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Two Kansas schools have been named National ESEA Distinguished Schools for 2025 because of their strong student achievement. Lakeside Elementary School, Waconda USD 272 earned recognition in Category 1 for outstanding student performance and academic growth over two years. Norwich Elementary School, Kingman-Norwich USD 331, earned recognition in Category 2 for successfully closing achievement gaps between student groups. This is the first time either school or their districts has received this national honor.
Schools are honored in one of three areas; Exceptional student performance and growth, Closing achievement gaps, and excellence in serving special student populations. The program highlights schools that effectively use federal ESEA funds to improve learning for all students.
All National ESEA Distinguished Schools receive a special award package, a feature on the ESEA Network website, and recognition at the 2026 National ESEA Conference in Denver and online.
The National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program, run by the National Association of ESEA State Program Administrators (NAESPA), has recognized schools since its inception in 1996. The following schools in Kansas have been honored:
- New York Elementary School, Lawrence USD 497, 1996
- Ogden Elementary School, Manhattan-Ogden USD 383, 1996
- Miller Elementary School, Dodge City USD 443, 1997
- Guthridge Elementary School, Parsons USD 503, 1997
- Enterprise Elementary School, Chapman USD 473, 1998
- Morrison Elementary School, Great Bend USD 428, 1998
- Robinson Elementary School, Hiawatha USD 415, 1999
- Wineteer Elementary School, Derby USD 260, 1999
- Haverhill Elementary School, Bluestem USD 205, 2000
- Dexter Elementary School, Dexter USD 471, 2000
- St. Marys Grade School, Kaw Valley USD 321, 2001
- Altamont Elementary School, Labette USD 506, 2001
- Colwich Elementary School, Renwick USD 267, 2002
- Saint Marks Elementary School, Renwick USD 267, 2002
- Custer Hill Elementary School, Geary County USD 475, 2004
- Francis Willard Elementary School, Arkansas City USD 470, 2004
- Meadows Elementary School, Topeka USD 501, 2005
- Keith L. Ware Elementary School, Geary County USD 475, 2006
- Sunflower Intermediate School, Liberal USD 480, 2006
- Georgia Matthews Elementary School, Garden City USD 457, 2007
- Westwood Elementary School, Geary County USD 475, 2007
- McCarter Elementary School, Topeka USD 501, 2008
- Horace Mann Dual Language Magnet School, Wichita USD 259, 2008
- Garfield Elementary School, Parsons USD 503, 2009
- Holcomb Elementary School, Holcomb USD 363, 2009
- Pauline South Intermediate School, Auburn-Washburn USD 437, 2010
- Fairview Elementary School, Olathe USD 233, 2010
- Dodge Literacy Magnet Elementary School, Wichita USD 259, 2011
- Washington Elementary School, Olathe USD 233, 2011
- Washington Elementary School, Geary County USD 475, 2012
- Garfield Elementary School, Garden City USD 457, 2012
- Northwest Elementary School, Dodge City USD 443, 2012
- Nelson Elementary School, Haysville USD 261, 2012
- Kathryn O’Loughlin McCarthy Elementary School, Hays USD 489, 2013
- Curtis Middle School, Wichita USD 259, 2013
- Sterling Grade School, Sterling USD 376, 2016
- West Elk School, West Elk USD 282, 2016
- Pleasant Ridge Elementary School, Easton USD 449, 2017
- Roesland Elementary School, Shawnee Mission USD 512, 2018
- Kathryn O’Loughlin McCarthy Elementary School, Hays USD 489, 2018
- Ruth Clark Elementary School, Wichita USD 259, 2019
- New Stanley Elementary School, Kansas City USD 500, 2019
- Chetopa Elementary School, Chetopa-St. Paul USD 505, 2020
- Sheridan Elementary School, Geary County USD 475, 2020
- Lincoln Memorial Elementary School, Caney Valley USD 436, 2021
- Bertram Caruthers Elementary School, Kansas City USD 500, 2021
- Westview Elementary School, Olathe USD 233, 2022
- Hillsboro Elementary School, Hillsboro USD 410, 2022
- Valley Heights Elementary School, Valley Heights Unified School District 498, 2023
- Wheatland Elementary School, Valley Center USD 262, 2023
- Sterling Grade School, Sterling USD 376, 2024
- Overbrook Attendance Center (K-3), Santa Fe Trail, USD 434, 2024
