Original Research by School Decision on Leavenworth Sr High
Leavenworth Sr High is a public high school serving grades nine through twelve in the city of Leavenworth, Kansas. It is the sole traditional high school of Leavenworth USD, which also operates several elementary schools and a middle school within the city. A separate school district serves the adjacent Fort Leavenworth military post, so this high school primarily draws from the civilian population of Leavenworth and the surrounding unincorporated area.
The school enrolls a sizable student body, fairly evenly distributed across the four grade levels. Its student body is racially and ethnically diverse. Just over half of students are white, with sizeable Black and Hispanic populations, a notable multiracial share, and smaller numbers of Asian, Native American, and Pacific Islander students. Nearly half of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a moderate-to-high level of economic need. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available in the reporting we reviewed; these are areas a parent may want to ask the school about directly.
State assessment results for this school are missing from the available data. Because Kansas administers statewide tests in English language arts, math, and science at the high school level, this gap is noteworthy. Similarly, the four-year graduation rate and chronic absenteeism rate are not present in the records we examined. Without these core academic and outcome metrics, it is not possible to characterize the school’s performance on standard measures. A parent or resident interested in academic pathways should seek this information from the school or district directly, or look to school report cards published by the Kansas State Department of Education.
Leavenworth itself is shaped by its major institutions. Fort Leavenworth occupies the northern half of the city, and federal and state prisons, a VA medical center, and the county government are among the top employers. Manufacturing has given way to a government- and service-oriented economy. The city has a 28-block historic downtown with locally owned shops and restaurants, though outside that core daily life is generally car-dependent. Recent development includes new downtown hotels and residential lofts, a business park being promoted for future growth, and infrastructure projects such as the replacement of the Centennial Bridge. Housing values in the school’s ZIP code are slightly above the state median for Kansas and well below the national median; rents are moderate relative to incomes.
The district has not made major recent changes that surfaced in search results. No referendum, curriculum overhaul, or property-tax shift of lasting parent impact was found in publicly reported material. This may reflect a period of stability or simply a low public profile for such changes. The absence of reported information does not mean nothing is happening, but it does mean there is little to point to as a recent turn in direction.
For a family considering Leavenworth Sr High, the picture is incomplete. The school serves a diverse, economically mixed student body in a community anchored by government and military employment. Its size is substantial for a single high school. What is missing—state test results, graduation rates, program offerings (none were listed in the available data), and discipline or staffing data—means a thorough look at the school’s own materials, a conversation with the principal, and review of state report cards are necessary before forming a judgment about academic quality. This school will suit a family that prioritizes a comprehensive high school in a stable, institution-driven town and is comfortable investigating missing performance data firsthand.
See more original research from School Decision →