The top reported proficiency rate is 67% in Science. The lowest is 45% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Washington Elem
Washington Elementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through sixth grade in Ellis, a small railroad town in northwestern Kansas. The school is part of the Ellis public school district and sits within a compact community where schools, museums, and civic buildings are all a short walk from one another on the traditional grid layout. Ellis has seen a modest population decline in recent decades, and the housing market here is more affordable than both the state and national averages, which may appeal to families looking for a lower-cost entry point into homeownership.
The student body is small. Nearly all students identify as white, with a very small number of Hispanic students and an even smaller number of students identifying as two or more races. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Data for students with disabilities and English learners were not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about the support structures in place for those populations. The grade span means there is no graduation rate to report, as the school does not serve high school grades.
State testing results from the Kansas Assessment Program show a mixed picture across subjects and grade levels. In reading, third graders performed well, as did fifth graders. Fourth and sixth graders, however, scored noticeably lower. In math, third graders also performed solidly, while fourth graders had a weak showing. Fifth and sixth graders in math performed at a moderate level. Fifth graders taking the science assessment performed well. These are the latest results available, and the state has changed its cut scores, which makes it difficult to compare these results to prior years. A parent may want to ask the school for context on the lower fourth-grade scores and what interventions are in place.
Compared to other districts in Ellis County, Washington Elementary sits in the top quartile for overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades. This is a positive signal, though the comparison set is small and the county has only a handful of districts, so the range is narrow. No chronic absenteeism data was available for this school, which is a gap worth noting if attendance patterns are a concern for a family.
The locale brief shows Ellis as a stable rural community with a handful of museums tied to the town's railroad and automotive heritage, a lake for recreation, and basic amenities like a grocery store likely within the downtown core. Larger services, including a university and a regional medical center, are about a drive to Hays. The school itself occupies a single building on a residential street, and the community's scale means that most families can walk or drive a short distance to school.
No discipline, staffing, or course access data was available. For a school that serves only early and middle grades, the absence of high school measures like graduation rate or AP offerings is expected and not a concern. The district brief was searched for recent referendums or bond activity but returned little publicly reported material, so there is no information on upcoming facility investments or tax initiatives.
Washington Elementary offers a small-town setting with a student body that is largely homogeneous, housing costs that are below state averages, and academic results that vary by grade and subject but place the school favorably within its county. A family considering this school should expect to engage directly with staff to understand the variation in grade-level performance and to confirm the support available for students who need it.
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