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Needs Improvement

#1252 of 1,294 schools in KS

South High

High School · Wichita · Wichita, KS

A Wichita high school where students score 8 points below what's typical for similar communities.

701 W 33rd S, Wichita, KS 67217

  • Math 9% proficient (2025)
  • Reading 25% proficient (2025)
  • 82.0% 4-year graduation

Academics

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics
Student Progress4.9Below Average25%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data14
Annual Change-4.39 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics3.1Needs Improvement25%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency8.8% (2025 KAP)
Reading/ELA Proficiency24.6% (2025 KAP)
Overall Proficiency17% (2025 KAP, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)25% (model expectation from 2025 KAP)
vs. Expected-7.9 pts
Adjusted Percentile12th
College Readiness3.0Needs Improvement30%
Graduation rates, AP course participation, and IB availability.
View breakdown
4-Year Graduation Rate82%
AP Participation5.2%
IB ProgramNo
Resources & Environment3.1Needs Improvement20%
Student-teacher ratio, district spending per student, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio14.7:1
District spending per student$15,783
Chronic Absenteeism49.7%

Students at South High score 17% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 25%).

How we calculate scores →

2025 KAP proficiency

Most recent published year. School vs. KS average.

Math Proficiency9%(2025 KAP)
School
State
Not reported(2025 KAP)
ELA Proficiency25%(2025 KAP)
School
State
Not reported(2025 KAP)

Trend

↑ Recovering

Proficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 10 points since 2020, reaching 17% in 2025.

Show all 14 years
2009
Math
55%
ELA
80%
2010
Math
58%
ELA
78%
2011
Math
60%
ELA
70%
2012
Math
61%
ELA
68%
2014
Math
9%
ELA
18%
2015
Math
8%
ELA
19%
2016
Math
7%
ELA
13%
2017
Math
8%
ELA
16%
2018
Math
5%
ELA
12%
2019
Math
5%
ELA
12%
2020*
Math
5%
ELA
9%
2021*
Math
5%
ELA
9%
2022
Math
3%
ELA
11%
2025
Math
9%
ELA
25%

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 20% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 31% (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 30 test records from KS state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

Equity & diversity

Shown separately, not included in the overall score

Free/reduced lunch

87.8%

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 rate

The neighborhood

Where South High 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 32Car-Dependent
  • Transit 25Some Transit
  • Bike 36Somewhat Bikeable
  • City Safety: High2,861/100K

Powered byWalk Score

FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Wichita), 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

$54,767

Median home value

$115,100

Median rent

$1,006/mo

College educated

12.3%

Homeownership

66.4%

Poverty rate

20.3%

ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 67217; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Programs & students

Programs & Offerings

AP/IB Programs4AP courses offered
5.2% participation·State avg: 2.4 AP courses·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics22sports offered
11 boys'·11 girls'·44 teams (incl. JV)·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM Courses5of 5 advanced subjects offered
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted & Talented ProgramAvailable
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students.·CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Compare nearby

Nearby same-level schools

4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available

SchoolScoreGradesDistanceEnrollmentCompare
Wichita Adventist Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition7.1privateK–100.9 mi56Compare →
Sowers Alternative High SchoolEnrollment path unverified6.49–122.2 mi75Compare →
Campus High HaysvilleEnrollment path unverified3.49–122.9 mi1,833Compare →
Chisholm Life Skills CenterEnrollment path unverified4.510–122.9 mi90Compare →

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.

Wichita

Schools in district
87
Rank in district
#74 of 86
District spending per student
$15,783NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
19.3%Census SAIPE · 2024

South High is listed in Wichita; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.

About South High

South High is a public high school in Wichita, KS, part of Wichita, serving approximately 1,661 students in grades 9th-12th with a 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 3.5 out of 10 and ranks #1,252 of 1,294 schools in KS. State assessment records show 20% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 31% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about South High

What grades does South High serve?

South High serves students in grades 9th through 12th.

How many students attend South High?

South High has an enrollment of approximately 1,661 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at South High?

The student-teacher ratio at South High is 14.7:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does South High rank in KS?

South High ranks #1,252 of 1,294 schools in KS.

What is South High's MySchoolScout rating?

South High has a current MySchoolScout rating of 3.5 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 South High?

Based on loaded state assessment records, South High has 20% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 31% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is South High a charter school?

No, South High is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is South High a Title I school?

No, South High is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for South High?

87.8% of students at South High 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
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,661
Student-Teacher Ratio
14.7:1
Teachers (FTE)
113
Type
regular
Setting
Large City
County
Sedgwick County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
49.7%
4-Year Graduation
82.0%
Area population (ZIP 67217)
32,529
Area average commute
19.8 min
Area median age
33.2
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 67217; 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

About our data · How we calculate scores

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