Lakeside Elementary

Lakeside Elementary serves 142 students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade in Cawker City, Kansas. It earns a composite score of 9.1 out of 10 — rated Exceptional — driven by a 9.8 academic score and a 9.2 growth score. Both figures rank among the strongest in the state.

That strength shows clearly in the peer comparisons. Lakeside ranks 33rd out of 1,293 public schools in Kansas, outperforming 98% of schools statewide. Among Kansas elementary schools, it places 31st out of 711 — a top-tier result for a school of 142 students.

It also holds the top spot among the three schools in the Waconda area, confirming that its performance is no local fluke. A student-teacher ratio of 12.9 to 1 keeps class sizes small enough for teachers to track individual progress consistently. Lakeside is a regular public school with no selective enrollment, which makes its statewide ranking more meaningful — these scores come from serving its full attendance zone, not a curated applicant pool.

For families comparing schools in Kansas, that combination of high academic output and sustained student growth is hard to match.

With an enrollment of 142 students, Lakeside Elementary is a smaller school where families often find a close-knit community atmosphere. Smaller settings can mean more individual attention from teachers and staff, though they may offer fewer extracurricular options than larger schools.

Located in a rural area, Lakeside Elementary may involve longer commutes for some families. Rural schools often serve as community anchors and may have smaller class sizes, but parents should consider transportation logistics, after-school program availability, and access to specialized services.