Very Good
#341 of 1,294 schools in KS
Top 26% in state
Mccarter Elem
Elementary School · Topeka Public Schools · Topeka, KS
A Topeka Public Schools elementary school where students score 8 points above what's typical for similar communities.
5512 SW 16th St, Topeka, KS 66604
- Math 36% proficient (2025)
- Reading 46% proficient (2025)
- 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Mccarter Elem score 41% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 32%).
2025 KAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. KS average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is down 54 points across the 17-year record (2009–2025) and has held near 41% recently.
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 51% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 53% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 36 test records from KS state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
70.7%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateThe neighborhood
Where Mccarter Elem sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 51Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 32Some Transit
- Bike 61Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,517/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Topeka), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$59,690
Median home value
$126,600
Median rent
$1,032/mo
College educated
35%
Homeownership
57.2%
Poverty rate
16.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 66604; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mcclure ElemEnrollment path unverified | 6.8 | PK–5 | 1.1 mi | 312 | Compare → |
| Topeka Collegiate SchoolPrivate · tuition | 8.2private | PK–8 | 1.1 mi | 136 | Compare → |
| Christ the King SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.6private | K–8 | 1.4 mi | 225 | Compare → |
| Most Pure Heart of Mary SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.3private | K–8 | 1.5 mi | 363 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Topeka Public Schools
- Schools in district
- 27
- Rank in district
- #3 of 25
- District spending per student
- $17,935NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 21.3%Census SAIPE · 2024
Mccarter Elem is listed in Topeka Public Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Mccarter Elem
Mccarter Elem is a public elementary school in Topeka, KS, part of Topeka Public Schools, serving approximately 392 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 12.2:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10 and ranks #341 of 1,294 schools in KS. State assessment records show 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Mccarter Elem
What grades does Mccarter Elem serve?
Mccarter Elem serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Mccarter Elem?
Mccarter Elem has an enrollment of approximately 392 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mccarter Elem?
The student-teacher ratio at Mccarter Elem is 12.2:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Mccarter Elem rank in KS?
Mccarter Elem ranks #341 of 1,294 schools in KS.
What is Mccarter Elem's MySchoolScout rating?
Mccarter Elem has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.7 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Mccarter Elem?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Mccarter Elem has 51% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 53% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Mccarter Elem a charter school?
No, Mccarter Elem is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Mccarter Elem a Title I school?
No, Mccarter Elem is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Mccarter Elem?
70.7% of students at Mccarter Elem qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 392
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.2:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 32
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Shawnee County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 23.0%
- Phone
- (785) 438-4660
- Area population (ZIP 66604)
- 22,876
- Area average commute
- 15.4 min
- Area median age
- 38.2
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 KAP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 KAP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 KAP · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: 2025 KAP. A newer release may be available.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 66604; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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