The top reported proficiency rate is 28% in English language arts. The lowest is 16% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Logan Ave Elem
Logan Avenue Elementary is a pre-kindergarten through fifth-grade public school in Emporia, Kansas. It is one of six elementary schools in the Emporia district, serving a population with a high share of students who qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. The school’s enrollment is modest, and the student body is majority Hispanic, with White students and students of two or more races as the largest minority groups. The school is not a charter school. It operates within Emporia USD 253, a district that draws students from across the city and its surrounding area.
The state testing results for the 2024-25 school year show performance that warrants careful attention from parents. In math, the share of students scoring proficient or above in third grade was roughly one in six, in fourth grade roughly one in five, and in fifth grade less than one in ten. In English language arts, the results were somewhat higher but still low overall, with the better-performing grade reaching just over a third of students scoring proficient or above. In fifth-grade science, about one in four students met proficiency. The school’s overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades places it in the bottom quarter when compared to other districts in Lyon County. Kansas cut scores in math, English language arts, and science were changed for this testing cycle, which means the results are not directly comparable to prior years. A parent may want to ask the school how it interprets these scores and what plans are in place for improvement.
The district brief did not identify any recent major changes such as bond measures, curriculum shifts, or facility projects. Parents looking for information on the district’s strategic direction or recent investments may need to contact the central administration directly.
Emporia itself is a mixed-use micropolitan city with a traditional downtown grid, home to Emporia State University and Flint Hills Technical College, which give the city a college-town character. The local economy has long been anchored by manufacturing and food processing. The recent permanent closure of the Tyson Foods beef-packing plant, a former largest employer, is an ongoing economic story with implications for the community’s growth. Housing values in the area are well below the national and state medians, and rents are similarly moderate, making the area relatively affordable for most families. The city is served by Interstate 35, the Kansas Turnpike, and U.S. Highway 50, providing a straightforward commute to the school.
For the family evaluating Logan Avenue Elementary, the central takeaway is clear. This is a school serving a high-poverty student population with state assessment results that are weak relative to peer districts. The school has no specialty status or charter designation that would shape its programming. A parent considering Logan Avenue Elementary will want a direct conversation with the principal about the academic support structures in place, the interventions being used for students who are below grade level, and the school’s specific approach to moving proficiency rates upward. The affordability of housing in Emporia and the small-city setting are tangible positives, but the academic profile of the school is the factor that will most directly shape a child’s early educational experience.
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