The top reported proficiency rate is 74% in Science. The lowest is 65% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Frankfort Elem
Frankfort Elementary is a pre-kindergarten through sixth grade school in the small, rural community of Frankfort, Kansas, and a part of Vermillion USD 380. The school sits in the valley of the Black Vermillion River, in a town that is compact by area and has a long history tied to agriculture and the railroad. The locale is characterized by historic limestone commercial buildings and a tree-lined residential streetscape, and the population has been in a gradual, long-term decline. For a family looking at this school, the setting is a close-knit one where the school building is likely within a short distance of most homes in town.
The student body is small, with an enrollment that corresponds to a school of that size for the PK-6 grade band. The composition of the student population is predominantly white, and a substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating the presence of economic diversity. State assessment data from the Kansas Assessment Program (KAP) is available for grades three through six, though the state made changes to the cut scores for these tests, which makes it difficult to compare results with past years. That means the picture of academic performance here is a snapshot of the current year only, not a trend.
Reading through the results for the 2024-25 school year, the story varies noticeably by grade. In math, the proportion of students meeting the state’s proficiency benchmark ranged widely. A sizable majority of third graders and sixth graders performed at or above that mark, and fifth graders produced a very strong result. Fourth graders were at a soft spot, with a smaller share meeting the standard; a parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand the support in place for that grade level. In English language arts, the pattern was similarly uneven. Third graders and fourth graders were at a moderate level, while fifth and sixth graders posted stronger results, with a large majority reaching proficiency. Science results, available for fifth grade only, showed a solid outcome, with most students scoring at or above the benchmark. Across all tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index places it among the top tier relative to the other districts in Marshall County, a point that signals above-average academic performance compared with local peers.
Because the school serves only through sixth grade, there is no graduation rate to report, and there was no data available on chronic absenteeism. Information on special education enrollment and English learner status were also missing from the available data.
What is not present in the data is a picture of program offerings or course access beyond the standard classroom. No information on enrichment, gifted services, or specialized curricula was provided. The district-level web search turned up little in the way of recent strategic changes or major initiatives, so it is not clear whether there have been new investments or shifts in approach at the elementary level.
For a family seeking a small, rural elementary school with a strong relative position in its county on state assessments, and a setting that is quiet and has a historic small-town character, Frankfort Elementary fits that profile. The variation in performance across grades, particularly in fourth grade, is something a parent would want to ask about, but the overall proficiency picture is a favorable one in its local context. The declining population of the town itself may matter to some families, as it can affect enrollment stability and the community’s tax base over time. The absence of detailed program information means a visit and conversation with the school are important to fill in what the data does not cover.
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