Why are KS schools so darn good? (Wichita, Kansas City: 2014, neighborhoods)

[Mathguy]

I had a friend move recently to KS in recent years citing the additional kids they were having as reason for the move.

They said, "I can't pay 15k a year for three kids each to attend private school without considering moving." Which they did. (I'm not going to comment where they moved from because that's not the point of the thread)

I guess this is a great reason why people wish to move to KS?

Despite all the ignorant national rhetoric about teachers or blue\red states here we have one of the best public school systems in the country.

Even now, despite government changes, things still look pretty strong.

So, why does KS typically do so well vs. national averages?

[AnywhereElse]

Maybe the schools changed, but being able to trace schools, a few and their graduates, prior to this century, the education they were receiving wasn't that impressive. Maybe in the wealthy areas of the state they do well, especially where a generous part of the budget isn't going for "English as a Second Language", but here, just a few blocks from the state teaching colleges, schools are rated very poorly. Each individual area, not even district, but neighborhoods within a city would have to be looked at in order to make a choice. If one can live in a wealthier neighborhood in the larger cities, I am sure they will find a highly rated school and this extends to all states that I know of.

I remember all too well when my older son was going to school..................

[Mattks]

As a product of Kansas education, I've been pretty happy with our education system. Most of the people I know that grew up here are doing well too. I wouldn't say Kansas is the best, but compared to our neighbors and the national average, we do seem to do well. The plains states and the upper Midwest have always seemed to standout from from the rest of the nation, in a good way. Kansas traditionally has funded education very well, just like our northern neighbors, especially relative to the south and inner west. In 2016 Kansas dropped its funding by about $1000 per student. Meanwhile Nebraska has increased their funding and N Dakota has increased their funding by a whopping $1100 per student. Not that money is everything, but the worst performing states are all states that spend the least on education. Kansas is a deep red state, but we're not shy about spending money where is counts, like education and infrastructure.

I have a nephew who went to a dual language magnet school and I was very impressed. I believe all the dual language schools in Kansas are English/Spanish, but there does exist other variations, but English is always one of the languages. Basically half the school day is in English and half in Spanish. The one here in Topeka has very good teachers. I haven't kept up with how it is doing, my brothers family moved to Denver last year for his military reassignment.

[Mathguy]

Originally Posted by AnywhereElse

Maybe the schools changed, but being able to trace schools, a few and their graduates, prior to this century, the education they were receiving wasn't that impressive. Maybe in the wealthy areas of the state they do well, especially where a generous part of the budget isn't going for "English as a Second Language", but here, just a few blocks from the state teaching colleges, schools are rated very poorly. Each individual area, not even district, but neighborhoods within a city would have to be looked at in order to make a choice. If one can live in a wealthier neighborhood in the larger cities, I am sure they will find a highly rated school and this extends to all states that I know of.

I remember all too well when my older son was going to school..................

That sounds kinda "coded" racist. I guess that's consistent with the other info I have on Missouri like how many hate groups they have.

[Floorist]

Right now, there is a teacher shortage in Kansas because the pay scale is so small.

[Mathguy]

Originally Posted by Floorist

Right now, there is a teacher shortage in Kansas because the pay scale is so small.

No, you misread the article you were reading. It said the exact opposite.

[Floorist]

Originally Posted by Mathguy

No, you misread the article you were reading. It said the exact opposite.

Did not read an article. Read ads where schools are trying to find teachers. Kansas schools pay a lot less than Missouri and teachers are coming across the state line to teach.

[Mattks]

Originally Posted by Floorist

Did not read an article. Read ads where schools are trying to find teachers. Kansas schools pay a lot less than Missouri and teachers are coming across the state line to teach.

This is from August 2016, but the most recent article I could find.

More teachers coming to Kansas than leaving, district data shows

"So is there actually a teacher shortage in Kansas? It appears so, even if there isn’t evidence of a dramatic increase in teachers leaving the state or the profession."

But then they go on to say...

"Though Kansas schools were able to fill 99 percent of jobs, the ones that remained vacant were clustered in a quarter of the state’s districts, affecting the children of southwest Kansas, Wichita and Kansas City, Kan., especially. In other words, high-poverty urban and remote rural schools reported the biggest problems."

The most recent information on teacher pay I could find is from 2013-2014 and I could see there being change in a negative way since then, but teachers making a lot less, I'm not sure about that.

Teacher Salaries By State | Average Salaries For Teachers | Beginning Salaries For Teachers | Teacher Raises | TeacherPortal.com

Kansas starting pay $33K

Missouri starting pay $30K

But Missouri does have a higher average annual salary of about $100 more then Kansas.

[Mathguy]

Originally Posted by Mattks

This is from August 2016, but the most recent article I could find.

More teachers coming to Kansas than leaving, district data shows

"So is there actually a teacher shortage in Kansas? It appears so, even if there isn’t evidence of a dramatic increase in teachers leaving the state or the profession."

But then they go on to say...

"Though Kansas schools were able to fill 99 percent of jobs, the ones that remained vacant were clustered in a quarter of the state’s districts, affecting the children of southwest Kansas, Wichita and Kansas City, Kan., especially. In other words, high-poverty urban and remote rural schools reported the biggest problems."

The most recent information on teacher pay I could find is from 2013-2014 and I could see there being change in a negative way since then, but teachers making a lot less, I'm not sure about that.

Teacher Salaries By State | Average Salaries For Teachers | Beginning Salaries For Teachers | Teacher Raises | TeacherPortal.com

Kansas starting pay $33K

Missouri starting pay $30K

But Missouri does have a higher average annual salary of about $100 more then Kansas.

Facts Scmacts....they read an add and inferred all their claims from that using their vivid imagination and general axe grinding.

[CrownVic95]

Originally Posted by Mathguy

I had a friend move recently to KS in recent years citing the additional kids they were having as reason for the move.

They said, "I can't pay 15k a year for three kids each to attend private school without considering moving." Which they did. (I'm not going to comment where they moved from because that's not the point of the thread)

I guess this is a great reason why people wish to move to KS?

Despite all the ignorant national rhetoric about teachers or blue\red states here we have one of the best public school systems in the country.

Even now, despite government changes, things still look pretty strong.

So, why does KS typically do so well vs. national averages?

The real question - the question at the heart of the matter - is why are KS students so darn good?