Caldwell Elementary School

Communication and cultural diversity highlight the rich learning environment at Caldwell Elementary School. With children who speak 8 languages including Sign Language, the school involves students and their families in activities that enhance academic achievement and develop self-esteem. The Deaf and Hard of Hearing classes serve the entire district and add to Caldwell’s unique learning environment.

Every Caldwell classroom is equipped with a SmartBoard, laptop and networked computers, projectors,  and Clickers which serve to enrich and individualize each student’s educational program. A two-hour intensive reading block has been implemented at all levels. Caldwell offers all-day kindergarten and a after-school latchkey  program. We have community involvement programs including mentoring. Several classes are also offered to the community, including English as a Second Language and parenting classes.

Caldwell is a culturally rich environment providing equity for all students. Our staff uses research based teaching and learning strategies to enable all students to be academically successful Parent activities including computer training, English as a Second Language, family/child activity nights (FAN), parenting classes and more are an integral part of Caldwell’s climate.

Exit east Kellogg on Edgemoor. Go south on Edgemoor one mile to Caldwell. See Maps for all USD 259 locations.

All Caldwell student’s will be proficient or above in reading, writing, and math by the end of 5th grade.

1. All students will demonstrate ability to comprehend reading at their grade level.
2. All students will demonstrate continual growth in mathematical problem solving, reasoning, and communication.
3. All students will demonstrate continual growth in the use of writing skills to improve communication.

Each school has a site council, which is a group of parents, community members, business representatives, teachers and other school staff. Site councils identify, consider and discuss educational issues at the school. Councils provide advice and counsel for evaluating state, district and school site performance goals and objectives. Councils may also suggest methods that may be used to increase student achievement.

Meeting Day: Second Thursday of the month
Time: 3:30 p.m.
Location: Caldwell Library

• Reading 1st Program
• Two sessions of Pre-Kindergarten
• Reading Intervention Classes
• Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services
• Interrelated services
• English Speakers of Other Languages pre-kindergarten through five.

Singing Hands Choir

Student Council

Technology Club

After school reading and math tutoring

Caldwell Elementary School began its existence at Jefferson School in the fall of 1950. Regular Jefferson pupils attended the morning shift; Caldwell and Fabrique pupils attended the afternoon session. The pupils and teaching staffs of Caldwell and Fabrique were moved to the original south wing of the present Caldwell plant in January 1951. Fabrique staff and pupils moved into their new building in March 1951.

In 1951 Caldwell consisted of a principal, 13 classroom teachers and an enrollment of approximately 400 pupils. The school was built to serve the educational needs of a new community which developed rapidly on the periphery of southeast Wichita. The school was erected on the same campus with Curtis Junior High School and Wichita High School Southeast. This location enabled pupils residing in the district to obtain 12 years of uninterrupted schooling within walking distance of their homes.

U.S. Grant was president in 1871 when Marvin Beal obtained a $200 grant for 160 acres of land on which Caldwell School is located. Beal immediately sold the land to Joseph Taylor for $500. In 1882 Taylor sold the parcel to a Mr. Disbrow for $2,600. In 1950 the Wichita Board of Education paid $75,000 for 60 acres of this land. Caldwell School was located on 6.1 acres of this purchase.

Caldwell School was named in honor of Mr. Charles Stuart Caldwell, a member of the Wichita Board of Education from 1874 to 1877 and secretary of the Board from 1896-1910.

The first wing of Caldwell School was built in 1950-51 and contained seven classrooms, office, workroom, toilets and a boiler room. Seven additional classrooms were added in 1951-52. The last addition, consisting of seven classrooms, toilets, conference rooms and a multipurpose room, was completed in 1960-61. Before the completion of the 1960-61 addition, it was necessary by 1957 to place 14 portable buildings on the site to house the record enrollment of 769 pupils.

The enrollment of Caldwell rose from 400 in 1950 to a high of 769 in 1954. For the next four years the enrollment fluctuated between 969 and 763. After 1959 the enrollment decreased until the population stabilized at approximately 350 pupils. In 1990 the district hearing impaired program was moved from Allen to Caldwell. The Singing Hands Choirs is a program offered to fourth and fifth graders. It involves using Signing Exact English with music.

At the beginning of the 1988-89 year, sixth grade students were incorporated into the middle school program, leaving a K-5 enrollment of approximately 400 students.

In April 2000, the voters of the Wichita School District approved a $284.5 million bond issue. The projects began in the fall of 2000 and were completed over the next five years. The plan built 19 multipurpose rooms, upgraded science labs, replaced portable classrooms with permanent construction, improved handicap accessibility to all buildings, rebuilt five existing elementary schools, added a new elementary and middle school, expanded seven other elementary schools and provided nine new libraries as well as the expansion of nine others. Building infrastructure in 82 buildings was also upgraded, including the replacement of antiquated plumbing, updates and expansion of electrical systems, replacement of inefficient or broken windows and doors, upgrades of heating and cooling systems, and asbestos abatement when required.

Caldwell received a new addition that included five classrooms and a student support area designed by the architectural firm of McCluggage Van Sickle & Perry. A contract was made with Simpson and Associates, Inc. to complete the remodel and addition project in the amount of $1,867,000. The Bond project dedication ceremony was held April 20, 2006.