The top reported proficiency rate is 31% in English language arts. The lowest is 24% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on Sullivan Elem
Sullivan Elem serves students in grades three through five in the Ulysses school district, a small elementary building in a rural southwest Kansas county seat. The school’s grades are a narrow band, meaning families will transition children in and out of this building as they move through the district's elementary and middle school years. No preschool or kindergarten runs here; the school picks up where an earlier primary school leaves off and hands off after fifth grade.
State test results from the most recent school year place overall proficiency below the statewide average in math, English language arts, and science. In math, the share of students reaching the proficient level was modest across all three grades, and in reading the share was roughly similar. Science, tested only in fifth grade, showed a comparable pattern. Kansas recently changed the cut scores that define proficiency on its state assessment, so comparing these results to prior years is not straightforward. The performance level is an area a parent would want to discuss with the school to understand what support is in place for students who are not yet at the proficient benchmark.
The student body is predominantly Hispanic, making up roughly two-thirds of enrollment, with most of the remaining students white. A substantial share of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting the economic characteristics of the community. Data on English learner status and special education identification was not available in the source materials; these details may be obtained directly from the school.
The school sits in Ulysses, a small city that functions as the civic and commercial hub of Grant County. The local economy is rooted in agriculture—wheat, corn, livestock—and in oil and gas extraction. Housing in the area is priced well below the national and state medians, making the community relatively affordable. The city experienced a population decline between the last two decennial censuses, and publicly reported information did not point to major new housing development or growth initiatives. The district itself did not appear to have made recent changes that would be top-of-mind for parents; no significant program shifts or boundary adjustments were found in available sources.
Because Sullivan Elem serves only upper elementary grades, there is no graduation rate to report. Likewise, measures such as chronic absenteeism and discipline data were not available in the reviewed records. The school does not host high school programs, so course access and advanced coursework are not relevant here.
The academic picture is one of a school where a majority of students arrive below the state's proficiency standard in core subjects. That pattern is common in many communities with high rates of economic disadvantage and limited access to preschool enrichment, though the specific causes would require a conversation with school staff. For a family weighing this school, the key factors are the grade range—a focused three-year span—and the peer environment shaped by the local demographics and economy. The building itself sits in a small Plains town with a stable if slowly shrinking population and a housing market that is relatively accessible. Without additional data on classroom supports, tutoring, or intervention programs, families may want to ask the school directly how it addresses the academic starting point of its students and what progress it expects them to make between third and fifth grade.
See more original research from School Decision →