In the early 1950s, Lawrence was growing just to the west of Iowa Street. And a housing development called Sunset Hill was being built, creating the need for a new elementary school for the young families moving there.

The new school, named Sunset Hill School for the housing development, was opened in 1955 at 901 Schwarz Road, just a few blocks away from West Junior High School.

After a half-century, Sunset Hill School is no longer on the edge of development but is tucked away in what is now west-central Lawrence.

Enrollment and socioeconomic mix

In November 2004, the school had an enrollment of 304 students in kindergarten through grade six.

The Kansas State Board of Education Report Card includes the socioeconomic mix of all schools. It reports that 32.83 percent of Sunset Hill’s students are economically disadvantaged.

Here is the school’s ethnicity breakdown: white, 71.39 percent; African American, 11.45 percent; Hispanic, 1.81 percent; other, 15.36 percent.

Reading and math

According to the latest state report card for Sunset Hill School, fifth-grade students showed an incearse in reading scores and fourth-graders increased their math scores over the previous year’s students.

Sunset Hill Elementary School901 Schwarz Rd.Lawrence, KS 66049-2664Phone number: 785-832-5880School Web site:schools.usd497.org/sunsethillFind homes in this school district360 Photo: Art classroom

Sunset Hill’s students scored higher than their peers in the district and across the state in reading. Also, the school’s students scored higher in math assessments than their peers in the district and across the state, earning a state Standard of Excellence rating for math.

The number of the school’s fifth-graders who were “proficient,” “advanced,” or “exemplary” in reading increased from 64.7 percent to 85 percent on the state test from 2003 to 2004.

The Lawrence district’s overall reading score for fifth-graders showed that 74.8 percent were either proficent, advanced or exemplary in reading. The overall state score was 72.1 percent for those categories.

Sunset Hill School’s fourth-graders tested in math showed an increase from 78.0 percent to 88.9 percent between 2003 and 2004 for students scoring at either proficient, advanced or exemplary levels.

That compared with 81 percent for the entire district and 80.3 percent for the state.

Hours and staff

The school’s regular hours are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The school doesn’t have a before- or after-school program.

The school’s staff includes a total of 34 teachers and support staff.

One of Sunset Hill’s teachers, Jan Dicker, then a teacher at Grant School, was named the district’s Teacher of the Year in 2000.

Sunset Hill School’s principal is Chris Bay, who became principal in 2004 after teaching at the former Grant School. To arrange a visit, call 785-832-5880.