The top reported proficiency rate is 49% in English language arts. The lowest is 42% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Stafford Elementary
Stafford Elementary serves students from prekindergarten through fifth grade in the town of Stafford, Kansas, a small agricultural community on the eastern edge of Stafford County along U.S. Route 50. The school occupies a compact building on Broadway, the town's main corridor, where city hall and other civic functions are also located. For a town that has experienced long-term population decline and a high rate of vacant housing, the elementary school is a central anchor of local life.
The student body is small and predominantly white, with a smaller share of Hispanic students and very few students of other racial backgrounds. A substantial portion of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the area's economic profile, which is tied to agriculture, oil, and utilities. No data was available on students with disabilities or English learners.
Academically, the school participates in the Kansas Assessment Program (KAP), though the state changed its cut scores for math and English language arts in the tested year, which means comparing results to prior years is not straightforward. In the most recent results, performance varied notably across grades and subjects. On the positive side, third graders showed a strong proficiency rate in math and a solid rate in reading. Fifth graders also posted a moderate proficiency rate in math and reading, and fifth-grade science results were comparable. Fourth graders, however, had lower proficiency rates in both math and reading, a soft spot that a parent may want to discuss further with the school to understand the support available at that grade level.
When placed relative to districts in Stafford County, the school's overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades sits above the midpoint among the county's three districts. That is a favorable context, though the county itself is small and the range of performance between the districts is narrow.
Beyond state test results, publicly available information is limited. The school is not a charter or magnet school, and we found no data on programs such as gifted education, special education services, or enrichment offerings. Similarly, there is no reported information on classroom staffing ratios, attendance rates, or discipline incidents. A parent considering this school should be aware that these details were not available in the sources we reviewed.
The housing market in Stafford is very affordable compared to state and national averages, with home values far below typical levels. The estimated monthly mortgage payment on a median-priced home is modest, making homeownership accessible for many families. Rents, for which we had no local index, are likely also low given the area's economic context. The unemployment rate nationally is near full employment, but the local economy has faced headwinds from population decline and a limited employer base beyond municipal services and the school district itself.
Growth and development are not active themes here. Population projections point to continued decline, and no new housing developments were identified in search results. The town sits in a Federal Opportunity Zone, and the county partners with municipalities on economic development projects, but tangible impacts are not evident yet. For a family, the decision about this school is tied closely to the choice of living in a quiet, shrinking rural town with low housing costs and a close-knit community.
Stafford Elementary is a small, neighborhood-focused school in a rural setting where academic performance is mixed but competitive within its county. The absence of program and support data means families will want to visit and ask directly about how the school meets the needs of different learners, especially in the grade levels where test results were weaker. For those who value a compact, walkable town with very low housing costs and a school that serves as a community hub, this school fits that profile.
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