Otis-Bison Elementary

Set in Otis, Kansas, Otis-Bison Elementary is an one-room-style elementary-level community, run under Otis-Bison. It enrolls 73 students across grades pre-K through 5. Compared to the state average of about 313 students per school, that is 77% smaller than typical.

Within Otis-Bison, which oversees 3 schools and 172 students, Otis-Bison Elementary is one campus in the system.

For racial and ethnic makeup, Otis-Bison Elementary logs that the student body is overwhelmingly White (96%); the rest consists of 4% Hispanic.

Looking at the economic backdrop, Otis-Bison Elementary logs 11 full-time-equivalent teachers, putting the student-to-teacher ratio at about 6.9:1. Statewide, the average ratio sits near 13.2:1, putting Otis-Bison Elementary tighter than the state norm the norm. An estimated 44% of students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator.

After controlling for student poverty, Otis-Bison Elementary sits in the middle band of the BeatsExpectations distribution. Schools with this campus's student mix typically land near 41.2%; this one delivers 47.3%.

Across the wider county, the surrounding county (Rush County) reports that median household income runs about $59,970, 21% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 7% of residents live below the federal poverty line. Otis-Bison Elementary is one of 6 public schools in Rush County (combined enrollment of about 421 students).

Otis-Bison Junior/Senior High School is the nearest neighboring public school, about 0.1 miles from this campus. Within five miles, there are 2 other public schools. On composite proficiency, Otis-Bison Elementary comes 2nd of 7 in the immediate cluster, higher than the nearby-schools average of 30.1%.

The campus sits in a low-density setting.

Looking at the recent track record. Looking back 7 years, enrollment at Otis-Bison Elementary has decreased 34%, going from 111 students in 2018 to 73 in 2025. The student-to-teacher ratio fell from 12.7:1 in 2018 to 6.9:1 today.

On the community side, recent activity here tends to focus on pickup logistics, teacher feedback, and after-school programs. Parents, students, alumni, and staff are welcome to weigh in.