The top reported proficiency rate is 63% in Science. The lowest is 47% in English language arts.
Original Research by School Decision on Herington Elem
Herington Elem serves students from prekindergarten through fifth grade in a small Kansas city that grew up around the railroad. The school is part of the Herington district, and its building sits within a community that still functions as a Union Pacific system hub, a fact that shapes both the local economy and the feel of the town. Families will find a traditional small-city setting with a compact downtown, a Carnegie library, and nearby lakes and trails that the city has been promoting as recreational draws. The population has been very slowly declining, and the housing market is highly affordable relative to state and national levels, so home buying is within reach for many households.
Academically, the school’s performance on Kansas state assessments tells a mixed story. In math, the share of students reaching proficiency varies by grade, and on the whole the results sit around the middle of the range one might expect. English language arts scores follow a similar pattern across grades three through five. Fifth-grade science stands out as a relative strength, with a noticeably larger portion of students meeting the bar. Because the state changed its cut scores in recent years, it is not possible to compare this year’s results directly with earlier years, so a parent looking at year-over-year trends will not find a clear trend line. Still, when placed alongside other districts in Dickinson County, this school’s overall proficiency index lands in the top quartile, suggesting that it performs ahead of most county peers across the grades and subjects tested.
The student body is small. The majority of children are white, with a Hispanic minority and a smaller group of students who identify as two or more races. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that many families face economic challenges. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, so a parent with a child in either category may want to ask the school directly about those services.
No information was provided on programs such as art, music, or extended learning, nor on staffing ratios, discipline rates, or chronic absenteeism. Those gaps leave a parent without a clear picture of the school’s daily environment or the breadth of enrichment it offers. Given that this is a small elementary school, it is reasonable to expect a closer-knit atmosphere, but the data does not confirm that one way or the other.
For a family considering Herington, the district has no recent publicly reported changes that would alter the school’s trajectory. The housing market is inexpensive, which may appeal to first-time buyers or those seeking a lower cost of living in a rural railroad town with outdoor amenities. The academic profile is solid relative to the county, and the school serves the youngest grades in a district that also has a middle school and high school, so children can move through a single system. A parent looking at this school will want to visit and ask about the programs and supports that the numbers do not capture.
See more original research from School Decision →