District Achievements

  • The district's enrollment is 50,561 students.

    Graduation rates continue to increase – The Wichita Public Schools' graduation rate is 75.3% - up 19.3% in five years.Alicia with students

    The Professional Development School Program, a partnership between the Wichita Public Schools and Wichita State University's College of Education, received the 2015 Dr. Shirley S. Schwartz Urban Education Impact Award from the Council of Great City Schools, as well as the Distinguished Program in Teacher Education Award from the Association of Teacher Educators.

    The Wichita Public Schools received the 2014 Leadership in Learning by the University of Kansas Department of Special Education and the Center for Research on Learning in recognition of WPS’ district-wide implementation of Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) over the past 5 years.
     

    The Wichita Public Schools was named one of the Best Communities for Music Education for 2013, 2014 and 2016 by the National Association of Music Merchants. More than 30,000 students are involved in the Wichita Public Schools' music programs.

    Wichita Public Schools received the Healthiest Employers Award by The Wichita Business Journal for 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.

    The Wichita Public Schools is the only school district in Kansas to be recognized by the Sunshine Review with an A-. The Sunny Award honors the transparency of the district's web site and the information that is available.

    Wichita Public Schools employees donated more than $186,000 to the United Way in 2015. Student campaigns collected more than $36,000.Turkey Drive

    The Wichita Public Schools is a drop-off site for the United Methodist Open Door Turkey Drive. In 2015, students and staff collected 3,678 turkeys, more than $12,000 in monetary donations, and more than 23,450 side items and canned goods. 

    The Education EDGE, the district’s foundation, has donated more than $1,136,700 in total gifts to support classroom mini-grants, fine arts and athletics since 2005. 

    The district has more than 3,000 registered mentors, tutors and volunteers who have volunteered more than 138,000 hours and more than 600 businesses and organizations partner with schools and district departments.

    The Wichita Public Schools is featured in The ABC's of Safe Rooms training video by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for its commitment to constructing safe rooms in all of its schools. The Wichita Public Schools was the first school district in the country to build a safe room storm shelter in a school. The final FEMA shelter was completed in Spring 2017, which means all attendance centers are equipped with a shelter! 

    On Nov. 4, 2008, voters approved a $370 million bond issue that will add schools and classrooms to reduce class sizes and address overcrowding and growth, build 60 safe rooms, support the end to forced busing, upgrade technical education programs and renovate or rebuild aging physical education, athletic and fine arts facilities. Since 2000, Wichita has invested more than $650 million in school facility improvements.