The top reported proficiency rate is 38% in English language arts. The lowest is 18% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Westside Elem
Westside Elementary in Pittsburg, Kansas, serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. It is one of several elementary schools in the Pittsburg public school district. The school is not a charter and does not have a magnet designation. State testing results from the most recent year available show a pattern that prospective families will want to examine closely. In math, the share of students meeting proficiency standards was modest in both third and fourth grade, and it was lower in fifth grade. In English language arts, proficiency rates were higher, though still below a majority of students, with fourth grade performing somewhat stronger than third and fifth. In fifth-grade science, only a relatively small share of students reached the proficient level. When compared with other school districts in Crawford County, Westside’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades fell below the midpoint of the group. Because these results come from a single year and the state changed its cut scores recently, the numbers may not be directly comparable with prior years; a parent or guardian may want to ask the school how it interprets these figures and what steps are underway to address them.
The student body reflects a broad mix of backgrounds. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of economic need that is higher than many schools in the region. Racially and ethnically, the largest group is white, with a notable presence of Hispanic students and a smaller but still meaningful number of students who identify as two or more races. There are also small numbers of students who are Black, Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and American Indian or Alaska Native. Enrollment is concentrated heavily in pre-kindergarten, which accounts for a large portion of the school’s total; the kindergarten through fifth-grade classes are each moderate in size.
The school is located in the city of Pittsburg, a community shaped by Pittsburg State University. The city’s economy depends heavily on education and government employment, with some industrial facilities also present. Housing in the area is more affordable than statewide and national averages, according to the data available. Rents have risen in the recent period, while home values have held roughly steady. The rental vacancy rate was described as soft, likely influenced by the large student population from the university. Pittsburg’s downtown corridor and the university campus are in close proximity, giving the city a compact feel. Parks, trails, and recreational amenities are spread throughout the city.
The district operates multiple elementary schools, a community middle school, and a high school, all distributed across Pittsburg rather than concentrated on one campus. No recent significant policy changes, curriculum shifts, or property tax measures were found in publicly available records for the district. That means families should rely on direct inquiry with the school or district office for information about upcoming initiatives or programming.
Because Westside Elementary serves only through fifth grade, there is no graduation rate to report, and course access information for older grades is not applicable. Data on chronic absenteeism and special education or English learner populations was not available in this profile. Families who want details on these topics should contact the school directly.
In sum, Westside Elementary is a pre-K through fifth grade school in a university town with affordable housing and a student body that is economically diverse. Its state assessment results, particularly in math and science, are below the midpoint of county districts, while English language arts results are somewhat stronger. The school does not offer specialized programs that would appear in broad public data. A family considering this school should request more specific information about academic support, class sizes, and how the school works with students who need additional help.
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