have remained in the district. However, with our move to a swing space which is less than ideal, combined with a 9:30 start time, which is horrible for so many reasons and still amazing to me that it hasn't been overturned by the logic-police...makes our commitment year to year. It is unfortunate that a school with such an extraordinary staff, diverse student body and an active parent group is stuck in such a lousy district. It is the Indianola community that makes it worthwhile in spite of the district it resides in.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“supportive staff, creative curriculum, lots of opportunities for students”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Indianola Informal loves all their students! They build community in the school and value people more than tests.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Indianola has a wonderful community and creative approach to the curriculum. My daughter's teachers in K-2 have been fantastic. Dance, music, and art all reinforce or tie to the curriculum, helping students make connections that few other schools make the effort to do. Beware though - high teacher to student ration - 27 students in a class does no one justice. The district is consumed by their own problems and are unable to think clearly about solutions. The school has a 9:30 start time. This goes against all research that indicates elelenmtary students should start first; it goes against parents who work; and is hated by teachers and parents universally. If you can get in, you'll love the school, and probably hate the district.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“My son attended Indianola from grade K-5, from 1991-1997. He is graduating from high school this fall, with an outstanding GPA, excellent ACT results, and is receiving a merit scholarship from the state of Louisiana for full tuition to LSU (we live in Louisiana now). The staff was enthusiastic and motivated. The curriculum was inventive and in-depth. By focusing on the child's needs and interests rather than a rigid structure that all the children 'should' be following, the children flourished. I have lived in the south and the southwest for seven years, and have never seen a school to compare to Indianola. My great regret about leaving Ohio is that my little boy, who will enter K in the fall, will not be able to attend Indianola.”
This review was posted by a parent.

“Indianola Informal ES teaches in a child-centered method. The instruction is coordinated between core subject matter and the arts. The parent involvement is outstanding and supported by a very involved PTA. Enrichment activities for students include an award-winning chess team, language, math, science and book clubs.”
This review was posted by a parent.