Wakarusa Valley School

Thursday, December 30, 2004

You'll have to leave Lawrence's city limits and go south of the Wakarusa River to find Wakarusa Valley School.

The school is about two miles south of the western city limits, just south and east of the Clinton Lake dam at 1104 E. 1000 Rd.

Wakarusa Valley School was opened in 1960 (before Clinton Lake was constructed) in the valley south of the Wakarusa River, hence the name.

Enrollment and socioeconomic mix

In fall 2003, the school had an enrollment of 219 students in kindergarten through grade six.

The Kansas State Board of Education Report Card includes the socioeconomic mix of all schools.

It reports that 25.78 percent of Wakarusa Valley's students are economically disadvantaged.

Here is the school's ethnicity breakdown: white, 85.55 percent; African American, 6.64 percent; Hispanic, 1.95 percent; other, 5.86 percent.

Reading and math

According to the latest state report card for Wakarusa Valley School, fifth-grade students showed a decline in reading scores and fourth-graders increased their math scores over the previous year's students.

Wakarusa Valley's students scored lower than their peers in the district in math but higher than their peers across the state in reading.

The number of the school's fifth-graders who were "proficient," "advanced," or "exemplary" in reading dropped from 86.1 percent to 74.5 percent on the state test.

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.

Wakarusa Valley School's fourth-graders tested in math showed an increase from 82.2 percent to 87.9 percnet 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 7:50 a.m. to 2:50 p.m. The school doesn't have a before- or after-school program.

The school's staff includes a total of 29 teachers and support staff.

Elias Espinosa replaced Donna Black as principal of Wakarusa Valley in 2005. Before becoming principal, Espinosa was principal at L.V. Stockard Middle School in Dallas. Black retired at the end of this academic school year after serving as principal for three years.

To arrange a visit, call 785-832-5880.