County schools question low grades
Staff Writer
A nonprofit group has given Marion County schools grades ranging from “B” at Hillsboro High School and Centre School, to “D” at Peabody-Burns High School.
The Kansas Policy Institute argues the state’s own assessments improperly inflate schools’ performance.
“The heart of the problem is what are families being told about the quality of education they are getting,” James Franko, president of the Wichita-based KPI said. “We are often told our kids are in the top 10 of achievement. The reality is we are not seeing a lot of gain in school achievements over time.”
The KPI analysis gave “C” grades to the three schools in the Marion-Florence school district, the Hillsboro Middle and High School, Peabody-Burns Elementary and the two Goessel schools.
Local educators disagree with the institute’s conclusions.
“We are not going to trust one test score,” said Justin Wasmuth, superintendent of the Marion-Florence school district. “We have had tremendous success with our students. I would give ourselves an ‘A.’”
The KPI grades were based on the state’s 10th grade assessment tests taken in October of the 2024-25 school year. The test measures how well students understand English/language arts and math/science material appropriate to their age. The state categorizes scores as excellent, effective, basic or limited understanding
The dispute comes over what raw scores are graded by the state to qualify for each level.
KPI contends changes made last year by Kansas State Board of Education are making more schools appear to be making big gains.
KPI puts the scores on the same scale used previously, assigning each level a letter grade.
The nonprofit organization said many states had changed their standards to make schools look better. The group contends a more accurate analysis shows Kansas below the national average.
For example, in 2002, a change in proficiency levels by the Kansas Board of Education led to results that showed eighth grade reading proficiency spiking from 34% to 85% by 2013.
Another change in the grouping of levels in 2015 resulted in a drop to 30% reading proficiency.
In 2024, Kansas students’ reading proficiency was 22%, but after the latest change by Kansas Board of Education last year, the reading proficiency level of eighth graders nearly doubled to 40%, KPI said.
“That’s not how education trends work,” said Dave Trabert, the head of the Wichita-based KPI. “It’s not realistic. It’s just because the standards are reduced.”
The non-profit group, which advocates for vouchers and “choice” in education, has frequently criticized the state’s schools.
In a previous study, the group has called the state’s seeming improvements “bogus gains” resulting from the state’s changing proficiency standards, which it labeled a “dumbing down” of the grading system.
“We have to understand we have a problem and then talk about where we want to go from here,” Trabert said. “Basically nobody understands” the state’s assessments. “Everyone understands A through F.”
A spokeswoman for the Kansas Department of Education said no one from departments assessment division could be available to respond before the Record deadline.
KPI said that of the 1,150 public schools in the state, only one school earned an “A,” while 26% earned a “B”, 49% a “C”, 20% earned a “D” and 5% earned an “F.”
Scott Boden, superintendent and technology director of Goessel schools, said KPI’s results seem suspect.
“If all of our schools were failing so badly, our local school boards would say we have to make changes,” he said. “There would be a huge outcry.
“Our families will tell you they come here for a reason. People say this is a great school to be at. Four of my own kids graduated from Goessel. I would not stay here as superintendent if I didn’t think the schools were doing a good job.”
The superintendent of Peabody-Burns district schools, Stacey Parks, declined to comment. Superintendents of Centre and Hillsboro school districts could not be reached.