The top reported proficiency rate is 18% in English language arts. The lowest is 7% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Raymond Jr High
Raymond Jr High is a closed school in Chase, Kansas, part of the Chase-Raymond district. It served middle grades, and its status is now listed as closed, so the information available reflects its operations before that closure. Located in a very small, rural community in Rice County, Chase is a town that has been losing population over recent decades. The economy is rooted in agriculture, and the housing market is inexpensive relative to national benchmarks. The town's character is that of a plains railroad settlement, with minimal commercial activity and a residential footprint that makes daily errands walkable by default, though there is no notable pedestrian-oriented street life. The broader region offers few major employers locally, so residents often commute to nearby county seats for work.
For the period when Raymond Jr High was active, the most concrete data comes from state assessment results in math, English language arts, and science. In math, the share of seventh graders scoring at the proficient level or above on the Kansas Assessment Program was small. In English language arts, the proficiency rate for the same grade group was also low. Science results from an earlier year, for eighth graders, showed a similarly low proportion of students meeting the state benchmark. These figures indicate that academic performance was a soft spot while the school was operating. A family considering this school in the past would have wanted to look into the instructional environment and support structures further, but since the school is no longer open, that question is moot.
Enrollment numbers, student demographics, and economic need indicators such as free or reduced-price lunch rates were not available in the data. Because the school served only middle grades, there is no graduation rate to report. The district itself, Chase-Raymond, did not have any recent major changes recorded in public sources, such as bond issues, curriculum shifts, or property tax changes, that would be relevant to a parent.
The broader context of Chase matters because the school was embedded in a community facing sustained population decline. Housing values in the area are well below state and national averages, making homeownership affordable but also reflecting limited economic growth. The typical home in the zip code costs a modest amount, and the monthly mortgage payment on a median-priced home is low relative to incomes. That affordability may appeal to buyers who do not depend on a local job market, but it also signals a shrinking tax base that can strain school funding.
For anyone researching this area today, the key takeaway is that Raymond Jr High no longer exists. The Chase-Raymond district likely serves students at other buildings, and a parent would need to contact the district directly to learn about current middle school options. The data from this school, while thin, shows that when it was operating, academic achievement was a concern against state benchmarks. The rural, shrinking community context provides the setting in which that performance occurred.
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