The top reported proficiency rate is 44% in Science. The lowest is 37% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Macksville Elem
Macksville Elem is a small public elementary school serving prekindergarten through sixth grade in the rural community of Macksville, Kansas. The school is the only elementary in the Macksville district, and given the town’s compact size it sits right in the residential and agricultural heart of the area, sharing a campus with the district’s secondary school. The enrollment is small, and the grade bands are early and middle elementary only, so measures like a graduation rate do not apply here.
Academically, the school participates in the Kansas state assessments for math, English language arts, and science in grades three through six. Across the tested grades and subjects, the proficiency rates vary noticeably. In third-grade math and ELA, about a third of students scored at the proficient level or above. Fifth-grade ELA saw about half of students reach that bar, while fifth-grade math and science were closer to two-fifths proficient. Sixth-grade results showed a wider spread: math at roughly two-fifths proficient, but ELA at a lower share. When all these results are combined into a single index, Macksville Elem’s overall performance sits below the midpoint of all districts in Stafford County, a comparison that includes only three districts. The state assessments underwent a cut-score change in recent years, which makes direct trend comparisons uncertain, but the current picture shows room for improvement, particularly in the upper elementary grades.
A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the school in a context where economic need is a factor in the student population. The student body is predominantly white, with a notable Hispanic group and very small representation from Black and multiracial students. The school does not report data on students with disabilities or English learners, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those support services.
Macksville itself is a tiny agricultural community along Highway 50, with an economy centered on farming, health care, and educational services. The town has minimal commercial activity, a handful of local businesses, and a residential texture. Housing values in the area are low compared to state and national benchmarks, making homeownership accessible in relative terms. The population has seen a modest increase in recent years, though the overall size remains very small. The district reports no recent major changes such as curriculum shifts, property tax measures, or bond referendums, so the school’s offerings and operations appear stable.
For a family considering this school, the main draws are its small size, community integration, and affordable housing. The academic performance is below average relative to the limited county comparison, which is a point to investigate further with the school. The absence of program data such as specials, enrichment, or interventions means those details would need to come directly from the staff. This is a school that fits families seeking a very small, rural, close-knit setting and who are comfortable with a straightforward academic profile.
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