West Elk Unified School District 282

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 13 towns

Serves Howard Township, Howard, Wildcat Township, Moline, Twin Grove Township, Greenfield Township, Elk Falls Township, Severy, Union Center Township, Elk Falls, Center Township, Paw Paw Township and Painterhood Township, and parts of Longton Township, Fall River Township, Salt Springs Township, Liberty Township and Lafayette Township.

Students

597

Schools

Spent per student

$19,705

KS $14,966

Students per teacher

16:1

Free or reduced lunch

68%

Debt

$10.6M

fiscal 2024

The gist

What stands out about West Elk Unified School District 282

School Grade C: better than 26% of Kansas districts
Math proficiency 6 pts below the state
Spends 32% more per student than the KS average
16 students per teacher
Enrollment down 12.7% since 2021
Debt of $10.6M, about $17,730 per student

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Evan Township.

PK–53 elementary schoolsCheney Unified School District 268

6–83 middle schoolsCheney Unified School District 268

9–123 high schoolsCheney Unified School District 268

Test scores vs. KS

2020–21

Math proficiency22%

State average 27.9%

Reading / language arts32%

State average 35.5%

Graduation rate (4-year)90%

State average 88% · small group: the state reports 80–100%

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024

$19,705 per student · 32% above KS

Spending

Classroom instruction 76%Support & administration 21%Other 3%

Paid for by

Local (mostly property tax) 35%State 54%Federal 11%

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time

684’21

551’22

607’23

597’24

Down 12.7% since 2021.

Students

White 75%Hispanic 13%Black 5%Two or more races 4%American Indian/Alaska Native 3%Asian <1%

Schools in the district

2 public schools.

West Elk Schools

Other · Grades PK–12 · Howard

C+

371 students11:1

West Elk Virtual Academy

Other · Grades K–12 · Howard

226 students58:1

Towns served

Howard Township 582Howard 516Wildcat Township 487Moline 354Twin Grove Township 308Greenfield Township 240Elk Falls Township 200Severy 175Union Center Township 160Elk Falls 126Center Township 47 Paw Paw Township 43 Painterhood Township 36

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Eureka Unified School District 389Bachelor Township, Eureka Township, Otter Creek Township

$16,941per student

Fredonia Unified School District 484Fall River Township, Verdigris Township

$17,662per student

Central Unified School District 462Harvey Township, Windsor Township

$17,977per student

Elk Valley Unified School District 283Oak Valley Township

$21,960per student

District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES directory and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Neighbor ratings are opinions.