Located just east of Columbus, Pickerington Schools is the fifteenth largest school district in the state of Ohio, serving over 11,500 students across 14 campuses. Drawing families from across the state and even the nation, Pickerington Schools is a destination district with a diverse community of learners and an excellent academic and athletic reputation. We aspire to be the school district of choice, improving our community and society by opening doors and providing opportunities for every child, every day. Our mission is to provide an engaging, innovative, and holistic learning experience that empowers each of our students to become a responsible, productive citizen of our community and our nation.
Our Students
Pickerington Schools is a diverse learning community. Our student body is 7.8% Asian or Pacific Islander, 31.8% Black, Non-Hispanic, 6.5% Hispanic, 7.5% Multiracial, and 46.3% White, Non-Hispanic. Our students come from 73 countries and speak over 58 languages! Clicking on the image will take you to the current District Details on our Ohio School Report Card.
Our Success
Perhaps the ultimate gauge of the success of a school district is how well our graduates are prepared for college, career, and the challenge of being responsible, productive citizens. More than 94% of our students graduate within four years and 96.5% graduate within five. Our graduation rate is on par with similar districts within the state and seven percentage points higher than the state average. More information on graduation is found on the Graduation Rate page on our Ohio School Report card.
Our Educators
Pickerington Schools staff have a dedication to enhancing their skills as educators, as evidenced by their commitment to continued learning and professional development. One-hundred percent of our principals have bachelor's degrees and 100% have at least their master's degree as well! Our teaching staff has an average of 15 years of teaching experience and nearly 81% have earned master's in addition to their bachelor's degrees. For more information about our building principals, teaching staff, and other educators, please see our District Details on our Ohio School Report Card.
Pickerington Schools History
The history of Pickerington Schools begins with the Ordinance of 1785. This ordinance set aside land for school purposes. At one time, Violet Township was home to 19 one to two room schools spread across the township. The bulk of these schools later combined and became Pickerington Schools.
The first documented school in the Pickerington area was in 1812. It is believed that the log cabin may have been used for church on Sundays and for school during the week.
In 1815, Abraham Pickering, who the City of Pickerington is named after, donated a plot of land to be used for educational purposes. The Pickerington School House was built on this land. In 1883, a new two-story, two-room school was built to replace the original building.
Census data shows that in 1895 there were 106 students in Pickerington. Today, the original school site is home to the Pickerington and Violet Township Historical Society at 15 East Columbus Street.
The Violet Township Board of Education was created in 1905 as the first step in the unification of the area's schools. After two years of hard work, a charter from the state was in hand, and the process for financing a building program was in place. Construction of the new Violet Township High School (VTHS) began in February of 1907. The building would have six rooms plus a basement at a cost of $15,000. The VTHS class of 1909 was the first to graduate from this new school with a graduating class of four.
In 1939, Violet Township Schools became Pickerington Schools and VTHS became Pickerington High School a year later. Driven by a dynamic and caring staff, Pickerington Schools has grown from a shared one-room school in a log cabin to 14 modern facilities, educating nearly 12,000 students.