The top reported proficiency rate is 15% in English language arts. The lowest is 10% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Seymour Rogers Middle School
Seymour Rogers Middle School serves grades six through eight in Liberal, Kansas, as a traditional public middle school within the Liberal school district. It sits in a community that functions as the county seat of Seward County and a regional hub for southwest Kansas, where agriculture and energy are the main economic drivers. The city has a strongly bilingual and multicultural character, shaped by a majority Hispanic and Latino population and a substantial share of foreign-born residents. The cost of living is well below the national average, and housing values are modest. The population of Liberal has been declining slightly in recent years, though civic reinvestment projects are underway, including a new battery manufacturing facility and upgrades to public recreation infrastructure. The parent district's recent changes were not publicly documented in a way that yielded clear information for this profile.
The school's enrollment is moderate for a middle school serving a city of this size. The student body is overwhelmingly Hispanic, reflecting the broader community, with a much smaller share of white students and even smaller numbers of students from other racial backgrounds. A very high proportion of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that economic disadvantage is widespread among the families served. This context matters for interpreting the academic picture.
State assessment results for the most recent year show that across all three middle school grades and all tested subjects, proficiency rates are low. In English language arts, the share of students meeting the state's proficiency standard is below a quarter at every grade level. In mathematics, the rates are even lower, and science results for eighth grade are similarly low. The state changed cut scores for these assessments in the same year, so performance is not directly comparable to prior years, and trend data was not available. When compared with other school districts within Seward County, the school's overall proficiency index falls in the bottom quartile. A parent considering the school may want to discuss with the school how it supports students who are not yet at the proficient level and what specific academic interventions are in place.
Because this is a middle school that does not serve high school grades, there is no graduation rate to report. Data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, course access, and staffing were not available in the sources used for this profile. Likewise, information on special education and English learner populations was missing, which is a notable gap given the community's demographics. A parent or resident seeking a fuller picture would need to follow up with the school or district directly on these topics.
There are no program offerings listed, so it is not clear whether the school provides advanced coursework, elective pathways, or career-oriented classes at the middle school level. The school is not a charter or a magnet school, and its Title I status was not reported. Given the high rate of economic disadvantage, it is likely that the school receives federal Title I funding, but that is not confirmed in the data.
This is a middle school in a community with substantial economic challenges and a student population that reflects those conditions. The academic results are below state averages and the lowest among the two districts in Seward County. The school operates within a district that has not publicly highlighted recent initiatives or reforms. For a family weighing a move to Liberal, or for a current resident trying to understand what this middle school offers, the central facts are a student population that is largely Hispanic and low-income, test performance that is well below typical expectations, and limited available data on programs and student supports. The school would benefit from a direct inquiry about how it addresses these challenges and what steps it is taking to improve learning outcomes.
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