The top reported proficiency rate is 77% in Science. The lowest is 58% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Buhler Grade School
Buhler Grade School serves students from prekindergarten through fifth grade in the small, predominantly residential rural town of Buhler, Kansas, about a short drive northeast of Hutchinson. The school is one of two district buildings located within Buhler itself, alongside the high school, and it sits on Main Street in a town where Mennonite heritage and wheat farming have shaped the community since the 1880s. The town is compact, with a neat downtown core, and its population has been essentially flat to slightly declining in recent years. Housing values in the area are below the state benchmark, and the estimated monthly mortgage cost is modest relative to national figures, which may matter to families weighing affordability.
The school serves prekindergarten through fifth grade and enrolls a student body that is predominantly white, with a Hispanic population making up a meaningful share and a small Black population also present. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, which gives a sense of the economic diversity in the building. The school is part of the Buhler district, which operates six schools across the area, with Buhler Grade School and the high school located in town and other elementary schools spread through the broader district.
On the Kansas state assessments, Buhler Grade School’s results show a pattern of solid performance. In English language arts, the share of students scoring proficient or above was above the midpoint in third grade, dipped somewhat in fourth grade, and then rose again in fifth grade. In math, the pattern was similar: third and fifth grade results were stronger, while fourth grade was a bit softer. Science, which is tested only in fifth grade, showed a notably high share of students reaching proficiency. The school’s overall proficiency index, which averages results across all tested subjects and grades, places it in the top quartile relative to other districts in Reno County. That is a strong position, and it suggests that Buhler Grade School is performing well compared to its peers in the county.
Because the school serves only prekindergarten through fifth grade, there is no graduation rate to report. That is expected for an elementary school. Data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, and staffing were not available in the provided information, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those areas.
The school is not a charter or magnet school. Information on Title I status was not provided. The student body is predominantly white, with a Hispanic population making up a meaningful share and a small Black population also present. The school enrolls a modest number of students across its seven grade levels, with class sizes that appear manageable.
Housing in the Buhler area is more affordable than the state average, and the town’s population has been essentially flat to slightly declining in recent years. No major new housing developments or commercial projects were identified in publicly available sources. The town’s compact size means most destinations are within a short walk or drive, and the downtown core along Main Street is described as neat and active with shops and eateries. The annual Buhler Frolic festival is a significant community event. Wheatland Park on the east side of town is well-maintained, and the city operates a recreation program and wellness center.
For a family considering this school, the academic picture is one of consistent, above-county-average performance in the elementary grades, with a notable strength in fifth-grade science. The school serves a community that is small, rural, and predominantly white, with a meaningful share of students from lower-income households. The town itself offers a quiet, agricultural setting with limited commercial development and no major growth pressures. Parents who value a traditional small-town environment and a school that performs well relative to its county peers will find Buhler Grade School a solid fit. Those looking for extensive program offerings, detailed data on discipline or staffing, or a rapidly growing community will need to look further or ask the school directly for more information.
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