Image courtesy Canva

A new national analysis from The 74 Million identifies more than 2,100 schools across the country that are exceeding expectations in third-grade reading, including several in Kansas. The study compares school poverty levels—measured through free- and reduced-price lunch rates—with reading proficiency, highlighting schools that perform far above what their economic challenges would predict. These “bright spot” schools rank in the top 5% of their state for outperforming expected reading scores.

While the report does not list each Kansas school in its summary, an interactive map allows users to locate them. Experts emphasize that early reading skills strongly influence later success, noting that students who fall behind in third grade are more likely to face behavior problems and lower graduation rates. The analysis draws from a nationwide dataset of 41,883 schools and 2024 reading assessments. Kansas education leaders can use the findings to study high-performing schools and replicate effective strategies statewide.