Welborn Elem, Kansas City KS - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Welborn Elem

Welborn Elem is a kindergarten-through-fifth-grade public school in Kansas City, Kansas, part of the Kansas City school district in Wyandotte County. It sits in a residential area of KCK, a mid-sized city with a working-class heritage and a mix of neighborhoods that are part of the larger Kansas City metro area. The school’s enrollment is moderate for an elementary building, and the student body is diverse: Hispanic students make up the largest share, followed by Black students, with smaller populations of Asian, white, and multiracial students. A very high proportion of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a community with substantial economic need.

Academically, state test results on the Kansas Assessment Program (KAP) show that proficiency rates across math, English language arts, and science are well below state averages, a pattern that a parent will want to consider carefully. In third-grade math, for example, the share of students scoring proficient or above is in the low single digits; fourth-grade math is similar; fifth-grade math is somewhat higher but still low. In ELA, the rates are higher but remain modest, with fifth-grade reaching about a third of students proficient. Science results for fifth grade follow the same pattern. The school’s overall proficiency index on tested subjects and grades places it in the bottom quartile compared with other schools in Wyandotte County. It is worth noting that Kansas changed its test cut scores in recent years, which makes it hard to compare these results with prior years; parents may want to ask the school how they are addressing these academic challenges and what supports are in place.

Because this is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate to report. No data is available on chronic absenteeism, discipline, or staffing, so those aspects of the school environment remain unknown from the information reviewed.

The surrounding housing market is relatively affordable compared with much of the country. Home values in the zip code are below the Kansas median, and rents are moderate relative to the national index, which may appeal to families looking for a lower-cost area. The Kansas City district, meanwhile, has made a major investment in its facilities: a bond referendum passed in 2022 funds building improvements, safety upgrades, and technology across the district. This is the largest bond in the district’s history, so families moving into the area may see construction and property tax changes over the coming years.

Welborn is a neighborhood school that serves a high-poverty population, and its test scores are a clear soft spot. Families who prioritize strong academic performance will want to look closely at what interventions and enrichment the school offers, and whether the school’s current trajectory and supports align with their child’s needs. For those already in the attendance zone, understanding the school’s improvement plans and asking about classroom-level support would be a logical next step. The broader district bond suggests that facility upgrades are coming, but academic progress remains the central question for any family evaluating this school.

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Academic performance

How students perform on state tests, by grade, set against the district.

Math

Grade 34%

School 4% · District 16% · ▼ 12 pts below district

▼ 37 pts below state median · ▼ 13 pts below county median

Grade 46%

School 6% · District 19% · ▼ 13 pts below district

▼ 34 pts below state median · ▼ 14 pts below county median

Grade 514%

School 14% · District 22% · ▼ 9 pts below district

▼ 27 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 322%

School 22% · District 25% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 31 pts below state median · ▼ 7 pts below county median

Grade 416%

School 16% · District 24% · ▼ 7 pts below district

▼ 32 pts below state median · ▼ 9 pts below county median

Grade 533%

School 33% · District 29% · ▲ 4 pts above district

▼ 17 pts below state median · ▲ 1 pts above county median

Science

Grade 516%

School 16% · District 19% · ▼ 3 pts below district

▼ 28 pts below state median · ▼ 6 pts below county median

This schoolKansas City, same grade

Graduation rate (ACGR) reflects the federally published Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate for the most recent year available. We refresh this data annually at the close of each academic year in June. The federal source publishes a banded rate (for example, "90-94%") instead of an exact number for cohorts small enough to risk identifying individual students. The state distribution chart, where shown, plots every school in the state with a published rate or band; schools whose rate is federally suppressed are excluded. Where the federal source publishes a band rather than an exact rate, the school is placed within its band using a stable, ID-derived offset, so its position is consistent across visits.

Proficiency by household income

English language arts

Grade 3Lower-income20%Higher-income36%16 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income17%Higher-income10%7 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income3%Higher-income7%3 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income6%Higher-income9%3 pp gap