The top reported proficiency rate is 70% in English language arts. The lowest is 46% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Vermillion Elementary School
Vermillion Elementary is one of the larger elementary schools in the Maize district, serving students from prekindergarten through fourth grade. The school sits in Maize, a fast-growing northwestern suburb of Wichita that has transformed from a small bedroom community into a mix of residential neighborhoods, industrial employers, and commercial strips along K-96 Highway. The city’s population has increased sharply in recent years, and the district has responded with new facilities, including two intermediate schools and a performing arts and aquatics center opened in 2022, funded by a bond issue. That context of rapid residential growth and district investment shapes the environment families encounter here.
The student body is predominantly white, with a sizable Hispanic population and smaller shares of students who are Black, Asian, or of two or more races. About a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a share that is well below the national average and points to a relatively affluent community. The school enrolls a notably large prekindergarten program, which makes the total enrollment figure high for a school that ends at fourth grade. This suggests the building serves as a hub for early childhood education in the area, and families with young children may find that emphasis appealing. Housing costs in the zip code are above the state median, and the typical home value has increased in the past year, consistent with the area’s growth narrative. Rents are roughly in line with what a household earning the national median income would be expected to pay, and buying a home would cost more each month than renting, so affordability is a factor families will want to weigh against their budget and commute preferences.
On state assessments, third graders posted a proficiency rate in English language arts that is solid, and fourth graders were at a similar level. Math proficiency was somewhat lower, with third graders performing better than fourth graders. Science results are available only from an older testing cycle, and those scores were lower, but the data is not current enough to draw a reliable picture of current science performance. Taken together, the school’s overall proficiency index across tested subjects and grades places it in the top quartile relative to other school districts in Sedgwick County. That is a strong showing, though it is important to note that the test itself underwent a cut-score change in recent years, so direct comparisons to earlier performance are not straightforward. A parent who wants to understand how specific subgroups of students are performing would need to ask the school directly, because the available data does not break out results by race, income, or other student groups.
The school is part of the Maize district, which adopted a strategic plan running through 2028 that focuses on culture, staffing, academic improvement, and facilities growth. That plan gives families a sense of the district’s priorities and trajectory. Vermillion itself does not appear to have a magnet or charter designation, and no program offerings beyond the standard curriculum were reported. The disciplinary environment and chronic absenteeism data were also absent from the information we reviewed, so a family that considers those factors important should inquire with the school office.
This is a school that suits a family looking for a large elementary setting within a growing, suburban district that has invested in new infrastructure. The student population is relatively advantaged economically, the academic results are above the county median, and the community context is one of steady residential expansion. Families who value a strong prekindergarten program or who are moving into the Maize area with young children will find this a natural option to investigate. Those who want detailed information on special education services, English learner support, or discipline patterns will need to follow up directly, as those details were not available in the data reviewed.
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