The top reported proficiency rate is 52% in English language arts. The lowest is 26% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Heller Elem
Heller Elem serves students from prekindergarten through third grade in Neodesha, a small rural city in southeastern Kansas with a manufacturing and oil heritage. The community has been working to attract and retain families through housing development, scholarship programs, and incentive packages, which gives context for the school’s role as an early elementary entry point in the district.
The school enrolls a moderate number of students across its five grade levels. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic profile of the community. The student body is predominantly white, with smaller shares of students identifying as two or more races, Hispanic, Black, and other backgrounds. Data on the share of students with disabilities and English learners was not available.
State testing in Kansas begins in third grade, so Heller’s academic performance data comes from that single grade level. On the Kansas Assessment Program, third graders showed a modest proficiency rate in math, while a larger share met the proficiency bar in English language arts. The school’s overall proficiency index, which averages tested subjects, placed it among the stronger performers in Wilson County’s small cohort of districts. Because Kansas changed its math cut scores in the tested year, direct comparisons with prior years are not possible, and trend data was not available.
As an early elementary school, Heller does not have a graduation rate or chronic absenteeism measures that would apply to older grade bands. No data was reported on discipline, course access, or staffing ratios, so those areas remain unexamined in this profile. The school’s program offerings were also not documented in the available data.
Housing in the Neodesha area is notably more affordable than state and national benchmarks, with home values that have seen a modest recent decline, per publicly reported estimates. For families moving to the area, this lower-cost housing market aligns with the town’s active recruitment of new residents through incentives and development plans. The school sits within a compact town where civic institutions, downtown, and schools are in close proximity, reflecting the integrated small-town fabric described in publicly available community profiles.
The district itself, Neodesha USD 461, did not have any major parent-relevant changes publicly reported in the recent period covered. This stability, paired with the town’s growth initiatives, suggests a community that is steady in its school operations while trying to build momentum.
For a family considering Heller Elem, the picture is of a small, community-rooted early elementary school in a town actively seeking to grow. Academic performance in the tested grade is mixed by subject but strong relative to neighboring districts. The absence of data on special populations, staffing, and programs means a family should expect to ask the school directly about services for students with disabilities, class sizes, and enrichment offerings beyond the core curriculum.
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