The top reported proficiency rate is 52% in Science. The lowest is 46% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Pleasant Ridge Middle
Pleasant Ridge Middle serves roughly 150 students in grades six through eight in the rural community of Easton, Kansas. The school is part of the Easton USD 449 district and sits in Leavenworth County, about a short drive northwest of Leavenworth. The student body is overwhelmingly white, with small numbers of Hispanic students and students of other races. About a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a relatively low share that suggests the school serves a population with modest economic need overall.
Academically, the school performs around the middle of the pack relative to other districts in Leavenworth County. On state assessments, proficiency rates across tested subjects and grades fall mostly between two in five and just over half of students meeting the state’s college- and career-ready benchmarks. Math performance rises slightly from sixth to eighth grade, while English language arts proficiency holds fairly steady across the three grades. Eighth-grade science is a relative bright spot, with a bit more than half of students reaching proficiency. The state recently adjusted its cut scores for these tests, which makes it hard to compare current results to prior years. Parents may want to ask the school how trends look under the new standards. The school’s overall proficiency index places it above the midpoint among Leavenworth County districts, meaning it is neither among the highest nor the lowest performers in the area.
No data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staffing ratios, or course access were available in the sources reviewed. That gap often reflects the nature of a middle school that may not report the same breadth of metrics as larger schools. For specifics on class sizes or enrichment offerings, a conversation with the school directly would be the next step.
Easton is a very small, rural community that once served as an agricultural shipping point on the Union Pacific Railroad. Its population peaked decades ago and has been declining steadily since. The town covers a tiny footprint, with minimal commercial activity and no real downtown. Residents depend on cars to reach services, including Leavenworth about a short drive away. Housing values in the area are well above the state average, a pattern that may reflect the proximity to the Kansas City metro area and demand from commuters. The town’s long-term population decline and lack of new development suggest a stable but shrinking residential base. Families moving here likely value quiet, rural living and are willing to trade away the conveniences of a larger town.
The district’s recent push to expand Career and Technical Education pathways at the high school level—now offering six pathways in fields like construction, agriculture, health science, and marketing—points to a broader emphasis on career readiness. For middle school families, this means their children would eventually enter a high school with expanded options for applied learning. Whether that influences middle school coursework or exposure is something to ask the school about directly.
Pleasant Ridge Middle fits a family seeking a small, rural school environment in a tight-knit, declining community where housing is expensive relative to the state but academic results are solidly in the middle range for the county. A family that prioritizes access to CTE pathways at the high school level and wants a school with a modest, largely homogeneous student body will find this school aligns well. Families concerned about a broader array of advanced academic offerings or a more diverse peer environment may want to explore further. The school’s performance is adequate but not standout, and the lack of certain data points means some due diligence is warranted.
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