The South-Western City School District is located within the southwestern most portion of Franklin County in Central Ohio also encompassing a small portion of northern Pickaway County to the south of the district. Whether you already live in the area or are looking at relocating, the district offers an array of residential settings and opportunities to support you and your family’s recreational and retail needs.
Our district neighborhoods offer a variety of urban, rural, and suburban settings to include: City of Columbus, City of Grove City, Darbydale, Galloway, Franklin Township, Harrisburg, Prairie Township, Urbancrest, Valleyview
*Explore school attendance areas for living within the district (click here)
Recreation
Columbus Metro Parks: Columbus Metro Parks offers a network of 20 metropolitan parks in Central Ohio, offering over 28,000 acres of natural spaces, trails, and recreational activities. These parks provide diverse habitats, including forests, wetlands, and prairies, which support a variety of wildlife. The parks are popular for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, fishing, and birdwatching, and they also host educational programs and events for visitors of all ages. The Metro Parks system plays a vital role in conservation, preserving green spaces and promoting environmental stewardship in the Columbus area.
Grove City Parks: GC Parks offers a variety of recreational programming to appeal to all ages and interests that enriches lives and improves health including environmental education, preschool enrichment, after-school and before-school child care, gardening, youth and adult team sports, and other activities that foster mental, physical and social engagement. The Grove City Parks footprint covers 30 parks, 518 acres of parkland, and 38.3 miles of paved multi-use paths.
Prairie Township Parks: Encompassing BlueLake, Carl Frye, Dalebrook, Friendship, and Lakota Parks, Prairie Township on the district's northwestern most side offers an array of recreational settings to engage in physical activity, sports, and more!
Local Attractions
Columbus Zoo and Acquariam: Welcoming over 2 million guests every year, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium is located just north of Columbus, OH, and is home to over 10,000 animals representing over 600 species. For more than 95 years, the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium has evolved to become a cornerstone of the community and a destination inspiring the appreciation and conservation of many of the earth's most amazing animals.
COSI: COSI is a nationally esteemed science center that has delighted Central Ohio with all things science for 60 years, inspiring interest in science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) topics and delivering an experiential, "hands-on fun" brand of learning. As a trusted educational resource for families, schools, and community partners, COSI is an essential element of the Central Ohio community, engaging more than one million people annually through onsite, offsite, and online experiences.
Franklin Park Conservatory: Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is Central Ohio’s premier botanical garden and home to the iconic John F. Wolfe Palm House which dates back to 1895. Situated just east of Franklin Park, the Conservatory is approximately two miles from downtown Columbus. The visitor experience spans about 13-acres and is comprised of the Conservatory building, The Scotts Miracle-Gro Foundation Children’s Garden and the Grand Mallway. The experience consists of botanical biomes, lush gardens, special horticulture and art exhibitions, and seasonal offerings. A collection of glass works by artist Dale Chihuly is also on display and included with admission. The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company Community Garden Campus is a sprawling 4-acre garden adjacent to the visitor experience that encompasses an apiary, rose pavilion, berry house and 40 community garden plots as well as, a demonstration kitchen and Live-Fire Cooking Theater.
Ohio History Center: The Ohio History Center is the headquarters of the Ohio History Connection. Our mission is to spark discovery of Ohio's stories. Embrace the present, share the past and transform the future.
Columbus Museum of Art: an art museum in downtown Columbus, Ohio. Formed in 1878 as the Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts it was the first art museum to register its charter with the state of Ohio. The museum collects and exhibits American and European modern and contemporary art, folk art, glass art, and photography.
National Veterans Memorial and Museum: The National Veterans Memorial and Museum takes visitors on a narrative journey telling individual stories and shared experiences of Veterans throughout history. Paying tribute to the sacrifices of servicemen and women and their families, history is presented in a dynamic, participatory experience with photos, letters and personal effects, multimedia presentations, and interactive exhibits.
Columbus Crew SC: The Columbus Crew is an American professional soccer club based in Columbus, Ohio. The Crew competes in Major League Soccer as a member of the league's Eastern Conference and began play in 1996 as one of the 10 charter clubs of the league. They are the defending 2024 MLS Cup Champions and have won this championship three times in league history.
Columbus Blue Jackets: The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio. The Blue Jackets compete in the National Hockey League as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. Founded on June 25, 1997, the franchise began play as an expansion team in 2000.
Columbus Clippers: The Columbus Clippers are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A affiliate of the Cleveland Guardians. They are named for speedy merchant sailing vessels known as clippers. The team has played their home games at Huntington Park since 2009.
Higher Education
Central Ohio is home to a number of collegiate institutions of higher learning and the district is well positioned within a 10-20 minute drive of many of them.