How strong are the public elementary schools in Wichita?
With a fresh school year kicking off, we analyzed newly released data from Niche.com — which include comprehensive report cards, rankings and reviews — to identify those schools that made the biggest strides last year and those that lead their peers.
Washington Accelerated Learning Elementary School's overall rating improved the most among similar schools in Wichita, rising from a C- to a C, according to data from Niche.
For the 2019-2020 school year, the school, located at 424 N. Pennsylvania Ave., enrolls 547 students. Washington Accelerated Learning serves a diverse population: 53% of students identify as Hispanic, 18% identify as white and 18% identify as black. Niche graded the school a C- for academics (on an A-D scale).
The overall ranking comes from Niche's proprietary algorithms. A school's ranking might change due to many factors, including the relative rankings of similar schools and whether a school gained or lost peers due to openings or closings. Other numbers come from current public data from the U.S. government.
Academically, 20% of Washington Accelerated Learning's students scored as proficient or above in math, and 20% did so in reading. That's compared to city averages of 31% in math and 32% in reading. The school's improved overall rating is notable in that it serves a less-affluent population, with 87% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch, 15% more than the city average.
It's not the only school that's climbed Niche's rankings this year. Ortiz Elementary School saw its overall rating increase from a C- to a C. The school is located at 3361 N. Arkansas Ave. and is a bit smaller, currently serving 414 students, of whom 84% identify as Hispanic and 11% identify as white.
Niche graded Ortiz Elementary School a C- for academics on an A-D scale. The school's latest math proficiency was at 27%, and reading proficiency was 22%. It also serves a less-affluent population, with 91% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
L'Ouverture Computer Technology Magnet School also saw improvement in its overall rating, from C- to C. The school is located at 1539 N. Ohio and has 370 students currently enrolled, of whom 48% identify as black, 27% identify as Hispanic and 13% identify as multiracial.
Niche graded L'Ouverture Computer Technology Magnet School a C- for academics on an A-D scale. Its latest math proficiency was at 17%, and reading proficiency was 17%. The school also serves a less-affluent community, with 92% of students qualifying for free or reduced lunch.
While some public elementary schools in Wichita are moving up the ranks, others are consistently top-rated overall, including:
- Maize South Elementary School, with an overall rating of A.
- Wheatland Elementary School, with an A rating overall.
- Robert M. Martin Elementary School, rated A overall.
Want more of the latest intel on Wichita schools? Hoodline also analyzed the latest Niche ratings for the city's public high schools.
This story was created automatically using data from Niche.com, then reviewed by an editor before publication. Click here for more about how and why Hoodline is automating local news. Got thoughts about what we're doing? Go here to share your feedback.
