August 26, 2025 — As the early Monday sun rose over Columbus, the city awoke to the rhythm of buses rolling and students walking to start a new school year and the next phase of their personal leadership journey. 46,000 students of Columbus City Schools are being welcomed back starting this week by thousands of teachers, principals and staff.
"Each August brings a fresh new chapter for Columbus City Schools," said Superintendent/CEO of Columbus City Schools Dr. Angela Chapman. "This year, we are showing Columbus what leaders look like as they are grown right here in our Columbus City Schools."
Welcomed by drumlines and cheerleaders, Mayor Andrew J. Ginther, City Council President Shannon G. Hardin, the Columbus Crew, and many more community allies, the students stepped through the doors with new outfits, fresh haircuts, and backpacks filled with supplies. After a summer of rest, staff arrived prepared to greet students focused on the Board of Education’s three key academic goals.
"I look forward to seeing our students carry a legacy of leadership forward,” said Whetstone High School Principal Kimberly Rodriguez. "As they set ambitious goals, achieve personal milestones, and lead with integrity in the classroom, on stage, and on the field."
The investment in growing leaders starts with CCS facilities, and the District spent the summer investing in 113 projects that allow leadership to blossom. No campus reflected that investment more than Devonshire Elementary where Principal Dr. Anthony Peddle welcomed families back to a fully renovated building. Classrooms, common areas and the Project Adventure course are all elements of a building built for learning, collaboration and safety, supported by new technology and furniture.
"So much work has been done here at Devonshire," Dr. Peddle said. "We really tried to design this space with all of our students in mind, and how we can better support families with wraparound care."
Throughout the building, every detail reflects the District's investment in safe, modern learning spaces. In the hallways, acoustic treatments muffle sounds, allowing for fewer distractions in classrooms. Additionally, new voice amplification systems in those classrooms ensure every student can hear instruction from any seat and protect teachers' voices.
"I had surgery this summer on all my vocal cords, and I had ended the year unable to speak clearly," said Kristi George, third grade teacher at Devonshire. "When I went to the doctor and they said, 'Are you able to amplify your voice?' I said, 'As a matter of fact, I will be this year.'"
Across town, Whetstone High School also saw building improvements and new Principal Rodriguez joined Superintendent/CEO Dr. Angela Chapman and dozens of neighbors and staff to welcome students to the building to the beat of drumlines and cheers.
"As a proud Whetstone alumna, I am honored to return and serve as principal," Rodriguez said. "Whetstone has always been a place where leaders are grown, and I look forward to seeing students carry that legacy forward. Together, we will continue to honor the traditions while creating new moments of pride."
Whetstone students this year will enjoy updated learning spaces and a renovated gym, a centerpiece for athletic training and school pride. New floors, lighting, and bleachers set the stage for practices and game days that bring the community together.
"With a beautiful new auditorium and gymnasium to go alongside it, we now have a true hub for arts and athletics," said the Theatre Director for Whetstone High School, Christopher Ray. "One that celebrates our path and energizes our future as a school community."
The auditorium extends the excitement of the first day of school to performers at the Whetstone Academy of Performing Arts (WAPA). They look forward to selling out their first show and welcoming audiences with new seating, stage lighting, and sound to deliver clearer and more lively performances.
"I am beyond excited for our newly renovated performing arts space," Ray said. "It honors the generations of students that have performed here, while now offering state-of-the-art technology."
Welcome back, CCS!
