Thinking about buying a home in the Olentangy School district? Fair warning, taxes are high. That’s not a scare tactic. That’s just the truth. If you’re looking for a home in Powell, Ohio or anywhere within the district boundaries, you’re going to feel in your wallet every single year.
There’s a reason families keep choosing Olentangy over every other district in central Ohio. The schools genuinely deliver on great education, and I say that as someone who lives in the school district, not just someone who sells homes in Powell.
I’m a long time Powell resident and Powell Ohio Realtor who’s been working in this market for over 20 years. I’ve had hundreds of these conversations with buyers. I’d rather give you the real numbers upfront than have you feel blindsided after you find your dream house. Everything I’m sharing here comes straight from the Olentangy Schools 2025 Annual Financial Report and what I see as a boots on the ground Realtor every day.
If you’re already exploring the luxury side of the market, take a look at our Powell Ohio luxury homes market report for current pricing and inventory trends.
Buying a Home in the Olentangy School District Ratings: What the Numbers Actually Show
Olentangy schools are elite. The data makes that pretty clear.
The Olentangy district earned a 5 star rating on the Ohio School Report Card for the third consecutive year. It’s the only district in the state with over 10,000 students to pull that off. Out of Ohio’s 47 five star districts, Olentangy is the largest.
The district’s average ACT composite score is 23.3. The state average sits at 18.8. The national average is 19.4. That’s a full four points above the national number, and that kind of gap doesn’t happen by accident.
At the elementary level, 85.9% of students scored proficient or higher in math and 85.4% in English Language Arts. Middle school numbers are just as strong at 84.7% in math and 86.0% in ELA.
Four of Olentangy’s high schools rank in the Top 12 Best High Schools in central Ohio and the top 5% statewide according to U.S. News & World Report. The district produced 27 National Merit Semifinalists in 2026. There are 27 Advanced Placement courses offered, and 90.8% of juniors and seniors who took an AP exam scored a 3 or above.
I talk to my neighbors about this all the time. The families with school aged kids are more than satisfied. They see the results in their children’s education every day. When buyers ask me if the schools are worth the taxes, I tell them yes.
But you need to know what those taxes actually look like.
Buying a Home in the Olentangy School District Property Taxes: What You’ll Pay
This is where most buyers either get confused or get sticker shock. I’ve explained this more times than I can count, so here’s how it actually works.
The total effective school tax rate in the Olentangy district is 43.29 mills. That comes from four pieces: inside millage for operations at 5.00 mills, voted operating levies at 31.37 mills effective, bond retirement at 6.00 mills, and permanent improvement at 0.92 mills. The gross rate is actually 90.70 mills, but Ohio’s House Bill 920 cuts the effective rate to roughly half of that.
In real dollars? On a $500,000 home, you’re looking at approximately $6,833 per year in school taxes alone. On a $700,000 home, that climbs to around $9,566. Those aren’t small numbers.
Here’s the part that trips up almost everyone, especially folks relocating from other states. Under House Bill 920, when property values increase during triennial reappraisals, the voted tax rates actually get reduced. The district collects the same dollar amount it originally received when voters approved each levy. Your home goes up in value, but the district doesn’t automatically get more money. They only receive additional tax revenue through brand new construction being added to the rolls or when voters approve a new levy.
The district hasn’t passed a new operating levy since May 2020. Every increase in property tax collections since then has come from new homes and new commercial buildings. Not from higher rates on your existing home.
I had a relocation client come in from Denver last year. They really wanted to be in Olentangy schools, but the taxes combined with the high property prices drove them to another district. It happens. I’d rather have that honest conversation upfront than have someone feel caught off guard after they’ve already committed.
Olentangy taxes are high, but they go to a good cause. The key is using that revenue wisely.
Olentangy School District Levy Forecast: What Buyers Should Expect
Ohio public school districts are required to publish a five year financial forecast. Olentangy’s most recent one was adopted in October 2025, and I’m not going to sugarcoat what it says.
Fiscal year 2025 was the first deficit year in recent history. The district spent $69.9 million more than it took in. Receipts came in at $348 million. Disbursements and other financing uses totaled roughly $418 million. One year earlier, the district posted a $15.6 million surplus. That’s a big swing.
The forecast projects it gets worse every year through fiscal year 2030. By 2028, the ending fund balance drops to $18.6 million. By 2029, it goes negative. By 2030, the projected balance is negative $227 million. Expenditures are expected to grow from $400 million to $556 million while revenue only grows from $376 million to $416 million.
Two things are driving this. Enrollment growth is the first. The district currently serves 24,458 students and that number is projected to hit 28,337 by the 2035 to 2036 school year. More students means more teachers, more support staff, more buildings to maintain. The second driver is staffing costs. The district has grown from 2,465 full time employees in fiscal year 2022 to 2,827 in fiscal year 2025, with a 2.5% to 3% annual raises baked in each year.
A new operating levy is virtually certain before fiscal year 2029. I’d expect it on the ballot by 2027 or 2028. I wish they spent the money more wisely. But a levy is coming, and if you’re buying in the next couple of years, factor that into your budget. That’s not a reason to walk away. It’s a reason to go in with your eyes open.
Thinking about a move to Powell or the Olentangy district? I live here and I sell here. Reach out to Marc at Van Steyn Partners for a no pressure conversation about what to expect.
Powell Ohio Home Values and the Olentangy School District: Will a Levy Matter?
I get this question often.
I don’t see house prices dropping because of a levy. I’ve been through these cycles multiple times now. Every time, people ask me if values will take a hit. They don’t. The schools are the reason people pay a premium to live here, and a levy that keeps those schools excellent protects what you’ve invested. You know what would actually hurt values? A failed levy that leads to program cuts and packed classrooms. That’s the scenario nobody wants.
The market data is pretty clear on this. Assessed property values across the district have grown 70% since 2019, from $4.23 billion to $7.21 billion. The residential component alone accounts for $6.15 billion. The district holds an S&P Global AAA credit rating, the highest possible bond rating. They’ve earned the Ohio Auditor of State Award 12 years running and the Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for 24 consecutive years.
People want to live in this district. That demand isn’t slowing down, and it keeps property values strong through economic shifts and levy campaigns.
Want to see where the market stands right now? Our 2025 Powell Ohio real estate market roundup covers the latest numbers. And if you’re wondering whether it’s a good time to buy, read our take on whether Powell is a buyer’s or seller’s market.
New Home Construction in the Olentangy School District: What’s Coming
The Olentangy district is still growing. Fast.
There are currently 42,049 total housing units within the district boundaries: 26,094 subdivided single family homes, 6,967 condominiums, 8,701 apartments, 225 manufactured homes, and 62 townhomes. On top of that, 3,927 acres of vacant developable land sit within the district. About 1,827 of those acres are highly likely to develop soon.
More development means a broader tax base to help fund the schools. But it also means more students coming through the doors. That’s exactly why the deficit keeps growing.
If you’re considering a condo or townhome, here’s something worth knowing. Student yields vary a lot by housing type. Single family homes generate an average of 0.74 students per unit. Condominiums generate just 0.17. Luxury detached condos come in at only 0.06 students per unit. Condo development has a fraction of the enrollment impact compared to single family construction, and that matters if school capacity is something you’re watching.
For a closer look at the condo market specifically, check out our 2025 Powell condos breakdown.
Should You Buy a Home in the Olentangy School District?
Olentangy isn’t the cheapest place to buy in central Ohio. The taxes are real. A levy is coming. The district is going to keep growing.
But I’ve never had a client tell me they regret moving here because of the schools. Five stars. Top 5% high schools. A 23.3 ACT average. Assessed values up 70% since 2019. AAA credit rating. This district performs, and the community has shown over and over that they’ll invest to keep it that way.
One more number that tells the whole story. Olentangy’s cost per pupil is $17,264, but the state only provides $1,574 per student in formula funding. That’s a $15,690 gap that local taxpayers cover out of their own pockets. Olentangy has the 28th lowest formula funding per pupil in the entire state of Ohio. This community carries its schools, and the results show up in every ranking, every test score, and every home valuation in the district.
Go in with realistic expectations about what you’ll pay. Know that number is going up. And know that you’re not paying for a name on a lawn sign. You’re paying for results that show up in your kid’s classroom and in your home’s value when it’s time to sell.
If you’re considering a move to Powell or anywhere in the Olentangy school district, I’d love to talk through your options. No pressure. Just real numbers from a Realtor whose family has been selling homes in the Columbus market for 46 years. Reach out to Van Steyn Partners.
Frequently Asked Questions About Buying in the Olentangy School District
How much are Olentangy school district property taxes?
The effective school tax rate is 43.29 mills. On a $500,000 home, that works out to approximately $6,833 per year in school taxes. On a $700,000 home, roughly $9,566 per year. The gross millage rate is 90.70, but Ohio’s House Bill 920 reduces the effective rate as property values increase.
Is a new Olentangy school levy coming?
Based on the district’s five year financial forecast adopted in October 2025, a new operating levy is virtually certain before fiscal year 2029. The district hasn’t passed an operating levy since May 2020, and the forecast projects the fund balance going negative by 2029. I’d expect a levy on the ballot by 2027 or 2028.
What is the Olentangy school district rating?
Olentangy has earned a 5 star rating on the Ohio School Report Card for three consecutive years. It’s the only district in Ohio with over 10,000 students to achieve that rating. The district’s average ACT composite score is 23.3, well above both the state average of 18.8 and the national average of 19.4. Four high schools rank in the top 5% statewide per U.S. News & World Report.