The top reported proficiency rate is 30% in English language arts. The lowest is 21% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Schilling Elem
Schilling Elem is a public elementary school in Salina, Kansas, serving students from prekindergarten through fifth grade. It operates as a regular neighborhood school within the Salina district. The student body is diverse, with the largest groups being Hispanic and White students, followed by a noticeable share of students who identify as two or more races, and smaller numbers of Asian, Black, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. A very large share of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals, indicating considerable economic need among the families the school serves.
On the Kansas state assessments, the share of students meeting proficiency standards in math, English language arts, and science was below what is typically seen across the county during the most recent testing year. In math, at each tested grade level, less than a third of students scored at the proficient level. In English language arts, the proportion was slightly higher but still fell well below half. Science results, available only for fifth graders, showed a similar pattern. Compared with other districts in Saline County, the school’s overall proficiency index placed it in the bottom quarter. Because the state changed its cut scores for these assessments, the district has noted that direct comparisons with earlier years are not straightforward, so it is unclear whether these results represent a recent decline or an ongoing pattern.
The school itself is situated in Salina, a mid-sized city that functions as a regional trade, transportation, and industrial hub for North Central Kansas. The local economy is anchored by manufacturing, food production, health care, and higher education, with employers including a frozen pizza plant, a battery manufacturer, farm equipment makers, and two hospitals. The city’s population has seen minor decline in recent decades, but its role as a transport crossroads at the intersection of two interstates keeps it connected. Housing in the area is more affordable than the state and national averages, with both home values and rents running below typical levels. For families moving to the area, the cost of living is a relative advantage, though the local job market reflects the broader mix of industrial and service employment.
The broader school district recently passed a bond issue, publicly reported in late 2023, which points to planned investments in school facilities. Details on where those funds will go have not been released in the data available here, but the vote signals community support for upgrading buildings.
For a parent considering Schilling Elem, the picture is one of a school serving a high-poverty community where academic proficiency on state tests is low relative to the surrounding area. The school does not have data available on chronic absenteeism, special education identification, or English learner populations, so it is harder to assess what specific student supports are in place. Families would want to ask the school about interventions for struggling readers and math students, as well as what enrichment opportunities exist for the modest share of students performing at higher levels. The peer environment will reflect the demographic makeup of the neighborhood and the economic stresses many families face, which can shape classroom dynamics in ways that matter to some families more than others.
Given the modest housing costs, the district’s bond investment, and the school’s small size for its grade span (it serves a few hundred students), this could be a fit for a family who wants a neighborhood school in a mid-sized Kansas city and who is prepared to partner closely with teachers to support academic progress. It is less well suited for those who expect high average test performance or who want a school with a broad array of specialized programs; those options may be found elsewhere in Salina or in more affluent districts.
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