Plains Elem

Plains Elem is an elementary school of tiny scale in Plains, Kansas, run under Kismet-Plains, serveing 113 students in grades 3 through 5. Compared to the state average of about 313 students per school, that is 64% smaller than typical.

Within Kismet-Plains, which oversees 3 schools and 575 students, Plains Elem is one campus in the system.

For racial and ethnic makeup, Plains Elem shows that Hispanic students make up the majority at 65%; the rest reads as 32% White. That is meaningfully more Hispanic than the county at large, where the share is closer to 24%.

Looking at the economic backdrop, On paper, Plains Elem has 13 full-time-equivalent teachers, translating to a class-load average of around 8.6:1. The state averages around 13.2:1, so this campus is tighter than the state norm typical. About 76% of enrolled students meet the income threshold for free or reduced-price lunch, a number frequently used as a low-income enrollment indicator. Set against Meade County (around 57%), the school's rate is noticeably above typical.

On a residual basis (actual vs predicted given the student mix), Plains Elem tracks the demographic baseline. The model predicts 25.8% given the school's FRL share; actual proficiency is 27.6%.

In the area at large, community-level numbers for Meade County indicate median household income runs about $71,852, about 27% of the adult population holds a bachelor's degree or above, and census figures put the poverty rate at about 11%. Plains Elem is one of 5 public schools in Meade County (combined enrollment of about 530 students).

Southwestern Heights Jr/Sr High is the nearest neighboring public school, about 3.8 miles from this campus. 2 of the 8 nearest public schools sit inside a ten-mile radius, suggesting a relatively low-density school footprint. Ranking that nearby cluster on reported proficiency puts Plains Elem at 7th of 8; the average score across the group is 33.7%.

Geographically, the school is in a countryside area.

Over the past 7-year window. Plains Elem's enrollment has contracted 39% since 2018, when it stood at 185 (now 113). Hispanic enrollment moved from 70% to 65% across the same window. The student-to-teacher ratio tightened from 13.0:1 in 2018 to 8.6:1 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.