Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Elementary· 7 schools in district

West Elem

501 N Sheridan, Valley Center, KS 67147Valley Center Pub Sch →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades KG–03Non-Charter
287
Students
Total enrolled
$15,568
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↑ 9% vs nat'l
13.0 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↓ 16% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Small public school
Serves 287 students in grades KG–03 in Valley Center, Kansas.
9% above average funding
District spends $15,568 per pupil, 9% more than the national average of $14,347.
13.0 : 1 student-teacher ratio
This is well below the national average — smaller classes of 15.4:1.
About This School

West Elem is a mid-sized elementary in Valley Center, Kansas, serving grades KG–03 with 287 students. The district invests $15,568 per student — 9% above the national average of $14,347, and maintains a 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 47% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body.

Student Body & Demographics at West Elem

287
Total Students
13.0 : 1
Student:Teacher
47%
Free Lunch
22
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
Highlighted grades (KG–03) are served by this school
Gender Distribution149 male · 138 female
52%
48%
Male 52%Female 48%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility47%
National avg 52% · 134 students
Student Composition
71%
21%
Asian2%
White71%
Hispanic / Latino21%
Black1%
Multiracial3%
Native American1%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 201251000368

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$15,568Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$15,568
State avg
$19,661
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$6,850
Student Support$2,958
Administration$1,868
Operations$2,335
Other$1,557
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $15,568 spent per student, an estimated $6,896 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
60%
34%
State government
60.0%
Local (property tax)
33.5%
Federal programs
6.5%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • 13.0:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller classes than the national norm of 15.4:1
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Valley Center Intermediate SchoolWheatland ElemAbilene Elem
↓
Middle
Valley Center Middle School
↓
High School
Valley Center High
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelElementary
GradesKG – 03
Location—
CountySedgwick County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictValley Center Pub Sch →
Phone: (316)755-7030
NCES ID: 201251000368
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Valley Center seeking a public elementary school, especially those prioritizing smaller class sizes and more individualized teacher access. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Valley Center Pub Sch
High
Valley Center High
995 students · 09–12
34% FRL
Mid
Valley Center Middle School
761 students · 06–08
42% FRL
Elem
Valley Center Intermediate School
480 students · 04–05
41% FRL
Elem
Wheatland Elem
346 students · KG–03
43% FRL
Elem
Abilene Elem
259 students · PK–03
50% FRL
Other
The Learning Center
67 students · KG–12
4% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
501 N Sheridan, Valley Center, KS 67147
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Elementary
1
How is early reading and literacy taught?
Look for evidence-based, structured approaches
2
How does the school communicate with families?
Frequency, channels, translation support
3
What support exists for students who fall behind?
Tutoring, intervention programs, IEPs
4
What's the average class size here?
National avg is ~23 for elementary
5
What before/after-school programs are available?
Important for working parents
6
How is student social-emotional wellbeing supported?
Counselors, community circles, conflict resolution
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.