The top reported proficiency rate is 22% in Science. The lowest is 11% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on John Fiske Elem
JohnFiske Elementary serves students from prekindergarten through fifth grade in the Kansas City, Kansas public school district. It is an open-enrollment public school situated in a mid-sized city that is part of the larger Kansas City metropolitan area, a place with a working-class heritage, diverse neighborhoods, and a mix of residential, industrial, and commercial zones. The school’s enrollment is relatively small for an elementary building, and the student body is predominantly Hispanic, with a much smaller share of white students and a very small number of Black students. The vast majority of families qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a figure that stands well above levels seen in many surrounding communities. That level of economic need often translates into additional federal funding and targeted support programs, though the school’s Title I status was not specified in the available data.
On state assessments administered through the Kansas Assessment Program, the school’s results are low across the tested grade levels and subjects. In third-grade math and reading, as well as fourth- and fifth-grade math and reading, the share of students scoring at or above the proficient level falls well below the midpoint of Kansas schools. Fifth-grade science results follow a similar pattern. When compared with other districts in Wyandotte County, the school’s overall proficiency index places it in the bottom quartile. Because state testing in Kansas began this year with a change in the cut scores that define proficiency, the results cannot be directly compared with prior years, but the current picture is clear: a large majority of students are not meeting the state’s academic benchmarks. A parent considering this school would want to look into what interventions and supports are in place to address these gaps and how the school’s curriculum and instruction are being shaped to raise achievement.
The school serves only elementary grades, so there is no graduation rate to report and no data on high school outcomes such as college readiness or career pathways. Information about chronic absenteeism, discipline rates, and staffing ratios was also absent from the available records. These are common gaps for elementary schools that do not collect or report such measures publicly, but a parent may still wish to ask the school directly about attendance patterns and school climate.
Housing in the immediate area is notably more affordable than in the state as a whole or the nation. Home values are below the Kansas median, and the estimated monthly mortgage payment for a median-priced home is well under the national average. Renters also face a relatively moderate rent burden compared with incomes. This affordability is a practical factor for families looking to live within the school’s attendance zone, though the broader Kansas City metro area includes neighborhoods with a wide range of housing costs.
The district that operates John Fiske Elementary, Kansas City USD, passed a major bond referendum in late 2022, the largest in its history, to fund facility improvements, safety upgrades, and technology investments. That bond will shape the physical environment of the school and the district’s finances for years to come. Families moving into the area may see the effects of those investments in updated buildings and equipment, but also in property taxes that help pay for them.
Overall, John Fiske Elementary serves a high-poverty, predominantly Hispanic student body in an affordable urban setting, but its state assessment results indicate that most students are far from meeting grade-level expectations. The school operates within a district that has committed significant resources to capital improvements, but academic performance, at least as measured by the state’s current tests, is a clear area of concern. A parent weighing this school would want to learn about the specific academic interventions available, the experience of teachers and staff in addressing learning gaps, and how the school connects with families to support student progress.
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