Hays

The Hays school district in Kansas consists of 7 schools, including 4 elementary schools, 1 middle school, 1 high school, and 1 alternative virtual school. The district serves a predominantly white student population, with varying levels of economic diversity across the schools.

Among the standout schools in Hays, Kathryn O'Loughlin McCarthy Elementary ranks 19th out of 660 Kansas elementary schools and significantly outperforms the district and state averages on academic assessments. Woodrow Wilson Elementary and Hays High School also excel, with high rankings and proficiency rates that surpass district and state benchmarks. In contrast, Lincoln Elementary struggles, with the lowest proficiency rates among the Hays schools, particularly in math.

The data reveals disparities in academic performance across the elementary schools, despite similar demographic and resource profiles. This suggests that factors beyond just funding and student demographics, such as curriculum, instructional methods, and school leadership, may play a crucial role in student outcomes. Meanwhile, Hays High School has maintained a strong ranking and consistent high performance, indicating effective practices and a stable educational environment at the secondary level. Overall, the Hays school district exhibits a mix of high-performing and lower-performing schools, with opportunities for improvement in addressing the challenges faced by some of the elementary schools.