The top reported proficiency rate is 38% in English language arts. The lowest is 19% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on South Breeze Elementary
South Breeze Elementary serves a pre-kindergarten through fourth-grade population in Newton, Kansas. The school is one of several elementaries that feed into the Newton district, with a student body of modest size for its grade band. Children typically arrive here from early childhood offerings within the district and move on to the Santa Fe 5/6 Center after fourth grade.
The student population reflects the community’s makeup. A large share of students are white, and the next largest group is Hispanic. Smaller numbers of students are identified as two or more races, Black, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker that the school serves many families in an economically mixed community.
Newton itself is a mid-sized county seat with roots as a railroad and cattle-shipping town. It retains an industrial and agricultural character, with BNSF Railway still a major taxpayer, though its workforce has shrunk. The city’s population has seen a modest decline in recent years. Housing values in the area are below the Kansas median, and rents have risen sharply, which may affect family budgets. The city’s strategic plan puts emphasis on downtown investment and revitalization of older neighborhoods.
On the 2024-25 Kansas state assessments, South Breeze Elementary’s results show that a smaller share of students scored at the proficient level in math than in English language arts. In third grade, roughly a third of students reached proficiency in reading, while about two in ten did so in math. Fourth-grade reading results were a bit higher, and math proficiency for fourth grade was similar to third grade’s. The state changed cut scores for both subjects in this assessment year, which makes it impossible to compare these results to prior years. Against other schools within Newton’s home county, Harvey County, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the bottom quarter of the county’s districts. A parent may want to ask the school how it supports students who are not yet at the proficient level.
The school does not appear to have publicly reported data on chronic absenteeism, discipline, staff qualifications, or course access. No state testing results are reported for kindergarten through second grade, which is typical because those grades are not tested. The same is true for pre-kindergarten. No graduation rate is reported because the school does not serve high school grades. No multi-year trend data is available, again due to the test change.
A parent considering South Breeze will find a small elementary that reflects the demographic mix of Newton, with families from a range of economic backgrounds. The proficiency numbers are a soft spot relative to the rest of Harvey County, and the school’s approach to improving those outcomes is not visible in the available data. Families who value stability and a neighborhood school may find it a good fit. Those concerned about academic performance should look into the school’s instructional supports directly.
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