The top reported proficiency rate is 42% in Science. The lowest is 39% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Girard Middle
Girard Middle School serves roughly two hundred students in grades six through eight in the town of Girard, Kansas, the Crawford County seat. The student body is overwhelmingly white. About half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, meaning the school serves a community with a meaningful share of economic need.
The building sits within the Girard public school district, which also includes Girard High School and R. V. Haderlein Elementary School. Girard itself is a small county-seat town laid out around a public square. Historically a coal-mining and publishing center, its economy today is built on agriculture, local services, healthcare from Girard Medical Center, county government, and the school district. Housing values are well below the Kansas median, and prices have slipped recently, which may matter for families weighing a move. The town is car-dependent, with a compact core that is walkable for errands near the square.
On the Kansas Assessment Program, Girard Middle’s proficiency rates describe a school where performance varies by grade and subject. Among sixth graders, about half scored proficient or above in both math and English language arts. Seventh-grade proficiency rates were lower, with roughly two in five students proficient in math and about three in eight in English language arts. Eighth-grade results were the weakest in both subjects. In science, eighth graders posted a stronger outcome, with about two-fifths scoring proficient. The school’s overall proficiency index falls in the top quarter when compared to other districts in Crawford County. A parent considering this middle school should note that test scores trend downward as students move through the grade levels, a pattern worth discussing with the school.
Kansas changed its cut scores for the assessments used in this reporting year, which means comparisons with prior years are not straightforward. The data does not include participation rates, so a reader cannot confirm how many students took the tests. Graduation rate is not applicable, as this is a middle school. Civil rights data on discipline, staffing ratios, and course access were not available, so a family interested in those dimensions will want to ask the school directly.
The district appears stable, with no major recent changes publicly reported. The school itself does not have a charter or magnet designation, and its Title I status was not provided. With an enrollment of about two hundred students spread across three grades, class sizes are modest, which can mean more individual attention. The absence of data on special education and English learner populations means families with children who have those needs should ask the school what services are in place.
Girard Middle is a straightforward, small-town public middle school. Its academic profile shows that sixth grade is a relative strength and that the school performs respectably within its county context. The declines in seventh and eighth grade are a soft spot worth investigating. Families who value a compact school in a stable rural community with housing costs well below state averages may find it a natural fit. Those seeking high test scores across all grades or looking for extensive program offerings will want to learn more before deciding.
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