The top reported proficiency rate is 11% in English language arts. The lowest is 4% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Eisenhower Middle School
Eisenhower Middle School serves students in sixth through eighth grade in Topeka Public Schools, the state capital’s largest district. The school sits in the southeastern part of the city, inside Shawnee County. Topeka itself is a community built around state government, manufacturing, and agriculture, with civic anchors such as the Kansas State Capitol, Gage Park and the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site. The city’s population has been relatively stable, with a modest estimated decline in recent years, and its housing market is notably more affordable than the national median. Rents and home values in the area around the school sit below Kansas benchmarks, and the typical household in the broader economy earns a middle-income wage relative to national figures, though persistent national rent pressures and mortgage rates shape the options families face.
Eisenhower is a regular public school, not a magnet or charter, with a student body of roughly the size typical for a middle school in a mid-sized district. The composition of the school reflects a diverse enrollment where a substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of lower household income that is common in many urban districts. In terms of race and ethnicity, the largest single group is Hispanic students, followed by Black students, White students, and a comparable share of students who identify as two or more races. The school’s racial and economic mix means that its peer environment is one of considerable diversity, both in background and in income level.
The academic picture is a central consideration for any family evaluating Eisenhower. On the Kansas statewide assessments, which use the KAP test, proficiency rates across reading, math, and science are low in each tested grade. In reading, the share of students scoring proficient or above is in the low double digits for sixth grade, lower for seventh, and slightly higher for eighth. In math, the rates are in the single digits across all three grades, with a modest uptick by eighth grade. In science, which the state tests only in eighth grade, the proficiency rate is again in the single digits. Taken together, the school’s overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades places it in the bottom quartile when compared to other districts in Shawnee County. The Kansas cut scores for these assessments changed recently, which means these results cannot be directly compared to prior years’ figures, but the current snapshot shows a school where a large majority of students are not meeting the state’s academic benchmarks. A parent who values high test performance as a primary signal would find little support for that priority here, and anyone considering the school should ask about what academic interventions or supports are in place, and how the school is addressing these outcomes.
The available data does not include information on discipline, chronic absenteeism, staffing ratios, or course access, so it is not possible to say whether the school offers an extensive range of electives, advanced coursework at the middle school level, or specialized programming within the building. However, the district as a whole operates a network of magnet schools and signature campuses, with themes such as dual language, science and fine arts, music, performing arts, and STEAM. Eisenhower Middle School does not appear to host one of these designated magnet or signature programs, which means that the specialized options that shape enrollment decisions for some Topeka families are available elsewhere in the district rather than at this campus.
The district has publicly reported a sustained multi-year improvement in its graduation rate, though that is a high-school-level metric and does not directly apply to a middle school. It does indicate that Topeka Public Schools as a system is working on student persistence, which middle school families may consider as students prepare to transition to high school. Housing in this part of Topeka is less expensive than in many other Kansas communities, which can make combined home and school decisions more accessible for families who are looking for affordability.
In sum, Eisenhower Middle School serves a diverse, lower-income student body in a city with a stable population and a moderate cost of living. Its academic proficiency rates are low across the board, and it sits in the bottom tier compared to other Shawnee County districts. Parents who are interested should seek direct information from the school about its academic support programs, any special offerings within the building, and how it works with students who are performing below grade level. The school’s non-magnet, standard-program status means that families seeking a themed or specialized middle school experience would likely need to pursue one of the district’s signature or magnet campuses.
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