22 November 2023
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Two Kansas schools have earned national titles for exceptional student achievement.
One is Wheatland Elementary School in Valley Center. The other is Valley Heights Elementary School in Blue Rapids in northern Kansas.
Both schools have been named National ESEA (Elementary and Secondary Education Act) Distinguished Schools. The program used to be called the National Title I Distinguished Schools Program.
The National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators implemented the program to highlight schools that have successfully used ESEA federal funds to improve education for all students.
The program showcases the success of schools in one of three categories:
Category 1: Exceptional student performance and academic growth for two or more consecutive years
Category 2: Closing the achievement gap between students
Category 3: Excellence in serving special populations of students
Wheatland Elementary
Wheatland Elementary School is being recognized in category 2 — for closing the achievement gap between student groups for two or more consecutive years.
“We are so proud of all the staff and students at Wheatland Elementary School,” Greg Lehr, Valley Center USD 262 superintended, said in a news release. “To be recognized and awarded for their hard work in closing the achievement gap between student groups is remarkable. Wheatland is an example of how our district is reaching our vision of being a premier school district known for excellence in education.”
“I am so proud of the hard work of the Wheatland teachers and staff to help our students grow both academically and socially,” Principal Rachel McClaran said. “It is such a great honor to be recognized for the dedication and drive to make a difference in all our students’ lives and specifically for closing the achievement gap between student groups.”
Valley Heights Elementary
This is the second time Valley Heights Elementary School has been honored. The first time was in 2017 for category 2—this time, it is being recognized in category 1.
The school was also recently recognized as a National Blue Ribbon School, one of the U.S. Department of Education’s longest-running recognition programs.
The ESEA Distinguished Schools will get a commemorative award package, a dedicated section on the ESEA Network website and a special presentation at the National ESEA Conference. The two Kansas schools will receive a stipend to attend the conference in Oregon in February.
Previous Kansas winners
These are the other Kansas schools that have been honored since the program began in 1996:
New York Elementary School, Lawrence USD 497, 1996
Ogden Elementary School, Manhattan-Ogden USD 383, 1996
Miller Elementary School, Dodge City USD 443, 1997
Guthridge Elementary School, Parsons USD 503, 1997
Enterprise Elementary School, Chapman USD 473, 1998
Morrison Elementary School, Great Bend USD 428, 1998
Robinson Elementary School, Hiawatha USD 415, 1999
Wineteer Elementary School, Derby USD 260, 1999
Haverhill Elementary School, Bluestem USD 205, 2000
Dexter Elementary School, Dexter USD 471, 2000
St. Marys Grade School, Kaw Valley USD 321, 2001
Altamont Elementary School, Labette USD 506, 2001
Colwich Elementary School, Renwick USD 267, 2002
Saint Marks Elementary School, Renwick USD 267, 2002
Custer Hill Elementary School, Geary County USD 475, 2004
Francis Willard Elementary School, Arkansas City USD 470, 2004
Meadows Elementary School, Topeka USD 501, 2005
Keith L. Ware Elementary School, Geary County USD 475, 2006
Sunflower Intermediate School, Liberal USD 480, 2006
Georgia Matthews Elementary School, Garden City USD 457, 2007
Westwood Elementary School, Geary County USD 475, 2007
McCarter Elementary School, Topeka USD 501, 2008
Horace Mann Dual Language Magnet School, Wichita USD 259, 2008
Garfield Elementary School, Parsons USD 503, 2009
Holcomb Elementary School, Holcomb USD 363, 2009
Pauline South Intermediate School, Auburn-Washburn USD 437, 2010
Fairview Elementary School, Olathe USD 233, 2010
Dodge Literacy Magnet Elementary School, Wichita USD 259, 2011
Washington Elementary School, Olathe USD 233, 2011
Washington Elementary School, Geary County USD 475, 2012
Garfield Elementary School, Garden City USD 457, 2012
Northwest Elementary School, Dodge City USD 443, 2012
Nelson Elementary School, Haysville USD 261, 2012
Kathryn O’Loughlin McCarthy Elementary School, Hays USD 489, 2013 and 2018
Curtis Middle School, Wichita USD 259, 2013
Sterling Grade School, Sterling USD 376, 2016
West Elk School, West Elk USD 282, 2016
Pleasant Ridge Elementary School, Easton USD 449, 2017
Roesland Elementary School, Shawnee Mission USD 512, 2018
Ruth Clark Elementary School, Wichita USD 259, 2019
New Stanley Elementary School, Kansas City USD 500, 2019
Chetopa Elementary School, Chetopa-St. Paul USD 505, 2020
Sheridan Elementary School, Geary County USD 475, 2020
Lincoln Memorial Elementary School, Caney Valley USD 436, 2021
Bertram Caruthers Elementary School, Kansas City USD 500, 2021
Westview Elementary School, Olathe USD 233, 2022
Hillsboro Elementary School, Hillsboro USD 410, 2022