WEST ELK SCHOOLS

West Elk Schools is a Title I public school that is part of the West Elk school district, located in Howard, KS with about 373 students offering grade levels from Pre-Kindergarten to 12th Grade. A Title I school provides supplemental financial assistance to school districts for children from low-income families. Its purpose is to provide all children significant opportunity to receive a fair, equitable, and high-quality education. With about 36 teachers, West Elk Schools has a student/teacher ratio of about 10:1. The national average for public schools is about 15:1. A lower student/teacher ratio is a key factor that determines how much a teacher can devote his/her time to each individual student thus improving, or reducing (in the event of a higher student/teacher ratio) the attention each student is given for their educational needs.

West Elk Schools, located in Howard, Kansas, serves as the educational hub for the Unified School District 282. Operating as a small, rural district, the school focuses on providing a tight-knit learning environment for students in the surrounding Elk County area. By maintaining a smaller student-to-teacher ratio, the district emphasizes personalized attention and a strong sense of community, aiming to foster both academic growth and social development in its students from kindergarten through high school.

The district’s official website serves as a primary portal for parents, students, and community members to access essential school information, including academic calendars, extracurricular activities, and district policies. As a cornerstone of the Howard community, West Elk Schools is committed to preparing its students for future success, whether they choose to pursue higher education or enter the workforce, by blending traditional classroom instruction with the values and support characteristic of a rural Kansas school system.

For more information, contact West Elk Schools at (620) 374-2147 or visit the school personally to speak with a faculty or administrative member about any specific questions you may have.