The top reported proficiency rate is 55% in English language arts. The lowest is 28% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Kiowa County High School
Kiowa County High School is the sole high school in the Kiowa County district, serving grades nine through twelve for Greensburg and the surrounding area. Its total enrollment is small for a high school in its grade band, and the student body is predominantly White, with a small share of Hispanic students and an even smaller representation of Asian and multiracial students. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch.
The school building itself is a point of local pride and national interest. After an EF5 tornado destroyed much of Greensburg, the town rebuilt with a commitment to sustainability that is unusual for a rural community. The high school, along with other municipal and county buildings, was constructed to meet LEED platinum standards. The town generates all of its electricity from wind turbines, uses LED streetlights throughout, and has a single-stream curbside recycling program. The population has not returned to pre-tornado levels; the 2020 census counted fewer residents than the 2010 census, continuing a modest decline. This means the school serves a community that is stable but shrinking, not one expecting growth.
State assessment data is reported for grade eight, which at Kiowa County is part of the same campus as the high school (the school operates under the name Kiowa County Junior High/High School). In math, the share of eighth graders scoring proficient or above was more than half. In English language arts for the same grade, the proficiency rate was below half. In science, the proficiency rate was lower still, in the range of about a quarter of students. Because this data comes from a single middle-school grade, it offers a limited picture of high school academic performance. The state changed its test cut scores in recent years, which makes comparisons over time uncertain. A broader summary measure of proficiency across all tested subjects and grades places this school in the bottom quartile relative to Kiowa County's other districts.
The school offers a high school program for a very small number of students, which influences what course options and extracurriculars are possible. Graduation rate data was not available in the provided information. There was no data on course access, Advanced Placement or dual-credit offerings, or career and technical education pathways. A parent may want to ask the school directly about the breadth of its academic program and how it supports students bound for four-year colleges versus other postsecondary paths.
The housing market in Greensburg is more affordable than the state and national benchmarks, with a home value estimate below those averages. Housing has been appreciating at a modest annual rate, roughly in line with the national trend but below the statewide increase. For a family moving here, housing costs are relatively low, but the local economy is small. Major employers are not publicly listed in detail; the school district, county hospital, and city government are likely the largest. There is daily bus service east and west via a Greyhound subcontractor, and the nearest Amtrak stop is about a forty-five-minute drive west. The nearest airports with jet service are about an hour and a half to two hours away in either direction.
For a family considering this school, the essential context is size and rural isolation. The high school is very small, which can mean more individualized attention from teachers and staff, but also a narrower range of course offerings and extracurricular activities than what a larger school might provide. The community is rebuilding with a distinctive eco-conscious identity, and the school building reflects that. A family accustomed to a wide array of academic tracks, electives, and social diversity may find this setting limiting. A family seeking a tight-knit, quiet rural environment where the school is central to the town's civic life may find it a good fit.
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