Whitson Elem

www.topekapublicschools.net/

450 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 5th

School Overview

Whitson Elementary School is part of the Topeka Public Schools district (USD 501) and is located in the western portion of Topeka, Kansas. Serving students in the surrounding neighborhood, the school emphasizes a foundational academic curriculum while fostering a supportive community environment. As a public institution, it follows the district's broader mission of preparing students for success through a blend of core educational subjects, social-emotional learning, and inclusive student support services.

The school is characterized by its commitment to neighborhood-based education, often acting as a hub for local families. Being part of the Topeka Public Schools system, Whitson benefits from district-wide resources, including standardized professional development for teachers and access to various enrichment programs. For families interested in enrollment, school calendars, or specific academic initiatives, the district’s official website provides comprehensive information regarding the school's leadership, contact details, and current educational objectives.

450

Total Students

31.8

Full-Time Teachers

14.1

Student/Teacher Ratio

59.3%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for Whitson Elem
Demographic	Student Count
White	238
Hispanic	118
Black	48
Asian	4
Two or More	42

White
238 (52.9 %)
Hispanic
118 (26.2 %)
Black
48 (10.7 %)
Two or More
42 (9.3 %)
Asian
4 (0.9 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	Topeka Public Schools
Phone:	(785)438-4570
Website:	http://www.topekapublicschools.net/
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 5th
Total Students:	450
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	31.8
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	14.1
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes under Community Eligibility Option (CEO)
Qualified Free Lunch:	223
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	44

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Pre-Kindergarten 22

Kindergarten 71

Grade 1 72

Grade 2 73

Grade 3 66

Grade 4 75

Grade 5 71