The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in English language arts. The lowest is 21% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on Lawrence Elem
Lawrence Elementary serves students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in the Wichita school district, a large urban public system in Kansas’s largest city. The school occupies a building at the intersection of West Maple Street and South Edgemoor Street on the west side of Wichita, a neighborhood shaped by the city’s industrial and aerospace economy. The surrounding area is primarily residential and car-dependent, with pockets of commercial development along major arteries. The school sits within a district that serves a broad cross-section of the city’s families, from its historic Old Town core to the sprawling suburban-style neighborhoods that radiate outward.
The student body reflects the diversity of this part of Wichita. Hispanic students make up the largest share of enrollment, followed by a substantial White population and a smaller but present share of Black students. A modest share of students identify with two or more races. Very few Asian or American Indian or Alaska Native students attend. A large majority of the school’s families qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating that the school serves a community with significant economic need. The school’s grade band runs from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade, so there is no graduation rate to report and no high school course offerings such as Advanced Placement or dual credit.
State testing results from the most recent school year show proficiency levels that fall below the midpoint for schools across the county, placing Lawrence Elementary in the bottom quarter compared with district peers in Sedgwick County. In mathematics, the share of students meeting or exceeding state standards remained below one in three across third, fourth, and fifth grades. English language arts results were somewhat higher but still showed that fewer than half of students reached proficiency in any tested grade. In science, only a portion of fifth graders met the state benchmark. These results suggest that a parent may want to ask the school about the specific supports in place for students who are not yet meeting grade-level expectations. The state adjusted its cut scores for math and English language arts in this testing year, which means the results may not be directly comparable to prior years, a factor worth keeping in mind.
Wichita as a city is anchored by aerospace manufacturing, with major employers including Spirit AeroSystems, Textron Aviation, Bombardier Learjet, and Airbus, alongside McConnell Air Force Base and Wichita State University. Employment in the region is tied to the cycles of defense and commercial aviation. The city’s population has grown modestly in recent years. Housing in the area around Lawrence Elementary is relatively affordable compared with national benchmarks, with home values and rents below the Kansas statewide typical level. This affordability may be a factor for families choosing to live in this part of the district.
Among Lawrence Elementary’s peer schools in the Wichita system, its overall proficiency index ranks in the bottom quartile. The district has not publicly reported any recent major strategic changes or facility improvements, but the school is part of a large urban district that allocates resources across many schools. A family considering Lawrence Elementary may want to learn more about the school’s specific interventions and enrichment programs, as testing data alone gives a partial picture of what a young student will experience day to day. The school’s pre-kindergarten program is a resource for families with younger children, and the elementary grade span means students will move on to a middle school after fifth grade, a transition point that can be discussed with the school’s staff.
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