• The district's enrollment is 50,042 students, an increase of nearly 900 students from last year and the highest number of students served in 34 years.
  
  
• Forty schools received 127 Standard of Excellence Awards in reading, math, science and/or writing from the Kansas Department of Education for their performance on the state assessments.
  
  
• Six schools received the 2009 Challenge Awards from the Confidence in Kansas Public Education Task Force. The award recognizes schools for outstanding achievement and accomplishment in reading and/or mathematics based on 2009 state assessment results, despite facing significant challenges in school population.  
  
  
• Twelve students have been named semifinalists for the 2010 National Merit Scholarship Program.
  
  
• Two students have been named National Achievement Scholarship Program.
  
  
• Janie Duong, senior at East High School, is the recipient of the 2009 Harry Gore Memorial Scholarship from Wichita State University.
  
  
• Dodge Literacy Magnet Elementary has been named a STARS school by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education for its outstanding physical education program. the first school in Kansas to receive the honor.
  
  
• Pleasant Valley Elementary received a $2,000 grant to help combat childhood obesity by   teaching the benefits of running through P.E. class. 
  
  
• Pleasant Valley Middle School students collected more than 3,000 toys for Toys for Tots in 2009.
  
  
• East High School social studies teacher, Emily Koch, is the only teacher in Kansas to pilot the first comprehensive curriculum focusing on the September 11, 2001 attacks. 
  
  
• 554 students representing all 18 middle schools competed in cross country for the 2009 seasion, which is a record number of students participating.
  
  
• 15 student athletes were nominated for the 2009 Wendy's High School Heisman Awards for excelling in academics, athletics and community service.
  
  
• Evan Hernandez, senior at East High School, was named National Champion in Expository Speaking at the National Forensics League’s National Debate and Speech Tournament.
  
  

• Megan Belisle, kindergarten teacher at Jefferson Elementary, received the 2009 Kansas Horizon Award from the Kansas Department of Education for exemplary work during her first year of teaching.
  
  

• Five district high school seniors were named 2008 finalists of the Harry Gore Memorial Scholarship from Wichita State University for their leadership and academic skills. As finalists, students receive scholarships ranging from $25,000 – $40,000. The seniors attend East, Northeast, Northwest, South and Southeast.
  
  

• The Milken Foundation awarded Horace Mann assistant principal, Vanessa Martinez, the National Educator Award. She is the only Kansas teacher to achieve this honor in 2008. 
  
  

• Northeast Magnet has been named a Successful Magnet High School by the U.S. Department of Education—one of eight nationwide.
  
  

• Bill Faflick, Athletic Director for the Wichita Public Schools, has been named Kansas Athletic Director of the Year by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education.
  
  

• On Nov. 4, 2008, voters approved a $370 million bond issue that will add schools and classrooms to reduce class sizes and address overcrowding and growth, build 60 safe rooms, support the end to forced busing, upgrade technical education programs and renovate or rebuild aging physical education, athletic and fine arts facilities. 
  
  

• Kathy Busch, Assistant Superintendent of Middle Schools, received the My Boss is a Patriot Award from the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve.
  
  

• The Middle School Leadership Program was studied by the U.S. Department of Education as the USDE looks to create a program that expands the JROTC program into middle schools.
  
  

• 92% of East High School’s International Baccalaureate 2008 seniors were awarded  their IB Diplomas. This is well above the U.S. average of 75% and the world average of 80%.
  
  

• Robinson Middle School received National No Place for Hate recognition from the Anti-Defamation League—the first school in Kansas to have the honor.
  
  

• The Wichita Public Schools was selected by the Kansas Department of Education to participate in a pilot to create a mentoring program for beginning teachers.
  
  

• North High School and Pleasant Valley Middle School named an AVID (Achievement Via Individual Determination) National Demonstration School, the only schools in Kansas and two of the few across the country. 
  
  

• Cloud Elementary assistant principal Mendie Vicin received the profession’s top honor of National Board Certification from the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards for 2009.
  
  

• Sylvia Schmidt, counselor at Franklin Elementary, was named 2008 Counselor of the Year by the South Central Kansas Counseling Association.
  
  

• Wichita Public Schools employees donated more than $250,000 to the United Way in 2009
  
  

December 18, 2009