The top reported proficiency rate is 80% in Science. The lowest is 76% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Linn Elem
Linn Elem sits in a very small, rural agricultural town in north-central Kansas, serving students from pre-kindergarten through eighth grade as part of the Barnes school district. The town of Linn itself is home to several large dairy operations and manufacturers of livestock handling equipment, and its population has been in steady decline. That context shapes the school experience in direct ways.
The student body is small. The enrollment is composed predominantly of white students, with a substantial Hispanic minority making up roughly a quarter of the school. A notable share of students come from low-income households, as measured by free or reduced-price lunch eligibility. The grade span runs from PK through eighth grade, which means that families with older children will need to look elsewhere for high school; the school does not serve grades nine through twelve, so there is no graduation rate to report here.
On state assessments, the school turns in a pattern that stands out within its county. Test-takers in fifth, sixth, and seventh grades recorded proficiency rates in math and English language arts that landed among the strongest in Washington County, when compared district to district. Fifth-grade science results were similarly strong. This is a school where, on the state's Kansas Assessment Program, a large majority of students in the tested grades met or exceeded the bar for proficiency. The data covers grades five through seven only; younger grades are not tested by the state, and eighth grade results were not reported in the available data. A parent should note that Kansas adjusted its cut scores for both math and English language arts assessments in recent years, which means year-over-year trend comparisons are not straightforward.
A few things are simply not available in the data. There is no information on chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, teacher staffing ratios, or course access. The school's civil rights data, including how many students receive special education services or are classified as English learners, was also absent. These are gaps a family may want to ask about directly.
The housing market in this part of Washington County is notably more affordable than the state or national norm. Home values in the area are meaningfully below the statewide median, making this one of the more accessible markets in Kansas for buyers. Rent data for the immediate area was not available.
The town itself has a compact residential core and a city park that serves as a community anchor, with a swimming pool, ball diamonds, and picnic facilities. The annual Linn Picnic draws residents together for a parade and demolition derby. Daily commercial options are limited to a couple of dining spots. Linn is not a growing place; the population has been contracting over several decades. The school building sits on its own campus, physically separate from the downtown area.
For a family considering this school, the picture is of a small, rural elementary and middle school in a shrinking agricultural community, where test results have been comparatively strong within the county. The school's mix is predominantly white with a substantial Hispanic enrollment and a notable share of lower-income students. The district itself did not generate recent news of major program changes or facility investments that were publicly reported. A parent considering a move here would want to explore the high school options available through the district after eighth grade, as well as the staffing, special education, and English learner supports that were not captured in the data.
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