Pickerington Schools Unveil New Names for Two School Buildings

Big changes are coming to two of Pickerington Local Schools’ buildings, and we couldn’t be more excited to share the news! After thoughtful input from our community, staff, and Board of Education, a resolution was approved to officially rename two schools for the 2026–2027 school year.

Diley Middle School Becomes Pickerington Kindergarten Center

The current Diley Middle School building is getting a new identity and a new mission—it will now be home to the District’s Free Universal All-Day Kindergarten Program. The building will welcome all incoming kindergarten students, whether they attend full-day or half-day programs, and will be known going forward as the Pickerington Kindergarten Center.

The name reflects both community and Board input and celebrates the building’s exciting new role: nurturing the youngest members of our Pickerington community as they take their first steps into formal learning. Don’t worry—Tussing Elementary will continue to offer kindergarten services as well, ensuring families have options that work best for them.

Ridgeview Junior High School Becomes Ridgeview Middle School

Students and staff currently at Diley will move to the former Ridgeview Junior High School, which will now officially be called Ridgeview Middle School. The Board chose to retain the name “Ridgeview” to honor the school’s rich history at 130 Hill Road S while reflecting its updated role as a middle school.

This change also follows the opening of the new Pickerington Central Junior High School, which now houses students from the former Ridgeview Junior High School.

How These Names Were Chosen

The renaming process was a community effort:

1. The Board asked the Superintendent to gather input from families, staff, and community members.
    
2. Ideas were collected through social media and internal discussions, and finalists were submitted to the Board for review.
    
3. After thoughtful consideration, the Board and Superintendent recommended the names Pickerington Kindergarten Center and Ridgeview Middle School, balancing community sentiment, Board input, and the buildings’ histories.
    

With these changes, our schools continue to grow and evolve while honoring the traditions and pride that make Pickerington Local Schools so special.

We can’t wait to welcome our youngest learners to the Pickerington Kindergarten Center and to see Ridgeview Middle School carry on its legacy with a new generation of students.

Kindergarten registration opens online Monday, March 16! Visit our Kindergarten Page for all the details and to get your child ready for an exciting start.