Very Good
#272 of 1,294 schools in KS
Top 21% in state
Plum Creek Elementary
Elementary School · Buhler · Hutchinson, KS
A Buhler elementary school where students score 7 points above what's typical for similar communities.
901 East 43rd Avenue, Hutchinson, KS 67502
- Math 54% proficient (2025)
- Reading 54% proficient (2025)
- 19.4:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Plum Creek Elementary score 54% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 47%).
2025 KAP proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. KS average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 12-year record (2014–2025), then recovered 10 points since 2020, reaching 54% in 2025.
Show all 10 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 46% (multi-year average, 2014-2025) · reading/ELA 51% (multi-year average, 2014-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 28 test records from KS state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
38%
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 Plum Creek Elementary 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 5Car-Dependent
- Bike 34Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High2,627/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Hutchinson), 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
$73,192
Median home value
$178,400
Median rent
$919/mo
College educated
30.2%
Homeownership
74.4%
Poverty rate
9.2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 67502; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Holy Cross Catholic SchoolPrivate · tuition | 7.6private | PK–6 | 1.2 mi | 219 | Compare → |
| Central Christian SchoolsPrivate · tuition | 6.6private | K–12 | 1.5 mi | 182 | Compare → |
| Morgan ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.4 | PK–6 | 1.7 mi | 407 | Compare → |
| Union Valley ElemEnrollment path unverified | 5.5 | PK–5 | 1.8 mi | 440 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Buhler
- Schools in district
- 7
- Rank in district
- #2 of 6
- District spending per student
- $11,629NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 6.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
Plum Creek Elementary is listed in Buhler; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Plum Creek Elementary
Plum Creek Elementary is a public elementary school in Hutchinson, KS, part of Buhler, serving approximately 466 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 19.4:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.9 out of 10 and ranks #272 of 1,294 schools in KS. State assessment records show 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2025) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Plum Creek Elementary
What grades does Plum Creek Elementary serve?
Plum Creek Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Plum Creek Elementary?
Plum Creek Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 466 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Plum Creek Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Plum Creek Elementary is 19.4:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Plum Creek Elementary rank in KS?
Plum Creek Elementary ranks #272 of 1,294 schools in KS.
What is Plum Creek Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Plum Creek Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.9 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 Plum Creek Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Plum Creek Elementary has 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2025) and 51% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2014-2025).
Is Plum Creek Elementary a charter school?
No, Plum Creek Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Plum Creek Elementary a Title I school?
No, Plum Creek Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Plum Creek Elementary?
38.0% of students at Plum Creek Elementary 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
- 466
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 19.4:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 24
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Reno County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 10.1%
- Phone
- (620) 662-5535
- Area population (ZIP 67502)
- 23,617
- Area average commute
- 16.5 min
- Area median age
- 46.4
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 67502; this does not measure the attendance area.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2014-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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