The top reported proficiency rate is 55% in English language arts. The lowest is 45% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Susan B Anthony Middle School
SusanB Anthony Middle School is a public middle school serving grades six through eight in Manhattan, Kansas, part of the Manhattan-Ogden school district. The school sits in a city shaped by the presence of Kansas State University, which dominates the local economy and gives Manhattan a college-town atmosphere. Downtown Manhattan lies on a flat floodplain at the junction of the Kansas and Big Blue rivers, and the university campus is interwoven with the city. The area is also influenced by nearby Fort Riley, a major Army installation whose personnel and civilian employees often live in Manhattan. The surrounding Flint Hills region provides a strong sense of place, with natural anchors like Tuttle Creek Reservoir and the Konza Prairie.
The school’s enrollment reflects a racially and economically diverse student body. A majority of students are white, with a sizable Hispanic population and smaller shares of students who are Black, Asian, two or more races, Native American, or Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. About a third of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, a measure of economic need that is modest relative to many schools nationally. The school is not a charter or magnet, and no designation for Title I or special program offerings was provided in the data we reviewed, so parents would want to check directly with the school about any specialized academic tracks or support services.
State assessment results from the Kansas Assessment Program (KAP) are available for the 2024-25 school year. In English language arts, the share of students scoring proficient or above was roughly in the mid-fifty percent range across all three grade levels, with slightly higher performance in seventh grade than in sixth or eighth. In math, proficiency rates were lower, landing in the low- to mid-forty percent range, with seventh graders again performing a bit above the other grades. Science results, tested only in eighth grade, showed about 45 percent of students meeting the proficient threshold. These figures place the school’s overall proficiency index below the midpoint when compared among the three districts in Riley County. In fact, the school’s index is only a hair above the lowest district in the county, suggesting that academic performance here is not among the stronger options in the area. A parent considering this school may want to inquire about targeted academic supports, how the school addresses gaps in math and science, and what interventions are in place for students who are not yet meeting proficiency.
Because this is a middle school, no graduation rate or chronic absenteeism data is available, and the data we received did not include information about discipline, staffing, or course access. Those are meaningful gaps, and a family evaluating the school would be wise to ask the school for current details on class sizes, teacher experience, and student behavior patterns.
The housing market around the school appears moderately priced relative to the state of Kansas overall. Home values in the area are above the statewide median, but still below the national average. Rents have been rising, though they remain within a range that is affordable relative to local incomes. The community continues to grow gradually, sustained by the university and the public sector.
The district’s recent developments, such as any bond elections or major facility projects, were not surfaced in the data provided, so we cannot speak to that context. Overall, Susan B Anthony Middle School offers a standard public middle school experience in a college-town setting, with a student body that is economically and racially varied. Its academic results, as measured by state tests, are not strong relative to other districts in Riley County, and families should look closely at how the school supports student learning, particularly in math and science.
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