In 2006, Winfield School District 465 restructured its entire school system, which serves 2,601 students, toward a more cohesive, streamlined, cost-efficient and student-friendly system.

The school system’s $32 million annual budget, along with its recent $24 million school bond and $4 million energy-efficiency project, are visible throughout the district. Virtually every school has been updated, refurbished or built from scratch. Heating, air conditioning, lighting, water, windows and bathroom facilities have been completely revamped.

Winfield USD 465 also hosts the local Special Education Cooperative, which
has a $9.5 million budget. A new middle school opened in 2006. There have been classroom additions to Irving, Lowell, Country View and Whittier elementary schools. A new gymnasium, auxiliary gymnasium, wrestling facility and classrooms have been added to the high school. The fifth and sixth grades were moved to the former middle school site, renamed Winfield Intermediate School. Webster Early Learning Center hosts the pre-kindergarten programs for the district. The district office has relocated to a former
medical clinic facility. The USD 465 Transportation Center will soon be moving into the former National Guard Armory.

The following are a few of the honors and accomplishments recently achieved by USD 465:

• Consistent improvement on AYP scores for several years
• Score above the state average on Kansas assessments
• Consistently scoring above the state average on the
  Composite ACT score
• Two National Merit Scholarship Finalists in the class of 2010
• Odyssey of the Mind team finished in the top 35 teams in
  world competition
• Host of the Statewide Engineering Camp at Winfield
  High School
• Nationally recognized debate team
• Three-Star National FFA status
• Top four-percent FFA chapters in the world
• State FFA Champion Livestock Judging team
• National Secondary Art Teacher of the Year
• Top 10 FFA Golden Chapters in the nation
• Utilizes “Success for All” reading curriculum
• State and nationally ranked Chess Club for Young Players
• TCIP technology grant
• TRC technology grant
• Consistently one of the top schools in students in KMEA choir
• Approximately 50 percent of high school students participate in fine arts
• Webster Early Learning Center offers preschool to all 4-year-olds.

For more information, visit www.usd465.com.

Arkansas City Public Schools is a results-producing district. It holds a tradition of excellence in all matters related to student achievement and true, well-rounded learning.

Ark City students have been on the front lines of achievement and continue the tradition of exceeding learning targets suggested by the state. The district earned 37 Standards of Excellence Awards after the 2009 state assessments.

These efforts, propelled by students, staff and community members, have helped the district be recognized for excellence by the U.S. and Kansas departments of education, the Confidence in Kansas Public Education Task Force, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), the EPA and many more.

The district continues to make extensive progress on the 2008 Bond Construction Projects, approved by voters to refurbish facilities district-wide. Additions and renovations are essentially complete at Jefferson, Frances Willard, Adams and IXL elementary schools. Construction is well under way at C-4 and Roosevelt. New HVAC is running at the high school, and other renovations and additions are taking place there. The brand new Bulldog Stadium greeted the 2010-11 season. The other sports complexes
— ball fields and tennis courts — were near completion in the fall of 2010. Other security and technology advancements have also been completed.

Some of Ark City schools recent accomplishments include:

• 37 Standards of Excellence after the 2009 state assessments
• High school one of 10, 2009 National Breakthrough Schools by MetLife Foundation and NASSP
• EPA Energy Stars for seven buildings; top performer status by the EPA for reducing utility costs 20 percent
• Graduation rate increasing — 91.3 percent in 2010
• ACT score averages increasing, exceeding the state’s average
• Continued progress on district construction/renovation projects
• Improvements to accommodate vocational education
• Expanded Head Start program
• Updating computer hardware/software for instruction
• Improved technology connectivity
• Increased security of buildings
• Continued use of data to drive instruction
• Additional courses for high school students

For more information, visit www.usd470.schoolfusion.us.

Innovation is key to the educational system of the Dexter school system. Unified School District 471 set a precedent by being one of the first school districts in the state to adopt a four day school week.

In the spring of 2009, the elementary building met the “Building-Wide” standard of excellence in reading, science and writing, while grades 4 and 5 met the standard of excellence in math. In the same time period, our secondary building met the “Building-Wide” standard of excellence in reading, math and writing. About two-thirds of grades 3 through 11 reached the meets standards or above levels in state math assessments; nearly nine in 10 reached those levels in reading.

The school year consists of the required 1,116 hours, but spreads them between four school days instead of the usual five.

The property tax levy has remained nominal while continuing to provide facilities and equipment needed to teach students to high expectations, and to keep technology up-to-date. Student organizations continue to provide service projects for the community;
the district maintains a traditional family and consumer science program, as well as a regionally recognized woodworking and metals program.

The district combined with Cedar Vale schools in all sports. The cooperative venture has increased enthusiasm, and led to further success in the classroom and on the field. Test scores and graduation rates exemplify superior education and prove that the bar has not been lowered to cut costs. Dexter schools – with the help of the whole community – provide individual attention to all students.

For more information, visit www.usd471.org.

Home of the Central Raiders, this rural district in eastern Cowley County combines the students of Burden, Atlanta, Grenola and Cambridge into one cohesive unit and is located in the community of Burden.

It adopted a four-day school week several years ago, considered a positive move by students, families and teachers.

Test scores and graduation rates reflect superior education as standards remain high. The district’s schools received the Standard of Excellence awards for 2010 in state math and reading assessments.

The Raider Work Ethic program is a partnership with Cowley College that rewards students for attendance, academic achievement, attitude and community service by providing a semester’s tuition scholarship to Cowley in exchange for a year of participation in the program.

A $1 million bond funded recent improvements to the school district’s athletic facilities, including a new eight-lane track, football field renovations, new goal posts, a new baseball field, an irrigation system, new lighting and improvements of the utilities at the
complex.

For more information, visit www.usd462.org.

The Udall Unified School System has about 370 students and 60 employees. The location, near the Wichita metro area, offers a rural, small-school atmosphere with access to city amenities only a few minutes away.

Some advantages of attending Udall Schools:

• Highest quality teachers and staff
• Low student-teacher ratio (about 14:1)
• All-day kindergarten
• 1:1 laptop initiative in grades 9-12, with the latest technology available at all grade levels
• Diploma Completion Program through Udall Learning Center
• Numerous Standards of Excellence in reading and math on Kansas state assessments
• Wide range of successful academic and athletic activities.

Udall schools offer an opportunity for a comprehensive K-12 education with personal attention for each student. Students have an opportunity to participate in a variety of activities for a well-rounded school experience. Staff and administrators strive to keep our class sizes as low as possible to give each student the attention they deserve.

For more information, visit www.usd463.org