The top reported proficiency rate is 61% in English language arts. The lowest is 37% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Woodland Elem
Woodland Elem is a pre-kindergarten-through-grade-5 public school in the Olathe school district, located in suburban Johnson County, Kansas. For a family looking at an elementary school in the Olathe area, this building offers a window into the kind of foundation a young student can expect in the early grades.
The student body is small relative to many other schools for its grade band, a feature that can appeal to families who prefer a more contained setting. Racially and ethnically, the school is predominantly white, with a smaller but present share of Hispanic, Black, multiracial, and Asian students. About a quarter of the students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a rate that places the school in a relatively lower-poverty bracket compared to many elementary schools nationally.
On state reading assessments, more than a bit over half of the third and fifth graders scored proficient or above, while fourth graders posted a stronger showing with well over two-thirds reaching that bar. In math, proficiency was nearer to the middle for third grade and around the same level for fourth and fifth grades, with each grade scoring in the low to mid-sixty percent range. That pattern gives a mixed picture: the upper elementary grades in math hold fairly steady, while English language arts dips in fifth grade after a strong fourth-grade year. A family considering this school may want to ask about how the building supports literacy as students move into the intermediate years.
Science scores are markedly weaker; well under half of fifth graders reached proficiency. That is a soft spot, and given that science is tested less often in these grades, it is worth a parent's attention to learn how the school delivers science instruction in the earlier grades as well.
The Kansas assessment system changed its cut scores in the most recent testing year, so these results cannot be directly compared to prior years. The available data gives a single snapshot, not a trend.
Olathe is the county seat of Johnson County, a fast-growing suburban city of substantial size southwest of Kansas City. Major employers like Garmin, Honeywell, and the FAA operate large facilities in the city, and the district is the largest employer in town. The housing market is expensive relative to national norms, with the typical home value sitting well above the state median. Monthly rents are also high. The city has a history of robust population growth, which has fueled demand for school facilities and driven recent developments in the district.
Families should be aware that the Olathe district underwent a significant shift recently: voters approved a bond package that will fund a new elementary school and various facility improvements without raising the property tax mill levy. At the same time, the school board voted to close three elementary schools at the end of the 2024-25 school year because of budget pressures and declining overall enrollment within the district—a trend that may seem at odds with city growth but reflects shifting demographics and family patterns. For a family settling into Woodland Elem's attendance area, the boundary changes from those closures could matter down the road, as new students are reassigned to different buildings. The bond also ensures that resources for security and technology are being updated across the district.
When set against other districts within Johnson County, Woodland Elem posts an overall proficiency score that lands in the top quarter. That context is meaningful: Johnson County contains some of the higher-performing school systems in Kansas, so a top-quartile position here signals that the school is performing well relative to a strong field. A family making a choice within this county can treat Woodland Elem as a solid performer on the academic measures that are reported, with some variability by subject and grade that is common at the elementary level.
The school does not report any data on special education or English-learner populations in the available records. A parent with a child who might need those services should reach out to the school directly to get a clearer picture of what is available. Because Woodland Elem serves only elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to consider. The school's charter and magnet status are not indicated, and no Title I status is reported.
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