The top reported proficiency rate is 61% in Science. The lowest is 50% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Maize South Intermediate School
Maize South Intermediate School serves only fifth and sixth graders, a focused two-year bridge between elementary and middle school. It opened in 2022 as part of a district-wide bond-funded expansion, so the building and its facilities are relatively new. The school sits in the Maize school district, which covers a portion of the Wichita metro area that has seen steady suburban growth—new housing, new commercial development, and a district that has added capacity to keep up with enrollment. The zip code area where the school is located shows home values above the Kansas median and rents that have risen, reflecting the demand in this part of Sedgwick County.
Academically, the school’s strongest showing is in English language arts and science. On the 2024–25 state assessments (the Kansas Assessment Program), fifth graders posted a solid proficiency level in ELA, while sixth graders were closer to the middle mark. Math proficiency for both grades was near half. Because Kansas changed the cut scores for these tests in 2024–25, direct comparisons with prior years are not possible, so a multi-year trend is not yet available. Still, when you average proficiency across all tested subjects and grades, the school lands in the top quartile among districts in Sedgwick County. That positions it as a stronger performer within the county, though not at the very top.
The student body is moderate in size for a two-grade school and is predominantly white, with a substantial share of Hispanic students and smaller numbers of Asian, Black, and multiracial students. About a quarter of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a common level for a suburban school in this area. The school does not report data on students with disabilities or English learners, which a parent may want to ask the school about directly. As an intermediate school that stops at sixth grade, there is no graduation rate to report, and chronic absenteeism figures were also missing from the available data.
The Maize district as a whole has been investing heavily. The same bond issue that built this school also funded a performing arts and aquatics center, and the district has a strategic plan through 2028 that focuses on culture, staffing, student learning, and facilities. For families moving into the area, these investments signal that the district is managing growth and has added dedicated spaces for intermediate grades. The school itself is a fairly new part of that system, so class sizes and the condition of the building are likely advantages.
In terms of setting, the school is located in Wichita but serves the Maize attendance area, which leans suburban and residential. The wider Wichita economy is anchored by aerospace manufacturing, and the local housing market has risen in step with that employment base. The school is car-dependent, as is most of the metro, but the district’s two intermediate schools mean that fifth and sixth graders are in their own building rather than housed with older students—a structural choice that some families prefer.
Overall, Maize South Intermediate offers a new building, above-average academic results relative to the county, and a district that has been adding capacity and setting long-term priorities. The missing data on special populations and attendance are gaps worth checking with the school, but the core academic picture is clear.
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