The top reported proficiency rate is 36% in English language arts. The lowest is 20% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on O K Elem
O K Elem sits in the Wichita Public Schools district, serving students from pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The school is located in a residential area of Wichita, the state’s largest city, which anchors its economy on aerospace manufacturing and functions as a regional hub for commerce and culture. The city is broadly car-dependent, with walkable nodes concentrated in areas like Old Town and the downtown core, and its public schools are distributed across sprawling neighborhoods.
The student body is diverse. A majority of students come from backgrounds that are not White alone, a pattern common in many urban districts. Hispanic and White students each make up a substantial share of enrollment, with a smaller but notable portion identifying as two or more races. A small share of students are Black, and a very small share are American Indian or Alaska Native. A large majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a marker of economic need. The school is relatively small for an elementary building within a large urban district.
On statewide assessments, the picture is mixed. In reading, performance varies noticeably by grade. One tested grade posted a proficiency rate that approached half of students, while another grade fell considerably short of that mark. A third grade landed in between. In math, proficiency rates were lower across all tested grades, with a modest share of students meeting the bar in each grade. Science results, available for one grade, showed roughly a third of students achieving proficiency. Overall, when the school is compared with other schools in its own county, its composite proficiency index falls in the bottom quartile. This is a soft spot. Kansas also changed its cut scores for these assessments, which means results from this year cannot be directly compared with prior years to determine whether scores are trending up or down. A parent may want to look into this further with the school to understand the current academic support strategies in place.
The district itself is Wichita Public Schools, a large urban system that serves most of the city. The school is a regular elementary, not a charter or magnet, and no information was available on whether it receives Title I funding. Data on discipline rates, chronic absenteeism, course offerings, and staffing were not available for this building. No recent major district changes from the current year were identified in publicly available sources.
Housing in the area is priced below the Kansas statewide average. Home values are moderate, making this one of the more affordable parts of the state for families looking to buy. Rental costs have risen at a faster pace recently, a dynamic families considering renting should weigh. The local economy is underpinned by major employers in aerospace and defense, with Wichita State University providing a large institutional anchor. The city’s population growth has been modest, and suburban development is more active in neighboring communities than within Wichita proper.
For a family considering O K Elem, the school serves a young, diverse population in a large urban district with significant economic need. It is not a school where the majority of students are meeting state benchmarks, particularly in math. The school may be a fit for families who prioritize a neighborhood school within a major city’s system and who are comfortable engaging directly with the school to understand what academic interventions and enrichment are available. Those seeking a building with stronger testing results or a broader array of program options may want to explore other choices within Wichita or in surrounding districts.
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