The top reported proficiency rate is 63% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Ellsworth Elem
Ellsworth Elem serves the earliest years of public schooling in Ellsworth, Kansas, running from prekindergarten through third grade. This is a small school, shaped by the rural county seat it sits in and the families who send their children there. Because the school stops at third grade, there are no high school measures such as a graduation rate or college preparation indicators—those come later, at the district’s junior-senior high school.
The school’s academic performance is measured by state assessments in third grade, the only tested grade here. In both math and English language arts, roughly three out of five students scored at the proficient level or above on the Kansas Assessment Program. That places proficiency in solidly the majority range, meaning most third graders are meeting the state’s academic standards. The state changed its cut scores in both subjects during the testing year, so comparisons to prior years are not straightforward; the data should be read as a current snapshot rather than a trend. No multi-year trend information was available.
The student body of Ellsworth Elem is homogeneous by race and ethnicity. The overwhelming majority of students are white, with a very small Hispanic representation and a similarly small group identifying as two or more races. No Asian, Black, or Native American students were recorded in the data. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting a middle-to-lower-income community profile. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not reported, so a parent may want to check with the school directly about how those populations are served.
Ellsworth itself is a compact, small-town county seat in the Smoky Hills region. Its economy blends local commerce, a Great Plains Manufacturing tillage implement plant, and wind energy projects on surrounding farmland. The town has a traditional grid downtown, and the school is integrated into the community rather than set apart on a distant campus. Housing values in the area are notably below the state and national medians, which is typical for a rural Kansas community. Home prices have been rising at a pace well above the national average in recent years, though the overall market remains affordable by broader standards. The local unemployment rate is consistent with the national figure, and real median household income is near the national median.
The district that operates Ellsworth Elem, Ellsworth USD, did not have any recent parent-relevant changes available in public records. The research turned up only historical and county information, not specific district initiatives or facility updates. That does not mean nothing is happening, just that no concrete changes were confirmed for this report.
Because the school serves only through third grade, the next step for families is transition to an upper elementary or middle school within the same district. The district’s secondary school is located in Ellsworth as well, keeping the school experience concentrated in one town.
For a parent considering this school, the picture is one of a small, locally rooted early-grade school where most children meet state standards in third grade. The student peer group is not diverse, and the economic makeup is mixed. The community is stable in population, with limited new housing development and a modest but growing tourism and industrial base. The school’s size and grade span mean a close-knit environment, but also that children will move to a different building for later grades. There is no comparative positioning available against other schools in Ellsworth County—this is the only district in the county—so the school stands on its own numbers rather than in a competitive field.
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