Best Public Schools in Wichita, KS

The city of Wichita, Kansas is home to a diverse school district with 98 schools, including 66 elementary schools, 18 middle schools, 12 high schools, and 2 alternative schools. The district serves students from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds, with some schools performing significantly better than others on key metrics like test scores and graduation rates.

A few schools stand out as top performers in the district. Maize South High School is ranked 106th out of 332 Kansas high schools and has a 4-star rating, with strong test scores that exceed the state and district averages. Robinson Middle School is ranked 117th out of 363 Kansas middle schools and has a 3-star rating, also outperforming the district and state on assessments. At the elementary level, Bostic Traditional Magnet Elementary is ranked 65th out of 656 Kansas elementary schools and has a 5-star rating, with exceptional performance on English Language Arts and Mathematics tests.

However, the data also reveals significant disparities in academic achievement across the district. While the high schools maintain a consistent 89.5% four-year graduation rate, there is a wide range of performance on state assessments, with some schools like Wichita Alternative High and Truesdell Middle School performing well below the district and state averages. The district as a whole appears to be underperforming compared to Kansas state standards, with a concerning 19.5% chronic absenteeism rate across all schools. Addressing these achievement gaps and improving outcomes for all students will be a key priority for the Wichita school district.