The top reported proficiency rate is 60% in Math. The lowest is 43% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Olpe Jr./sr. High School
Olpe Jr./Sr. High School serves as the secondary campus for the Southern Lyon County district, housed in a building that dates to the early 1950s on a shared campus with the elementary school in the rural community of Olpe. The town itself is a very small, mainly residential community within the Emporia Micropolitan Statistical Area that has seen population stagnation or decline in recent years; the Catholic school in town closed after the 2009-2010 school year citing economic conditions. The school covers grades seven through twelve with an enrollment that is small for a combined middle and high school, and it draws from a family-oriented residential base where about a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals.
The student body is predominantly white, with a modest share of Hispanic students and a very small number of Black and multiracial students. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school about supports in those areas directly. The school is not a charter, and its Title I status was not reported.
On state assessments, which are the Kansas Assessment Program, the school's results present a mixed picture that varies by grade and subject. In math, sixth graders performed at a strong level, a clear strength for that grade. Seventh and eighth grade math results were lower, with about half of eighth graders meeting the proficiency bar. In English language arts, sixth graders again performed at roughly the midpoint, while seventh and eighth graders had lower proficiency rates, especially seventh grade where the figure was well below half. Science results for eighth grade were about average for a tested cohort, with a bit more than half of students meeting the standard. It is worth noting that Kansas changed its cut scores for these assessments, which makes it difficult to compare these results to prior years; the school data does not show any trend over time. When the school is placed against other districts within Lyon County, its overall proficiency index sits in the top quartile, meaning that among the small number of districts in the county, Olpe Jr./Sr. High School's combined performance across tested grades and subjects compares favorably.
No graduation rate was available in the data, which for a school serving through twelfth grade is a notable gap. A parent may wish to confirm with the school what the four-year graduation rate is and how it trends. No data on chronic absenteeism was reported either, and no information on staffing ratios, course access, or discipline was present in the profile. The school offers grades seven through twelve under one roof, which is a structural detail that can matter to families who value continuity through the middle and high school years, though it also means the building houses a wide age range. The district brief uncovered no recent major changes or strategic initiatives, and the school's program offerings—such as whether it provides Career and Technical Education pathways, Advanced Placement courses, or dual-credit options—were not included in the data provided.
For a family considering this school, the picture is one of a small, rural secondary school where academic performance is a bright spot in the early middle school grades and holds up well against other districts in Lyon County, but where later middle school results in both math and English are softer. The town of Olpe is quiet and has seen population decline; it offers minimal commercial activity beyond a noted local restaurant that serves as an informal gathering place. The housing market in the broader area shows home values that have risen at a pace above the national average, though still below some regional benchmarks, and the local economy reflects modest household income levels. This is a school that fits a family looking for a small, community-anchored secondary experience in a rural setting, but a parent will want to follow up directly with the school for graduation data, program offerings, and support for students who may need additional academic help, especially in the upper middle school years.
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