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Cheney Elementary

Q: Is Cheney Elementary a good school?

Cheney Elementary ranks 71 st of 656 Kansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

71^st

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 656 Kansas Elementary Schools

Better than 89% of Kansas elementary schools

Summary

Cheney Elementary is a high-performing public school in the small town of Cheney, Kansas, serving 395 students in grades PK-5 as part of the top-ranked Cheney district, which is ranked in the top 1% of all districts in the state. What truly sets this school apart is its exceptional ability to support all students, particularly those who often face the greatest challenges. The school has an elite track record for its low socioeconomic status (SES) students, ranking in the 94th percentile statewide for this group in 2024-2025, and has shown dramatic improvement for special education students, jumping from the 63rd percentile to the 95th percentile in just two years. Additionally, the school boasts an extremely low chronic absenteeism rate of just 6.3%, compared to the state average of 19.5%, which speaks to a strong, engaging school culture that keeps kids coming to class ready to learn.

When compared to nearby schools, Cheney Elementary's performance is particularly impressive given its student demographics. For instance, while Garden Plain Elementary (just 6 miles away) has a slightly higher overall state rank, it serves a much more affluent population with only 15% free/reduced lunch compared to Cheney's 33.67%. Despite this, Cheney achieves comparable or better test scores, including a clear advantage in science (68.96% proficient vs. 63.63%). This means Cheney is doing more with less, delivering outstanding results while serving a student body with more than double the economic disadvantage. The school's science scores are a standout, with a 24-percentage-point advantage over the state average, and its overall test scores in English Language Arts (69.31%) and Math (62.49%) remain very high.

While the school's state rank has softened slightly from a peak of 10th to 71st, this is not due to a decline in quality—test scores have actually improved. Instead, it reflects other schools improving at a faster rate. One area for potential focus is 5th grade ELA, where proficiency drops to 58.61% compared to 3rd and 4th grades (76.36% and 73.01%, respectively). Overall, Cheney Elementary is a standout option in south-central Kansas, offering a strong, inclusive, and effective education that helps every child succeed, regardless of their background.

395

Students ?

14.8

Student/teacher ratio ?

$14,102

Per pupil spending ?

33.7%

Free/discounted lunch ?

126 W 5th
Cheney, KS 67025

(316) 542-3137

District: Cheney

Students who attend Cheney Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Cheney Middle School 6-8
High:	Cheney High

Racial breakdown:

White:

91.1%

Hispanic:

3.5%

Two or more races:

3.0%

See top rated Kansas elementary schools

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At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 91st percentile in 2015 → 89th in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the Kansas average (67% vs 42% meeting standards)

✓Ranks in the top 11% of Kansas elementary schools

Worth a look

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school67%

District avg69%

Kansas avg42%

71^st of 656

Kansas public elementary schools ?

Top 11%▼ down 2 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Kansas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

3^rd of 264Cheney among Kansas districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2025	85.2	71 of 656	89.2%	★★★★☆
2024	92.1	26 of 653	96.0%	★★★★★
2023	87.9	56 of 660	91.5%	★★★★★
2022	95.0	19 of 668	97.2%	★★★★★
2021	96.2	10 of 670	98.5%	★★★★★
2019	69.3	177 of 667	73.5%	★★★★☆
2018	80.4	99 of 656	84.9%	★★★★☆
2017	77.0	111 of 659	83.2%	★★★★☆
2016	86.0	67 of 656	89.8%	★★★★☆
2015	84.7	59 of 678	91.3%	★★★★★
2013	77.6	100 of 668	85.0%	★★★★☆
2012	77.8	50 of 660	92.4%	★★★★★
2011	70.5	178 of 631	71.8%	★★★★☆
2010	78.7	66 of 630	89.5%	★★★★☆
2009	75.7	98 of 621	84.2%	★★★★☆
2008	78.0	87 of 614	85.8%	★★★★☆
2007	73.9	144 of 600	76.0%	★★★★☆
2006	74.5	126 of 585	78.5%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2019	31.0	142 of 193	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2021	95.4	10 of 591	98.3%	★★★★★
2019	72.8	129 of 591	78.2%	★★★★☆
2018	82.8	65 of 574	88.7%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2025	85.4	31 of 533	94.2%	★★★★★
2024	95.9	5 of 546	99.1%	★★★★★
2023	83.6	31 of 541	94.3%	★★★★★
2022	95.6	9 of 512	98.2%	★★★★★
2021	92.1	9 of 494	98.2%	★★★★★
2019	69.5	103 of 509	79.8%	★★★★☆
2018	63.0	151 of 512	70.5%	★★★★☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2021	95.3	14 of 605	97.7%	★★★★★
2019	62.4	184 of 586	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	74.9	114 of 575	80.2%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2025	87.2	16 of 313	94.9%	★★★★★
2024	67.1	76 of 306	75.2%	★★★★☆
2023	56.9	110 of 296	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	31.0	142 of 193	26.4%	★☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2025	76.4	105 of 576	81.8%	★★★★☆
2024	84.4	59 of 579	89.8%	★★★★☆
2023	80.1	79 of 584	86.5%	★★★★☆
2022	91.7	28 of 596	95.3%	★★★★★
2021	94.9	10 of 587	98.3%	★★★★★
2019	63.6	186 of 592	68.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	77.6	103 of 574	82.1%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Female (2021)98th percentile~ school

Male (2021)98th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)95th percentile+6 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)94th percentile+5 vs school

White (2025)82nd percentile-7 vs school

Disabled (2019)26th percentile-47 vs school

By subject vs Kansas (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts69%+25 vs state

Science69%+28 vs state

Mathematics62%+24 vs state

★

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Schools Near Cheney Elementary

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				KAP English Language Arts (2025)							KAP Mathematics (2025)							KAP Science (2025)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	KAP English Language Arts 3rd Grade	KAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	KAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	KAP English Language Arts 6th Grade	KAP English Language Arts 7th Grade	KAP English Language Arts 8th Grade	KAP English Language Arts All Grades	KAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	KAP Mathematics 4th Grade	KAP Mathematics 5th Grade	KAP Mathematics 6th Grade	KAP Mathematics 7th Grade	KAP Mathematics 8th Grade	KAP Mathematics All Grades	KAP Science 5th Grade	KAP Science 8th Grade	KAP Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Cheney Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	126 W 5th	Cheney	67025	Sedgwick County	Cheney	No	No	No	Yes	(316) 542-3137	395	27	14.8	33.7%	360 (91.1%)	7 (1.8%)	14 (3.5%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (3.0%)	85.2	71^st of 656 public elementary schools	89.2%		92.1	26^th of 653 public elementary schools	96.0%	45	76.4	73.0	58.6				69.3	56.4	65.1	65.5				62.5	69.0		69.0	$14,102	$149	$13,952
Garden Plain Elementary	Public	PK, KG-8	700 Section Line	Garden Plain	67050	Sedgwick County	Renwick	No	No	No	Yes	(316) 531-2261	445	24	18.1	15.1%	413 (92.8%)	1 (0.2%)	17 (3.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	14 (3.1%)	87.7	52^nd of 656 public elementary schools	92.1%		80.8	97^th of 653 public elementary schools	85.1%	45	71.0	73.3	59.0	65.9	57.8	49.0	62.3	71.1	73.3	56.4	68.2	60.0	67.3	66.2	71.8	57.1	63.6	$10,056	$5,203	$4,853
Clark Davidson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-4	333 S Walnut	Goddard	67052	Sedgwick County	Goddard	No	No	No	Yes	(316) 794-4260	462	31	15.0	40.5%	302 (65.4%)	23 (5.0%)	88 (19.0%)	7 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (9.1%)	57.7	272^nd of 656 public elementary schools	58.5%		69.7	163^rd of 653 public elementary schools	75.0%	109	55.6	51.2					53.4	43.3	48.8					46.0				$13,644	$1,296	$12,349
Oak Street Elementary School K-4	Public	K-4	501 N Oak	Goddard	67052	Sedgwick County	Goddard	No	No	No	No	(316) 794-4200	343	26	13.2	34.4%	271 (79.0%)	7 (2.0%)	36 (10.5%)	4 (1.2%)	3 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	22 (6.4%)	50.8	326^th of 656 public elementary schools	50.3%		66.1	192^nd of 653 public elementary schools	70.6%	134	54.5	55.5					55.0	34.8	39.7					37.2				$14,044	$870	$13,174
Amelia Earhart Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	19201 W. 23rd Street South	Goddard	67052	Sedgwick County	Goddard	No	No	No	No	(316) 794-4080	514	37	14.0	31.5%	371 (72.2%)	11 (2.1%)	74 (14.4%)	21 (4.1%)	4 (0.8%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (6.4%)	85.6	68^th of 656 public elementary schools	89.6%		83.2	85^th of 653 public elementary schools	87.0%	17	66.0	76.5					71.2	54.0	80.0					67.0				$12,298	$744	$11,554
Norwich Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-5	209 Parkway	Norwich	67118	Kingman County	Kingman - Norwich	No	No	No	Yes	(620) 478-2235	108	12	9.2	41.7%	98 (90.7%)	1 (0.9%)	3 (2.8%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (5.6%)	60.7	254^th of 656 public elementary schools	61.3%		50.3	320^th of 653 public elementary schools	51.0%	66	64.7	75.0	38.9				60.0	47.1	55.0	38.9				47.3	44.4		44.4	$15,361	$2,418	$12,943
Andale Elementary-Middle	Public	PK, KG-8	500 West Rush	Andale	67001	Sedgwick County	Renwick	No	No	No	No	(316) 444-2628	447	26	17.1	14.8%	416 (93.1%)	1 (0.2%)	21 (4.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (2.0%)	70.4	165^th of 656 public elementary schools	74.8%		72.7	136^th of 653 public elementary schools	79.2%	29	53.5	78.0	50.0	59.0	61.0	51.1	58.2	58.1	78.0	48.0	56.4	63.4	68.1	61.7	38.0	53.2	45.4	$9,429	$3,680	$5,748
Explorer Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	16746 W Explorer	Goddard	67052	Sedgwick County	Goddard	No	No	No	No	(316) 794-4181	433	31	13.9	31.2%	318 (73.4%)	9 (2.1%)	62 (14.3%)	6 (1.4%)	3 (0.7%)	2 (0.5%)	33 (7.6%)	80.8	105^th of 656 public elementary schools	84.0%		71.7	144^th of 653 public elementary schools	77.9%	39	63.2	66.7					65.0	55.2	67.8					61.6				$13,501	$776	$12,725
St. Marks School	Public	PK, KG-8	19001 West 29th N.	Colwich	67030	Sedgwick County	Renwick	No	No	No	No	(316) 796-1466	315	23	13.7	10.2%	272 (86.3%)	3 (1.0%)	25 (7.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (4.8%)	68.4	181^st of 656 public elementary schools	72.4%		73	133^rd of 653 public elementary schools	79.6%	48	45.9	62.2	68.3	69.0	75.0	74.4	65.6	43.2	40.5	39.0	72.4	68.8	69.2	54.4	61.0	66.7	63.8	$10,183	$3,953	$6,230
Apollo Elementary School	Public	PK, KG-4	16158 W Apollo	Goddard	67052	Sedgwick County	Goddard	No	No	No	No	(316) 794-4090	544	34	15.9	29.0%	413 (75.9%)	19 (3.5%)	70 (12.9%)	9 (1.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	33 (6.1%)	89.9	34^th of 656 public elementary schools	94.8%		88.8	53^rd of 653 public elementary schools	91.9%	19	72.9	78.2					75.5	60.7	71.3					65.9				$10,229	$740	$9,489

Frequently Asked Questions about Cheney Elementary

What is the racial makeup of Cheney Elementary?

Students at Cheney Elementary are 91% White, 4% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races, 2% African American.

What schools do graduates of Cheney Elementary attend?

Students who attend Cheney Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Cheney Middle School 6-8
High : Cheney High

How many students attend Cheney Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 395 students attended Cheney Elementary.

What district is Cheney Elementary in?

Cheney

Is Cheney Elementary a good school?

Cheney Elementary ranks 71^st of 656 Kansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Rate Cheney Elementary!

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Kansas State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.