Southwestern Heights Junior/Senior High

Southwestern Heights Junior/Senior High is a public school located in Kismet, Kansas, serving grades 6-12 with a total enrollment of 309 students. The school is part of the Kismet-Plains school district, which is ranked 246 out of 264 districts in the state and has a 0-star rating from SchoolDigger. Over the past 10 years, Southwestern Heights has consistently ranked in the bottom half of Kansas high schools, typically in the 260s to 300s out of around 320 schools.

Southwestern Heights consistently underperforms the state average on standardized tests across all grade levels and subject areas. For example, in the 2024-2025 school year, only 28.19% of 10th graders were proficient or better in English Language Arts, compared to the state average of 37.93%. In mathematics, the proficiency rate for 10th graders was just 17.07%, well below the state's 33.59%. The school also has a higher-than-average dropout rate and chronic absenteeism rate, indicating broader challenges in student engagement and success. Interestingly, the school's performance varies significantly across different student subgroups, with Hispanic and English Language Learner students performing relatively well, while White and low-socioeconomic status students struggle.

In contrast, the nearby Meade High School, located about 18 miles away, consistently outperforms Southwestern Heights on academic measures, has higher graduation rates, and lower chronic absenteeism. Additionally, Meade High serves a student population with a much lower percentage of free/reduced-price lunch recipients, indicating a more economically advantaged student body. These disparities in educational opportunities and resources available to students in the region highlight the challenges faced by Southwestern Heights and the need for targeted interventions and support to improve student outcomes.