The top reported proficiency rate is 62% in English language arts. The lowest is 36% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Milford Elem
Milford Elem sits in a very small community in Geary County that is built around Milford Lake, the largest lake in Kansas. The town has a recreational character shaped by the lake, the state park, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers project office. Its population has been slowly declining. There is no traditional downtown commercial district; civic life centers on the municipal building, the city park, and the nearby lake amenities. The town is part of the Manhattan metropolitan area, about fifty miles west of Topeka. The school itself is a single-story elementary building serving children from preschool through fifth grade, and it is the only public school in the town.
Milford Elem is a small school. The student body is predominantly white, with a modest share of Hispanic students and very small numbers from other racial backgrounds. About half of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a share that aligns with the economic mix of the community. The school is part of Geary County Schools, a district where more than half of all students are connected to the U.S. Army through nearby Fort Riley. The district recently opened a new elementary school on the army base, a development that affects school assignment and capacity for military families living in the area.
State testing data is available for students in grades three through five. In English language arts, third graders showed strong proficiency, with a large majority meeting the state standard. By fourth grade that share was still above half, but by fifth grade it dropped to below half. Math results followed a similar pattern: third and fourth graders were above the midpoint in proficiency, while fifth graders fell below that mark. In fifth-grade science, just over a third of students scored proficient. It is worth noting that Kansas changed its cut scores for these assessments in the tested year, meaning the results reflect a new definition of proficiency and cannot be directly compared with prior years. A parent may want to discuss with the school how these results compare to classroom performance and what supports are in place for students who are not yet meeting standards.
No data on chronic absenteeism or discipline was reported for this school. Because Milford Elem serves only early grades, there is no graduation rate and no high school course offerings to consider. Students move on to a middle school and high school elsewhere in the district.
Housing in the area is priced above the typical Kansas home, which may be a factor for families considering a move to the town. The local housing stock is primarily single-family, and the city recently passed an ordinance banning short-term rentals, a sign that the town is preserving its residential character. No major new housing developments were identified, and the population trend is flat to slightly declining.
For a family, this school offers a very small, rural setting with a strong recreational environment nearby. The academic picture is mixed, with early elementary reading a relative strength but upper elementary results more uneven. The district’s heavy military connection means stability and enrollment can shift with army rotations. A parent looking for a tight-knit school in a lake-oriented town will find that here, but anyone concerned about the downward trend in proficiency from third to fifth grade should seek additional information from the school about how it addresses learning gaps as students move up.
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