Learn more | Columbus Bilingual Central

For Columbus families who want their child to speak two languages fluently, and don't want to pay private school tuition to get there. Bilingualism is a gift. Your child can receive it for free, starting in Kindergarten. Columbus Bilingual Central is a tuition-free public charter school in Northeast Columbus, serving Kindergarten (Early Entry) through 6th grade. Every student receives at least 45 minutes of daily Spanish instruction alongside a rigorous academic program in reading, math, science, and social studies. Cultural awareness and appreciation for diverse communities are built into the curriculum, not just an afterthought.

45+ minutes of daily Spanish instruction, every school day.
Rigorous standards-based academics with hands-on learning.
Cultural awareness and appreciation for diverse communities woven into the curriculum.
Free breakfast and lunch for every student.
After-school programming until 5:30 p.m.
PBIS framework with structured behavior expectations.

Find out what enrollment looks like for your child.

Get Your Child's Enrollment Info

It takes about 60 seconds. You've looked at private bilingual programs. You've seen the tuition. You've done the math and it doesn't work. Or maybe you've been sending your child to a school that offers "Spanish enrichment" once a week for 30 minutes, and you already know that's not enough to build real fluency. Forty-five minutes a day, every day, starting in Kindergarten. That's the difference between a child who took some Spanish and a child who speaks it.

What the school day looks like

School runs from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Your child starts the day with a free breakfast. The academic program is structured and rigorous: reading, math, science, and social studies, all built on state standards. Spanish runs daily for at least 45 minutes. But the bilingual experience goes beyond language class. Cultural awareness and appreciation for diverse communities are part of the curriculum, building the pride, awareness, and confidence that come from understanding different cultures and heritages, not just speaking a new language.

Structure that builds habits

The school operates on the BLITZ model and a PBIS framework. That means clear expectations, a uniform policy, and a system for recognizing students who meet the standard. Motivational rallies and assemblies happen regularly. The ROAR Student of the Week program celebrates achievement. Quarterly Jag Awards recognize growth. The building runs on structure and positive reinforcement, not chaos and punishment.

After school and community

After-school programming is run by the school and available until 5:30 p.m. Counseling is available through Kids Thrive. The school isn't a building that closes at dismissal. It's a hub for the community it serves.

Events that celebrate cultures and family

Latino Heritage Month. The Latino Heritage Parade. Celebratory Experiential Learning of Latino Culture. Back to School Event. Turkey Trot. Holiday Celebration. Winter Clothing Drive. Books and Badges Girl Scouts. EFNEP Nutrition Education Celebration. Quarterly Jag Awards. These events bring families into the building and connect the school to the many cultures it celebrates.

What it costs: nothing.

No tuition.
No application fee.
Free breakfast and lunch every school day.
Transportation through Columbus City Schools.
After-school programming until 5:30 p.m.
Kindergarten Early Entry available for students who turn 5 by December 31.

Columbus Bilingual Central is publicly funded. Your tax dollars already cover it. Your child is learning language right now, whether you plan for it or not. The window for building fluency is open widest in the early years, and it closes a little more each year. A school that offers 45 minutes of Spanish every single day, inside a rigorous academic program, for free, is not something you'll find on every corner. It's here. In Northeast Columbus. And the seat is open now.

A Bilingual School in Northeast Columbus.