School system in Wichita (Derby, Andover: rentals, houses, neighborhoods)

[cjones15]

Can someone explain how the school system in Wichita works? We are looking at relocating this summer. It looks like my husband will be coming up in Feb/Mar and the kids and I once the current school year is over. I keep hearing about kids being bussed around the city and this is not done where we are.

[Kansasfornow]

Originally Posted by cjones15

Can someone explain how the school system in Wichita works? We are looking at relocating this summer. It looks like my husband will be coming up in Feb/Mar and the kids and I once the current school year is over. I keep hearing about kids being bussed around the city and this is not done where we are.

Today the school board unanimously voted to end school busing. See article in link below.

Kansas.com | Kansas news, sports, jobs, cars

[cjones15]

So I understand this correctly, children will attend the school that is closest to their home? If we move to Wichita there is a chance we would rent for the first year, I see this as a problem with the low percentage of rentals that meet our needs. When we buy/build a house I don't want my children to change schools again. What is the deal with the school fair in February? I really don't mean to sound dumb but things are not handled this way where we live and I want to make sure I have a clear understand. Education is important to me and I'm willing to live in an area with higher cost to attend better ranked schools.

[athfo]

Here are some boundary maps for elementary, middle and high schools:

Elementary Schools

Middle Schools

High School

Go here for a bit more information on attendance.

[Kansasfornow]

Originally Posted by cjones15

So I understand this correctly, children will attend the school that is closest to their home? If we move to Wichita there is a chance we would rent for the first year, I see this as a problem with the low percentage of rentals that meet our needs. When we buy/build a house I don't want my children to change schools again. What is the deal with the school fair in February? I really don't mean to sound dumb but things are not handled this way where we live and I want to make sure I have a clear understand. Education is important to me and I'm willing to live in an area with higher cost to attend better ranked schools.

Below is a link to USD 259 - the Wichita School District. It is probably best to contact them directly so you get the correct and accurate information.

http://www.usd259.com/default.htm

[FunQuartet]

The Wichita Public school system has a magnet school program as well as regular neighborhood schools. Once kids are accepted into a magnet school, attendance boundaries don't matter as long as you are still within the district boundaries. And most of the area districts (I believe) will allow you to send your kids there if you are building a house in the attendance area but don't currently live there because you are renting. Wichita school district has a choices fair in Feb. for parents to look at all of the magnet options available. The suburban dsitricts around Wichita are Andover, Derby, Rose Hill, Goddard, Circle and Maize. (I may have forgotten one or two) HTH

[TheDrax]

Your best bet, if you want your kids to get a GOOD education, would be to live within either the Goddard, Maize, or Derby school districts. There are some very nice neighborhoods withing the Wichita city limits that are still within the school districts of those other suburbs. Schools are better, education is better, student/teacher ratio is better. For people that live in Wichita, the Wichita school district is a constant joke. MUCH better for your kids if you look elsewhere. I'd live on the West side of Wichita and enroll your kids in either Goddard or Maize.

[cjones15]

Thanks for everyone's input. We have decided on the Derby area. We liked some of the houses around Maize but we have heard there are social issues in that district. I know that will happen anywhere but we hear great things about Derby and we like the small town feel of it.

Thanks again!

[KevK]

Originally Posted by TheDrax

Your best bet, if you want your kids to get a GOOD education, would be to live within either the Goddard, Maize, or Derby school districts. There are some very nice neighborhoods withing the Wichita city limits that are still within the school districts of those other suburbs. Schools are better, education is better, student/teacher ratio is better. For people that live in Wichita, the Wichita school district is a constant joke. MUCH better for your kids if you look elsewhere. I'd live on the West side of Wichita and enroll your kids in either Goddard or Maize.

That is not true. The Wichita Public Schools are good schools. And I might point out that East High School is nationally ranked by Great Schools for its IB program. Goodard, Maize and Derby are not. I went to Wichita schools and they are fine.

[TheDrax]

Wichita East is nationally ranked for it's IB program but they also have metal detectors because a girl got stabbed in the neck there a few years ago. Derby is a good choice. Safer, more suburban, better education. It sure sounds like you're well educated and I'm not saying that nobody will get anything from Wichita school.. but you're certainly the exception to the rule. I've lived in Wichita for 25 years and would do whatever it takes to keep my kids out of the Wichita school district in general unless it were somewhere like Bishop Carroll, Collegiate, or even Wichita Northwest