The top reported proficiency rate is 63% in Math. The lowest is 41% in Science.
Original Research by School Decision on West Central Area S. El.
West Central Area South Elementary serves students from prekindergarten through fourth grade in Kensington, a very small rural community in Douglas County about a short drive southwest of Alexandria. The school is part of the West Central Area district, which also includes other elementary and secondary campuses. This building is one of the district’s early-elementary sites, and its size matches the community it serves: enrollment is small for a public school, with one classroom per grade and a prekindergarten program.
The student body is predominantly white, with a modest share of Hispanic students and a very small number of Black students. About two-fifths of students come from low-income households, as measured by free or reduced-price meal eligibility. Special education and English learner counts were not available in the data, so a parent may want to ask the school directly about those supports.
Academically, the school places above the midpoint among districts in Douglas County on overall proficiency across tested subjects and grades, sitting in the top quartile of the small number of districts with comparable data. Math results show a clear strength: third graders reached a high proficiency rate, and fourth graders also performed at a solid level, though below the third-grade mark. English language arts tells a more mixed story. Third graders scored at a level that is above average, but fourth graders fell below the half-proficient mark. That drop from one grade to the next is a soft spot a parent may want to investigate with the school—whether it reflects a cohort difference, a shift in curriculum, or something else worth understanding. Science results are not available from recent testing; only data from many years ago exists, so no current picture there. The school has only one year of assessment data for math and ELA in the dataset, so there is no trend to evaluate.
Because the school serves only prekindergarten through fourth grade, there is no graduation rate to report. Students move on to other district schools for upper elementary and secondary grades.
Kensington itself is a small town platted as a railroad stop. Its population has seen a slight decline in recent years, and the local economy is modest: about a few dozen business establishments employ a relatively small workforce. Many residents likely commute to Alexandria for work. The town has a city park, a community center used for civic events and rentals, and an all-volunteer fire department. The Kensington Runestone, a controversial artifact, was discovered nearby and is now displayed in Alexandria, but the town celebrates with an annual Runestone Days festival. The housing market is affordable relative to national benchmarks, with home values below the state average and rents that are manageable for typical incomes.
The district’s recent parent-relevant changes were not found in available records, so nothing specific can be reported there. That may simply mean no major shifts have occurred recently.
For a family, this is a small rural elementary school where math performance stands out while reading scores vary by grade. The setting is quiet, tightly knit, and far from dense urban life. Parents who want a school where students are known individually and where the community is the center of daily life will find that here. Those concerned about the drop in fourth-grade reading or who want more information on special education and English learner services should reach out directly to the school.
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