McPherson Middle School

As a middle-of-the-pack middle-grades school in McPherson, Kansas, McPherson Middle School serves 474 students from grades 6 through 8, overseen by McPherson.

Across the 6 schools in McPherson (2,117 students total), McPherson Middle School accounts for its share of the district's footprint.

Looking at the student body, McPherson Middle School records that White students make up the majority at 77%; the rest reads as 15% Hispanic, 6% multiracial. By comparison, McPherson County as a whole is about 92% White, so the school skews considerably less White than its surroundings.

In terms of school funding signals, On paper, McPherson Middle School has 36 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 13.3:1. The state averages about 12.7:1, putting this campus right in line with peers. Around 40% of the student body qualifies for free or reduced-price meals, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator.

With demographic context factored in, McPherson Middle School tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 43.0% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 29.7%.

In the area at large, the surrounding county (McPherson County) records that median household income runs about $78,851, about 34% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 6%. Across McPherson County's 18 public schools (combined enrollment of about 4,829 students), McPherson Middle School is one campus in the mix.

The closest other public school is Washington Elem, roughly 0.2 miles away. Counting just inside five miles, 5 other public schools cluster around McPherson Middle School. Among the 9 schools in that immediate cluster with test data (this one included), McPherson Middle School ranks 8th on composite proficiency, below the local average of 39.0%.

Geographically, the school is in a small-town area.

Looking at the recent track record. McPherson Middle School's enrollment has declined 14% since 2018, when it stood at 554 (now 474).

On the community side, members of the McPherson Middle School community share and discuss pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.