Original Research by School Decision on Wichita Alternative High
Wichita Alternative High is a public high school serving grades nine through twelve within the Wichita Public Schools district. As its name indicates, it is an alternative school, designed for students who need a setting different from a traditional comprehensive high school. The school is located on North Chautauqua in the northeast part of Wichita.
Wichita itself is Kansas’s largest city, a major industrial and commercial center anchored by aerospace manufacturing. The city is largely car-dependent, with walkable nodes like the Old Town district downtown. The school sits in a neighborhood that reflects the city’s broader working-class and industrial character. Housing in the area is affordable relative to national benchmarks, and rents have been rising moderately in recent years.
The student body is diverse. Hispanic students form the largest single group, followed closely by White students. Black students and students identifying as two or more races make up the remainder, with smaller shares of Asian and American Indian students. A substantial majority of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a high concentration of families with lower incomes. The school serves a relatively small total enrollment, with the vast majority of students concentrated in the eleventh and twelfth grades, along with a small number of ungraded students. Very few freshmen and a modest number of sophomores are enrolled, which fits a pattern common in alternative high schools where students often transfer in later in their high school careers.
Notably, state assessment results were not available for this school. The data does not provide any test scores in reading, math, or other subjects. Similarly, a four-year graduation rate was not reported. Because the school is an alternative setting, the absence of these numbers may partly reflect the fact that many alternative schools serve over-age or credit-deficient students whose progress is measured differently—through credit attainment, transition to work or college, or other metrics that are not captured in standard accountability data. A parent considering this school should ask directly about how the school measures student progress, what the typical pathway to graduation looks like, and what outcomes students have after leaving.
Information on course offerings, Advanced Placement or dual-credit options, discipline rates, staffing ratios, and attendance patterns was also not available in the data we reviewed. The school does not appear to be a charter or magnet school. Without these details, a family would want to speak with the administration to understand the academic program, the supports available for students who may be behind in credits, and the school’s approach to preparing students for life after high school.
In short, Wichita Alternative High provides a nontraditional high school experience for a small, economically disadvantaged, and diverse group of students, most of whom enter in their upper grades. The lack of published academic and outcome data means that the most reliable way to gauge whether the school is a good fit is to visit, talk to staff, and learn about the specific program in person. The school serves a distinct purpose within the district: offering a path for students who have not succeeded in a conventional high school environment.
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