Summary:
The city of Blue Rapids, Kansas is home to two schools - Valley Heights Junior/Senior High and Valley Heights Elementary, both part of the Valley Heights school district. While the high school has a 5-star district rating, the standout performer in this area is Valley Heights Elementary, which is consistently ranked among the top 5% of elementary schools in Kansas and boasts exceptional academic outcomes.
Valley Heights Elementary's test scores are significantly above the state averages across all grade levels and subjects, with particularly strong performance in math and science. For example, in 2023-2024, 84.37% of 3rd graders were proficient or better in math, compared to the state average of 50.23%. The school also has relatively low free/reduced lunch rates, indicating a more affluent student population. In contrast, while the high school has a 5-star district rating, its individual school ranking and performance is more middle-of-the-pack, with test scores closer to or slightly above the state averages.
The data suggests that factors like lower free/reduced lunch rates, higher spending per student, and a more favorable student-teacher ratio may be contributing to the elementary school's exceptional academic performance. Analyzing these factors and replicating effective practices could help elevate the high school's performance and create more consistency in educational outcomes across the district.
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