The top reported proficiency rate is 58% in Math. The lowest is 56% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Frank Layden Elem
Frank Layden Elementary is a public school serving pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Frontenac, a small, historic coal-mining town in southeastern Kansas that serves as the second-largest community in Crawford County. The school is situated in the town's downtown core, near civic amenities including the recreation center and Heritage Hall museum, and is one of three school buildings within the Frontenac Public Schools district.
The student body is predominantly white, with a noticeable Hispanic population and smaller shares of students who identify as multiracial. About half of the students come from households with incomes low enough to qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a share that gives a sense of the economic makeup of the community. The school does not report data on students with individualized education plans or English learners, so a parent seeking that information would need to ask the district directly.
What the state assessment results show is that Frank Layden’s students are performing at levels that stand out relative to other districts in Crawford County. When you look across the tested subjects and grades, the school’s overall proficiency index places it in the top quartile among the county’s districts. In math, the share of students scoring proficient or above ranges from just over half in third grade to a bit higher in fifth grade, with a dip in fourth grade. In English language arts, the pattern is similar, with the highest proficiency rates in the earlier and later grades and a slightly lower midpoint in fourth grade. Fifth-grade science results show a similar proficiency rate. These numbers suggest a school where most students are meeting state standards, and the performance tends to strengthen by the upper elementary grades, though the dip in fourth grade in both math and literacy is a pattern a parent may want to discuss with the school to understand what support is in place.
The school year for which these test results were reported involved a change in the cut scores used by Kansas to define proficiency in math and English language arts. That means the results cannot be directly compared to prior years’ data, so there is no way to tell from this information alone whether performance is improving, declining, or holding steady.
Frontenac itself is a town of slow population growth with a compact downtown layout. The schools are integrated into the neighborhood fabric rather than set apart on remote campuses. Frank Layden Elementary sits on East Lanyon Street, just blocks from the downtown center. The town's civic anchors are mostly recreational — parks, a swimming pool, a sports complex with a new stadium — and the community holds an annual Festa Italiana that draws many attendees, reflecting the town's ethnic heritage. No major new housing or commercial developments are documented, and the district does not report recent parent-relevant changes, so the school context appears stable.
The housing market in the area is more affordable than the national median, with typical home prices well below the national benchmark. Rents also consume a modest share of income, which may matter to a family weighing the cost of living against school quality.
A parent considering Frank Layden will find an elementary school that performs above the typical level for its county, serving a community that is small, primarily residential, and moderately diverse in terms of income. The school’s strengths are visible in its proficiency rates, and its weaknesses are not dramatic but include a fourth-grade step-down that warrants a conversation. Missing data on special education and English learner populations means a family with a child who may need those services should ask the school directly about staffing and supports.
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