The top reported proficiency rate is 69% in English language arts. The lowest is 46% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Ingalls Elem
Ingalls Elem serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in the small rural community of Ingalls, Kansas. The school is part of the Ingalls district, which has two schools total. Because it only reaches elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and state testing data covers only the grades that are assessed: third through fifth in math and English language arts, and fifth grade in science.
On the Kansas Assessment Program, performance varied by grade and subject. In English language arts, the third-grade cohort turned in a strong result, with a large majority of students meeting the state’s proficiency benchmark. Fourth-grade proficiency in ELA was lower, while fifth graders again landed at a solid level. Math results were more uneven: third and fourth graders posted lower proficiency rates, while fifth graders performed considerably higher. Science, tested only in fifth grade, showed roughly half of students reaching proficiency. Taken together, the school’s overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades placed it in the top quartile relative to the other three districts in Gray County. That comparison suggests Ingalls Elem is a competitive performer within its immediate region, even though the absolute numbers show room for growth in certain grade-subject combinations, particularly early-elementary math.
The student body is small and predominantly white, with a Hispanic enrollment share and a very small number of Black students. Just under half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker that a significant portion of families are managing on lower incomes. No data on special education identification or English learner status were reported by the state, so a parent would want to ask the school directly about the availability of those supports. The school is not a charter and no magnet status or Title I designation was listed, nor were any specialized programs or course access details provided.
Ingalls itself is a very small, primarily residential rural community. Most residents own their homes, and there is no distinct commercial downtown area. The school sits on a localized campus at Bulldog Drive and functions as a neighborhood school for the town’s children. The primary local employers are the city government and the school district. Minor infrastructure updates, such as a wastewater lift station replacement, have been underway, but no major new housing developments were noted in publicly available sources. The district brief turned up no recent referendum, curriculum change, or other parent-relevant shift with lasting impact.
For a family considering this school, the academic picture is one of relative strength within a small, rural county: the elementary school performs above the middle of its four‑district comparison group, though proficiency is not uniformly high across grades. The school is small enough that a parent can expect close relationships with teachers and staff, and the community is tight‑knit. The housing market in this part of southwest Kansas is modestly priced compared to the national median, though a parent should verify current rental and homebuying options directly, since available data is limited to the zip‑code level. The lack of reported programming beyond the standard elementary curriculum means a parent may want to inquire about enrichment, music, art, and extracurriculars. Overall, Ingalls Elem fits a family looking for a small‑town rural school with a solid county‑level standing and a straightforward elementary‑only setting.
See more original research from School Decision →