Northern Hills Junior High is located five miles north of Kansas' capital
city, Topeka, located in NE Kansas. Northern Hills Junior High is in
the USD 345 - Seaman District in Shawnee County. The Seaman District
encompasses 82 square miles of Menoken and Soldier Townships. It became
a unified district under the jurisdiction of USD #345 school board in
1965. The district has eight elementary schools, two junior high schools
(grades 7-9), and Seaman High School. Northern Hills serves both rural
and suburban families, but increasingly the latter.
The enrollment at Northern Hills remains relatively static throughout
the school year with few students transferring in or out of school.
Growth in the district has remained steady, but not spectacular, the
past few years. The amount of housing and commercial development in
the district would lead one to speculate that growth will remain steady.
Northern Hills enjoys positive support from parents and patrons of the
district. The Northern Hills' Parent Organization and Northern Hills'
Site Council are supportive groups that assist in the overall quality
of the school program. Parents expressed no school climate concerns
on the most recent Rauhauser Survey.
Two major educational issues are being addressed in our district. The
community is examining possible changes to the current district configuration
that include the following: all-day kindergarten, 7th-8th grade middle
schools, a 9th grade academy, and an alternative school. A mail-in bond
issue is being held in May, 2006. The federal legislation, No Child
Left Behind, has caused us to examine our educational program to determine
if sufficient resources are being allotted for our struggling learners.
Student Characteristics
Northern Hills Junior High enrollment has remained relatively steady
at approximately 460 students for the past three years. The total is
split nearly evenly between girls and boys. Approximately 95% of the
students are white and 9% qualify for free/reduced meals. Non-gifted,
special education students account for 12-15% of the student population.
Student achievement is generally quite good using local performance
assessments and standardized test scores. Semester grade reports generally
yield 100 failing grades out of approximately 3000 total grades earned
(3%). Approximately 50-60 students (10-13%) earn at least one failing
grade on progress reports. Standardized test score results are above
average. Grade level groups generally score in the 60th-75th percentile
range on the MAT-8 tests in the core subjects (math, reading, writing,
science, social studies). Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as required
by the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) federal legislation continues to
be met on a yearly basis.
The overall school climate at Northern Hills is extremely positive and
productive. Student attendance rates generally fall in the 95% range.
Suspension, expulsion, and dropout totals are extremely low. Student
behavior criteria have been established to determine qualification for
student reward trips at the end of each semester. Nearly 65% of students
meet extremely strict criteria to participate in the spring reward trip
to Worlds of Fun. 20% of students meet lesser criteria to go on a local
reward trip and 15% of students do not qualify for either trip.
