Schwegler Elem, Lawrence KS - Test Scores & Data

Original Research by School Decision on Schwegler Elem

Schwegler Elementary serves kindergarten through fifth grade in Lawrence, Kansas. It is a neighborhood school within the Lawrence public school district and sits on Ousdahl Road in the city’s south-central area. Because it covers only early and upper elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report, and state testing results are available for grades three through five.

The most recent state assessment results, from the Kansas Assessment Program, show that across all tested subjects and grade levels, Schwegler’s overall proficiency is lower than that of the other districts in Douglas County. In both math and English language arts, proficiency rates run consistently below the midpoint of the county comparison set. Science results for fifth graders follow a similar pattern. The state changed its assessment cut scores in recent years, so direct year‑over‑year comparison is not possible, and the available data provides a single snapshot rather than a trend. A parent looking at academic performance will want to follow up with the school about specific supports and how the school monitors student progress.

The student body is economically diverse. A sizable share of students qualifies for free or reduced‑price meals. Racially and ethnically, the enrollment is mixed: White students make up the largest group, followed by Hispanic students, students of two or more races, Black students, and smaller shares of American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. Data on students with individualized education programs and English learners was not available in the materials reviewed.

Lawrence itself anchors the school’s context. It is a college town, home to the University of Kansas and Haskell Indian Nations University, and its economy is shaped heavily by education, healthcare, and manufacturing and distribution. The downtown along Massachusetts Street is known for dense retail, dining, and street life, while most of the city’s housing is rental and the population skews toward students and young professionals. The university campus sits a short walk from downtown, and both are within easy reach of many city neighborhoods. The Lawrence public school system operates elementary schools spread across the city, so Schwegler serves its particular attendance area.

Housing in the school’s zip code is modestly above the state median home value, with rents that reflect the city’s rental‑heavy market. The mortgage rate environment and local rent levels mean homeownership is less accessible for some families, consistent with the area’s high share of renters. The broader city has seen steady population growth, with new housing developments in the western parts of town and near the university campus, though the areas immediately around the school remain predominantly established residential neighborhoods.

The district itself did not report any recent major changes or strategic initiatives that would affect Schwegler directly. Some typical school‑level information—such as staffing ratios, chronic absenteeism, course access, and discipline data—was not available in the sources reviewed. A family considering Schwegler would want to visit, talk to the principal or classroom teachers, and get a sense of the school’s particular academic approach and community feel, especially given that the proficiency picture is softer than what some other Douglas County schools show. For families who value a diverse, economically mixed elementary in a vibrant college town with a strong downtown and easy access to university life, Schwegler is part of that larger Lawrence environment, though its test‑based academic profile is one that warrants a closer look.

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Academic performance

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

Math

Grade 329%

School 29% · District 45% · ▼ 16 pts below district

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

Grade 429%

School 29% · District 47% · ▼ 18 pts below district

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

Grade 527%

School 27% · District 44% · ▼ 17 pts below district

▼ 13 pts below state median · ▼ 15 pts below county median

English language arts

Grade 347%

School 47% · District 58% · ▼ 11 pts below district

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

Grade 442%

School 42% · District 54% · ▼ 12 pts below district

▼ 6 pts below state median · ▼ 12 pts below county median

Grade 547%

School 47% · District 55% · ▼ 8 pts below district

▼ 3 pts below state median · ▼ 2 pts below county median

Science

Grade 544%

School 44% · District 50% · ▼ 6 pts below district

even with state median · even with county median

This schoolLawrence, 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-income35%Higher-income62%27 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income22%Higher-income84%62 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income27%Higher-income66%39 pp gap

Mathematics

Grade 3Lower-income18%Higher-income43%25 pp gap

Grade 4Lower-income19%Higher-income50%31 pp gap

Grade 5Lower-income13%Higher-income42%29 pp gap