Columbus academy vs. Columbus school for girls (Gahanna, Bexley: neighborhoods, schools)

[sgupta81]

Hi, we are moving to the columbus area and considering CA vs. CSG for our two girls. They both seem great on the tours, and we would love more insight from those who know about both and can honestly compare them. Thanks!

[Cbus76]

You are correct - they are both great schools.

The most obvious difference is the single-sex nature of CSG versus CA. You know your daughters the best - would they learn better in a code environment or an all-girls environment? CA was all boys until 1991, but for several years following this date CA felt very much like a boys school due to unbalanced numbers. Today CA is just about 50/50 so it truly is coed.

As for academics, the test scores are similar for the schools, as are admissions to selective universities. In terms of physical plant, CA is more impressive. CSG has a small footprint due to its location, and most of its athletic facilities are several miles away on Cassady Avenue. CA has a large campus in Gahanna with a number of buildings, athletic fields, etc.

You will find children of prominent families attending both schools, so the alumni connections should be good at both.

One final thing you might consider is location - if you plan on living in Bexley, CSG might make more sense because your kids could walk to school. If you are in New Albany, CA will be much closer. That's not to say that kids living in Bexley don't go to CA or New Albany kids don't go to CSG, because they do. Good luck.

[evah19]

CSG seems more diverse economically and racially to me. Someone in my family works at CA and from his descriptions it seems more exclusive - many prominent and extremely wealthy Columbus families send their kids there, including the Wexners.
CSG is in a better neighborhood, in my opinion - Bexley has more culture and history than Gahanna, and it's surrounded by important buildings and shops, while CA is surrounded by suburban neighborhoods.
Both are great schools, but I personally prefer CSG. It generally seems more nurturing and caring.