Skip Navigation

 

Challenge Award Winners

2023 | 2022 | 2021

How does a school earn a Challenge Award?

The Challenge Awards recognize schools for outstanding achievements and uncommon accomplishments based on Kansas math and reading assessment results and other qualifying factors, specifically the sample size, ethnicity and social-economic status of those taking the test. We also now include graduation rates when calculating high school results and chronic absenteeism rates for middle and elementary schools. The steps used to identify Challenge Award honorees are as follows:

  • A statistical model is used that includes math and reading state assessments scores, the percent of the sample that received free or reduced-priced lunch and the percent that were members of an ethnic minority. Graduation rates and chronic absenteeism are factors, too. The top 100 Kansas schools are then selected.
  • Only schools that have a total percentage of free and reduced-price lunch students above the state average of 46.14 percent are eligible for recognition. 
  • The schools are then sorted into State Board of Education districts.

     

2023


Abilene USD 435

  • McKinley Elementary School


Arkansas City USD 470

  • Roosevelt Elementary School


Bonner Springs USD 204

  • Clark Middle School


Caldwell USD 360

  • Caldwell Elementary School
  • Caldwell High School


Central Plains USD 112

  • Central Plains Elementary School-Holyrood


Chaparral USD 361

  • Anthony Elementary School
  • Harper Elementary School


Cherokee USD 247

  • Southeast Elementary School
  • Southeast Middle School


Chetopa-St. Paul USD 505

  • Chetopa High School
  • St. Paul High School


Concordia USD 333

  • Concordia Middle School


Deerfield USD 216

  • Deerfield Middle School


Dexter USD 471

  • Dexter Elementary School


Dodge City USD 443

  • Miller Elementary School
  • Northwest Elementary School
  • Sunnyside Elementary School


El Dorado USD 490

  • Blackmore Elementary School


Elk Valley USD 283

  • Elk Valley Elementary School


Eureka USD 389

  • Marshall Elementary School


Galena USD 499

  • Galena Middle School
  • Liberty Elementary School


Garden City USD 457

  • Buffalo Jones Elementary School
  • Charles O. Stones Intermediate Center
  • Edith Scheuerman Elementary School
  • Georgia Matthews Elementary School
  • Victor Ornelas Elementary School


Gardner Edgerton USD 231

  • Moonlight Elementary School


Geary County USD 475

  • Grandview Elementary School
  • Washington Elementary School


Golden Plains USD 316

  • Golden Plains High School


Great Bend USD 428

  • Riley Elementary School


Hays USD 489

  • Lincoln Elementary School


Hugoton USD 210

  • Hugoton Middle School


Hutchinson USD 308

  • Lincoln Elementary School


Independence USD 446

  • Jefferson Elementary School


Kansas City USD 500

  • Emerson Elementary School
  • Frank Rushton Elementary School
  • John Fiske Elementary School
  • Thomas A. Edison Elementary School


Lakin USD 215

  • Lakin Middle School


Lewis USD 502

  • Lewis Elementary School


Lyons USD 405

  • Lyons Central Elementary School
  • Lyons Middle School


Macksville USD 351

  • Macksville Elementary School


Manhattan-Ogden USD 383

  • Woodrow Wilson Elementary School


Morris County USD 417

  • Prairie Heights Elementary School


Moscow USD 209

  • Moscow Elementary School


Newton USD 373

  • South Breeze Elementary School


Nickerson USD 309

  • Nickerson Elementary School


Northern Valley USD 212

  • Long Island Middle School


Olathe USD 233

  • Westview Elementary School


Oswego USD 504

  • Oswego Jr/Sr High School


Ottawa USD 290

  • Lincoln Elementary School


Parsons USD 503

  • Garfield Elementary School
  • Guthridge Elementary School


Pittsburg USD 250

  • Pittsburg Middle School
  • Westside Elementary School


Pleasanton USD 344

  • Pleasanton Elementary School


Remington USD 206

  • Remington Middle School


Rock Hills USD 107

  • Rock Hills Jr/Sr High School


Rolla USD 217

  • Rolla Jr/Sr High School


Salina USD 305

  • Cottonwood Elementary School
  • Lakewood Middle School


Shawnee Mission USD 512

  • Comanche Elementary School
  • Shawanoe Elementary School


Southern Cloud USD 334

  • Glasco Elementary School


Sublette USD 374

  • Sublette Elementary School


Topeka USD 501

  • Chase Middle School
  • Marjorie French Middle School
  • McCarter Elementary School
  • McEachron Elementary School
  • Quincy Elementary School
  • Scott Dual Language Magnet
  • State Street Elementary School
  • Whitson Elementary School


Turner-Kansas City USD 202

  • Junction Elementary School
  • Midland Trail Elementary School


Twin Valley USD 240

  • Tescott Elementary School


Waconda USD 272

  • Lakeside Elementary School
  • Lakeside Jr/Sr High School


Wellington USD 353

  • Lincoln Elementary School


Wichita USD 259

  • Allison Traditional Magnet Middle School
  • Cleaveland Traditional Magnet Elementary School
  • Earhart Environmental Magnet Elementary School
  • Enterprise Elementary School
  • Franklin Elementary School
  • Horace Mann Dual Language Magnet
  • Kensler Elementary School
  • Mayberry Cultural and Fine Arts Magnet
  • McLean Science/Tech Magnet Elementary School
  • Minneha Core Knowledge Elementary School
  • Pleasant Valley Middle School
  • Price-Harris Communications Magnet

2022


Bonner Springs USD 204

  • Robert E. Clark Middle School


Caldwell USD 360

  • Caldwell Elementary School


Chaparral Schools USD 361

  • Anthony Elementary School
  • Harper Elementary School


Cherokee USD 247

  • Southeast Elementary School
  • Southeast Middle School


Chetopa-St. Paul USD 505

  • Chetopa High School
  • St. Paul Middle School


Concordia USD 333

  • Caldwell Elementary School


Dodge City USD 443

  • Central Elementary School
  • Miller Elementary School
  • Sunnyside Elementary School


Elk Valley USD 283

  • Elk Valley Elementary School


Eureka USD 389

  • Marshall Elementary School


Flinthills USD 492

  • Flinthills Middle School


Galena USD 499

  • Galena Middle School


Garden USD 457

  • Charles O. Stones Intermediate Center
  • Georgia Matthews Elementary School
  • Victor Ornelas Elementary School


Geary County USD 475

  • Grandview Elementary School


Great Bend USD 428

  • Park Elementary School
  • Riley Elementary School


Hamilton USD 390

  • Hamilton Elementary School


Hays USD 489

  • Lincoln Elementary School


Hugoton USD 210

  • Hugoton Middle School


Hutchinson USD 308

  • Hutchinson Middle School
  • Lincoln Elementary School


Independence USD 446

  • Jefferson Elementary School


Jayhawk USD 346

  • Jayhawk Elementary School


Kansas City USD 500

  • Arrowhead Middle School
  • Bertram Caruthers Elementary School
  • Emerson Elementary School
  • Frances Willard Elementary School
  • Frank Rushton Elementary School
  • John Fiske Elementary School
  • New Stanley Elementary School
  • Thomas A. Edison Elementary School
  • West Park Elementary School


Kaw Valley USD 321

  • St. Mary’s Elementary School


Kingman-Norwich USD 331

  • Kingman High School


Lakin USD 215

  • Lakin Middle School


Lewis USD 502

  • Lewis Elementary School


Lyons USD 405

  • Lyons Central Elementary School
  • Lyons Middle School


Macksville USD 351

  • Macksville Elementary School


Manhattan-Ogden USD 383

  • Woodrow Wilson Elementary School


McPherson USD 418

  • Roosevelt Elementary School


Minneola USD 219

  • Minneola Elementary School
  • Minneola High School


Northern Valley USD 212

  • Long Island Middle School


Olathe USD 233

  • Westview Elementary School


Ottawa USD 290

  • Lincoln Elementary School


Paradise USD 399

  • Natoma High School


Parsons USD 503

  • Garfield Elementary School


Pike Valley USD 426

  • Pike Valley Junior High School


Pleasanton USD 344

  • Pleasanton Elementary School


Pretty Prairie USD 311

  • Pretty Prairie Elementary School


Republic County USD 109

  • Belleville East Elementary School


Rock Hills USD 107

  • Rock Hills Jr/Sr High School


Shawnee Mission USD 512

  • Merriam Park Elementary School
  • Neosho Rapids Elementary School


Sublette USD 374

  • Sublette Elementary School
  • Sublette Middle School


Syracuse USD 494

  • Syracuse Elementary School


Topeka USD 501

  • Chase Middle School
  • McCarter Elementary School
  • McEachron Elementary School
  • Quincy Elementary School
  • Scott Dual Language Magnet
  • Whitson Elementary School


Twin Valley USD 240

  • Tescott Elementary School
  • Tescott Jr/Sr High School


Uniontown USD 235

  • Uniontown High School
  • West Bourbon Elementary School


Wellington USD 353

  • Washington Elementary School


Wichita USD 259

  • Allison Traditional Magnet Middle
  • Cleaveland Traditional Magnet
  • Earhart Environmental Magnet
  • Griffith Elementary School
  • Horace Mann Dual Language Magnet
  • Kensler Elementary School
  • Mayberry Cultural/Fine Arts Magnet
  • McLean Science/Technology Magnet
  • Minneha Core Knowledge Elementary
  • Ortiz Elementary School
  • Pleasant Valley Middle School
  • Price-Harris Communications Magnet
  • Wilbur Middle School


Winfield USD 465

  • Lowell Elementary School

2021


Abilene USD 435

  • McKinley Elementary School


Caldwell USD 360

  • Caldwell Elementary School
  • Caldwell Secondary School


Central Plains USD 112

  • Central Plains Junior-Senior High School


Chaparral USD 361

  • Anthony Elementary School
  • Harper Elementary School


Cherokee USD 247

  • Southeast Elementary School
  • Southeast Middle School


Concordia USD 333

  • Concordia Middle School

Deerfield USD 216

  • Deerfield Middle School


Derby USD 260

  • Oaklawn Elementary School
  • Paul B. Cooper Elementary School
  • Wineteer Elementary School


Dexter USD 471

  • Dexter Elementary School


Dodge City USD 443

  • Central Elementary School
  • Miller Elementary School
  • Northwest Elementary School
  • Sunnyside Elementary School


El Dorado USD 490

  • Blackmore Elementary School
  • Skelly Elementary School


Elk Valley USD 283

  • Elk Valley Elementary School


Emporia USD 253

  • Logan Avenue Elementary School


Erie-Galesburg USD 101

  • Erie High School


Fairfield USD 310

  • Fairfield Schools


Galena USD 499

  • Galena Middle School
  • Liberty Elementary School


Garden City USD 457

  • Victor Ornelas Elementary School


Geary County USD 475

  • Grandview Elementary School
  • Washington Elementary School


Golden Plains USD 316

  • Golden Plains Middle School


Great Bend USD 428

  • Great Bend High School
  • Park Elementary School
  • Riley Elementary School


Grinnell USD 291

  • Grinnell Middle School


Hamilton USD 390

  • Hamilton High School


Hays USD 489

  • Lincoln Elementary School


Healy USD 468

  • Healy Elementary School


Hutchinson USD 308

  • Faris Elementary School
  • Lincoln Elementary School


Independence USD 446

  • Independence Middle School
  • Jefferson Elementary School


Jayhawk USD 346

  • Jayhawk Elementary School


Kansas City USD 500

  • Arrowhead Middle School
  • Bertram Caruthers Elementary School
  • Emerson Elementary School
  • John Fiske Elementary School
  • Mark Twain Elementary School
  • Sumner Academy of Arts and Science
  • Thomas A. Edison Elementary School


Kingman-Norwich USD 331

  • Kingman Middle School


Lakin USD 215

  • Lakin Middle School


LeRoy-Gridley USD 245

  • Southern Coffey County Elementary School


Lewis USD 502

  • Lewis Elementary School


Lincoln USD 298

  • Lincoln Elementary School
  • Lincoln Junior-Senior High School


Lyons USD 405

  • Lyons Central Elementary School


Macksville USD 351

  • Macksville Elementary School


Marion-Florence USD 408

  • Marion Middle School


Minneola USD 219

  • Minneola High School


Montezuma USD 371

  • South Gray High School


Morris County USD 417

  • Prairie Heights Elementary School


Newton USD 373

  • Slate Creek Elementary School


Olathe USD 233

  • Westview Elementary School


Osage City USD 420

  • Osage City Elementary School
  • Osage City Middle School


Pittsburg USD 250

  • Meadowlark Elementary School
  • Pittsburg Middle School
  • Westside Elementary School


Pretty Prairie USD 311

  • Pretty Prairie Elementary School


Remington-Whitewater USD 206

  • Remington Elementary School at Potwin


Rock Hills USD 107

  • Rock Hills Junior-Senior High School


Salina USD 305

  • Cottonwood Elementary School


Seaman USD 345

  • Logan Elementary School


Shawnee Mission USD 512

  • Crestview Elementary School
  • Merriam Park Elementary School


Southern Cloud USD 334

  • Miltonvale Elementary School


Southern Lyon USD 252

  • Hartford Junior-Senior High School
  • Neosho Rapids Elementary School


Stanton USD 452

  • Stanton County Elementary School


Sublette USD 374

  • Sublette Elementary School
  • Sublette Middle School


Thunder Ridge USD 110

  • Thunder Ridge Middle School


Twin Valley USD 240

  • Tescott Elementary School


Wabaunsee USD 329

  • Maple Hill Elementary School


Wichita USD 259

  • Allison Traditional Magnet Middle School
  • Brooks Magnet Middle School
  • Franklin Elementary School
  • Horace Mann Dual Language Magnet School
  • Kensler Elementary School
  • Lawrence Elementary School
  • Mayberry Cultural/Fine Arts Magnet School
  • McLean Science/Tech Magnet School
Copyright 2025 by Kansas State Department of Education | 900 SW Jackson St. | Topeka, KS 66612 Privacy Statement  |  Terms Of Use  |  System Maintenance Notices  |  Open Records (PDF)

The Kansas State Department of Education does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability, or age in its programs and activities. (more information...)


To accommodate people with disabilities, on request, auxiliary aides and services will be provided and reasonable modifications to policies and programs will be made. To request accommodations or for more information please contact the Office of General Counsel at gc@ksde.gov or by 785-296-3201.