Wichita parents have many high-quality options in deciding the appropriate educational environment for their children. Numerous excellent college and university options exist in the immediate local area and within easy commuting range. Many institutions have convenient satellite sites. Due to the area's high concentration of manufacturing, Wichita has correspondingly strong technical training resources.

Wichita Public Schools
“Leaders and Laggards,” a February 2007 U.S. Chamber of Commerce study, ranked the Kansas K-12 education system 7th best in the nation for academic achievement. Wichita Public Schools have enrollment of nearly 49,000 students in 104 unique learning centers. In addition to traditional neighborhood schools, USD 259 offers 28 schools of choice (magnet schools, etc.) which provide specific educational focus in subjects including science and technology, international studies, back-to-basics, foreign language and communications, performing and fine arts, and environmental studies. Parents work with staff to shape the direction of each school through site-based management. Wichita e-School provides on-line curriculum and professional support to Wichita home-schooled students.

Wichita public schools are among the first to incorporate workplace skill standards into curriculum and graduation requirements. Wichita's business community aggressively supported development of the district's rigorous testing program in the core academic areas of reading, writing and math. All students in 2nd, 5th, 8th and 10th grades are tested to assess progress, provide benchmarks for achievement and determine those areas in which individual students need support. Wichita public schools have had seven consecutive years of increasing student achievement. The December 2002 issue of American School Board Journal featured Wichita Public Schools in an article on leading progressive city schools titled "Urban Success Stories."

In April 2000, Wichita voters approved (by 2-to-1 margin) a $284 million school bond issue, the largest in Kansas history, to fund new school buildings, modernization and expansion of existing schools and enhanced student computer facilities. Funding also provided for installation of air conditioning in every school facility. As of August 2006, bond projects were substantially completed.

In contrast to a recent national study indicating only 45% of parents nationally feel their student's school environment is safe, fully 93% of parents with students in Wichita Public Schools expressed confidence in their safety.

Wichita East High School hosts the acclaimed International Baccalaureate advanced academic learning program. Designed to meet entrance requirements of the best universities in the world, the IB program is a rigorous college preparatory program for academically talented and committed high school students. IB students take specially designed courses to prepare them to meet IB diploma requirements.

Suburban Public Schools
Quality public education is available throughout Sedgwick County. Five larger districts immediately surrounding Wichita – Andover, Derby, Goddard, Haysville and Maize – are rapidly expanding to keep up with growing population bases. Cheney, Clearwater, Mulvane, Renwick and Valley Center districts – along the edges of Sedgwick County, provide quality education in smaller school environments. Nearly all of these districts have either recently passed bond issues in support of new school construction, or are preparing to bring such issues before their voters.

Private and Parochial Schools
Wichita has more than 35 private and parochial schools offering preschool through high school. Click here for a list of Wichita area private and parochial schools.

Private Denominational Education
Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Wichita are among the finest in the nation, earning national awards from the National Catholic Educational Association in 1998, 2000 and 2001. They serve about 10,600 students across Southeastern Kansas. There are 20 Catholic schools in Sedgwick County. Catholic Schools of Wichita were the first, and remain the only, Catholic school system in the U.S. to charge no tuition to active parish families. Anchoring this highly regarded system are two superb high schools – Bishop Carroll on the west and Kapaun Mount Carmel on the east. Both high schools have undergone major renovations in recent years.

Fully 32 Wichita area Catholic, Christian, Lutheran, Independent and Seventh-Day Adventist schools have been accepted as full members of the Kansas Association of Independent and Religious Schools (KAIRS) based on quality of academic programs, faculty and fiscal stability.

Private Non-Denominational Education
Wichita Collegiate School offers a rigorous college preparatory curriculum taught in small classes. Collegiate has built a statewide reputation for academic excellence. The faculty is characterized by advanced degrees and broad teaching experience. Preschool through 12th grade enrollment is 980.

The Independent School emphasizes traditional liberal arts education usually found only in gifted programs. The school guarantees small class sizes and individual attention to student needs. Preschool through 12th grade enrollment is 770.