Cedar Vale Elem

As a micro-enrollment elementary school in Cedar Vale, Kansas, Cedar Vale Elem works with 65 students from grades pre-K through 5, run under Cedar Vale. Enrollment runs roughly 79% smaller than the state mean of about 313.

Within Cedar Vale, which oversees 2 schools and 128 students, Cedar Vale Elem is one campus in the system.

For racial and ethnic makeup, Cedar Vale Elem lists that the most-represented group is White (52%), with the rest of the student body spread across multiple groups. Beyond that, the school reports 29% multiracial, 11% Hispanic, 5% Native American, 3% Black. That is meaningfully less White than the county at large, where the share is closer to 81%.

On the income-and-resources front, The school employs 8 full-time-equivalent teachers, for a student-teacher ratio near 8.2:1. That figure is tighter than the state norm's 13.2:1 average. An estimated 55% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a commonly cited indicator of low-income enrollment.

On a demographically-adjusted basis, Cedar Vale Elem sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 35.7%; this one delivers 44.6%.

Around the school, ACS estimates for Chautauqua County put median household income runs about $56,438, 19% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate sits near 10%. In all, Chautauqua County runs 4 public schools (combined enrollment of about 488 students), of which Cedar Vale Elem is one.

Nearest neighbor: Cedar Vale High, around 0.0 miles off. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts Cedar Vale Elem at 3rd of 9; the average score across the group is 40.4%.

Cedar Vale Elem operates from a low-density location.

Trend over the last 7 years. Over the past 7-year window, the student count fell 14%: 76 students in 2018 compared to 65 in 2025. White enrollment moved from 78% to 52% across the same window. The student-to-teacher ratio narrowed from 10.9:1 in 2018 to 8.2:1 today.

In the discussion threads here, the page collects discussion, questions, and updates around fundraisers, lost-and-found posts, and report-card season. Contributors range from current parents to recent graduates and teachers.