The top reported proficiency rate is 28% in English language arts. The lowest is 22% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Sunflower Elementary School
Sunflower Elementary School is a regular public elementary school in Liberal, Kansas, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It sits in a city that functions as the county seat and a regional hub for southwest Kansas, where the economy is anchored in beef processing, oil and gas extraction, trucking, and agriculture. Liberal has a strongly bilingual and multicultural character, with a Hispanic/Latino majority and a substantial foreign-born population. The cost of living is below the national average, and housing values are modest. The city is car-dependent, with limited walkability and no significant public transit. Its population has seen a slight decline in recent years, though civic reinvestment and industrial recruitment efforts are underway.
Sunflower is one of several elementary schools in the Liberal school district. Its enrollment is in the mid-range for an elementary school of its grade band, with a notably large pre-kindergarten cohort that accounts for a significant share of the student body. The student population is overwhelmingly Hispanic, with a small percentage of White students and very small numbers from other racial and ethnic groups. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating high economic need across the school. Data on students with disabilities and English learners was not available, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those supports.
Academically, state assessment results are available for grades three through five in math, English language arts, and science. Overall proficiency rates are low, with fewer than two in five students meeting the state's proficiency benchmarks in most tested subjects and grade levels. There is some variation by grade and subject: third-grade English language arts shows a higher rate than the other tested grades, while fourth-grade English language arts and fifth-grade math show the lowest. Science proficiency for fifth graders is in a similar range. The school's most recent testing occurred after the state changed its cut scores, which makes direct comparisons to prior years uncertain. Relative to the other district in Seward County, Sunflower's overall proficiency index sits above the midpoint, though the comparison set is very small and both districts face similar challenges.
Because Sunflower is an elementary school, there is no graduation rate to report, and no data on chronic absenteeism or disciplinary outcomes was available. The school does not appear to have charter or magnet status, and information about any specialized programs, course access, or staffing ratios was not provided. A parent looking into enrichment or intervention offerings would need to follow up with the school directly.
Sunflower Elementary serves a community where many families work in industries with shift schedules and where economic pressures are real. The student body is predominantly Hispanic and from low-income households, which shapes the peer environment. For a family in Liberal, this is the neighborhood elementary school for the west side of the city, within a district that has not reported any major recent changes or initiatives. The school's academic results are below state averages, which is not unusual for schools serving high-poverty populations, but a parent should expect that significant additional support at home or from the school may be needed to reach grade-level benchmarks. The school does offer pre-kindergarten, which can be an important resource for working families. Overall, Sunflower is a straightforward, high-need elementary school in a small, working-class city on the High Plains.
See more original research from School Decision →