Garnett

The Garnett area is home to 4 schools, including 3 elementary schools and 1 high school, serving students from preschool through 12th grade. While the schools exhibit a range of performance, a few standout institutions emerge from the data.

The small Westphalia elementary/middle school (grades PK-8) and the tiny Greeley Elementary school both have exceptionally low student-teacher ratios and have historically ranked among the top elementary schools in Kansas. Their test scores generally exceed the Garnett and state averages, suggesting they are the strongest performing schools in the area. In contrast, Garnett Elementary and Anderson County Junior/Senior High School tend to lag behind state averages on assessments.

Across the district, high rates of chronic absenteeism, ranging from 19.5% at all schools, are a concern and likely negatively impacting academic achievement. Additionally, the significant economic disadvantage indicated by free/reduced lunch rates of 60-65% at the elementary schools may be a contributing factor to the relatively low test scores seen at some institutions. Targeted interventions and sharing of best practices from the top-performing schools could help improve outcomes for all students in the Garnett area.