Salina

The schools in Salina, Kansas, serve a diverse population of students from elementary to high school. The district comprises 13 schools, including 8 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, 3 high schools, and 1 virtual high school. While the schools exhibit a range of academic performance, a few standout institutions shine brighter than the rest.

Meadowlark Ridge Elementary consistently ranks among the top elementary schools in the state, with a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger and the highest proficiency rates in English Language Arts and Mathematics across all grades compared to other Salina schools. At the high school level, Salina High South stands out with the highest graduation rate (89.5%) and lowest dropout rate (1.3%) among the Salina high schools, while also performing better than the district and state averages on standardized tests. Additionally, Salina South Middle is a 3-star school that performs above the district and state averages on English Language Arts and Mathematics assessments.

However, the data also reveals significant disparities in academic performance across the district, with some schools struggling to meet state standards. Addressing the high chronic absenteeism rates, which range from 19.5% to 19.7% across all schools, and the impact of socioeconomic factors on student learning should be priorities for the district. The Salina Virtual Innovation Academy, despite being a small program, has a high graduation rate and low dropout rate, suggesting that the virtual learning model may be effective for some students in the area.