Mueller Elementary School

MUELLER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Mueller places emphasis on meeting individual student needs. To accomplish this goal, Mueller has developed a T.E.C. STAR program: Teaching Every Child Science, Technology, Arts/Academics and Reading/Writing/Arithmetic.

Other Mueller programs include: preschool, all-day kindergarten, Latchkey, gifted resources, interrelated resources, Arts Partners, Bell Choir, Friday morning newscast run by Mueller students, Science lab, Technology lab and Accelerated Reader. Mueller is also equipped with SMART Boards and laptops with Internet access so students can learn with up-to-date technology.

Mueller is applying to become an Engineering and Aerospace Discovery Magnet in 2009-2010. We will be partnering with WSU along with other community businesses to promote engineering and aerospace concepts. 

If you are interested in attending Mueller as a school of choice, please call us at 973-8300.







 

• Our T.E.C. STAR program is top-notch! Check out our program at http://mueller.usd259.org for more information
• $35,000 technology grant with an additional $10,000 to update technology at Mueller
• Second Place National Science League award winners in third and fourth grade
• The Mueller Parent Teacher Organization provides an opportunity for parents to support our school
• Teachers Teaming together for academic excellence helps teachers share ideas together for learning
• 70% of our students who were either bussed or volunteered,  return to Mueller each year due to our dedicated staff and outstanding program.

Exit I-135 at 21^st St. Go east on 21^st St. to Hillside. Go north on Hillside to 24^th St. Go west on 24^th St. four blocks to Mueller. See Maps for all USD 259 locations.

The purpose of Mueller is to inspire a learning community that creates a safe, diverse environment where high expectations for student achievement and character development are valued.

1. Mueller's goal is to increase our state scores in the area of reading.
2. Mueller's goal is to increase our state scores in the area of math.

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 problems and issues at the school. Councils provide advice and counsel for evaluating state, school district and school site performance goals and objectives. Councils may also recommend methods that may be employed at the school site to meet these goals and objectives.

Meeting Day: One Thursday each month
Time:  6 p.m.
Location: Library

PTO meets on the same day at 7 p.m. in the Library.

Childcare is provided for all families that attend.

We are pleased that you are looking at our Mueller T.E.C. STAR program! We have some exciting teaching happening at our school. Please check out our national award winning Web Site at Mueller to learn more about our program.

Our 120-minute reading block offers classroom instruction in language arts and reading. This time focuses on vocabulary development, comprehension skills, writing instruction and also self selected reading. Your child also has a 90-minute block of math instructional time that focuses on the standards and indicators for that grade level. Our extensions give students learning time in our hands-on Science Lab and Technology Lab once a week! We want to keep your son/daughter busy learning the entire day. Our computer lab is equipped with up-to-date computers, a SMART board, projector and software, along with three wireless computer carts equipped with laptops and SMART boards to enhance learning within the classroom.

Mueller has a before- and after-school program that is run by Mueller teachers and staff.

• Accelerated Reading Program encourages students to read for fun while increasing comprehension skills
• Intramural Program at lunch increases students' physical activity levels
• School Field Trips allow teachers to extend learning beyond the classroom
• Family Fun Nights provide ways for parents to get involved with their children
• Special Music Programs focus on every-one's participation while learning vocal skills

The Mueller School District was established in 1952 to serve the educational needs of a new housing area in northeast Wichita. Hollobaugh-Bowers were the architects for the 15-room school. The adult population in the area consisted mostly of young married couples who had come from small towns in Kansas and neighboring states to work in the aircraft factories. The school population rose from 298 in 1952 to over 800 in 1958.

In 1962 the Wichita Board of Education announced that 140 black children from Isely Elementary School would be transferred to Mueller. A decision was made in 1963 to add a 19-classroom addition to the existing school plant. Skinner Elementary School was closed in 1964-65 because of the construction of Highway I-135, and a change was made in the Mueller boundary lines to include a major portion of the Skinner District plus a sizable area south of 21^st Street formerly in the Isely district.

As a result of these actions, the white population began an immediate exodus from the community. The number of vacant and abandoned houses in the area rose to over 200. After 1963 there was a tremendous turnover in school population. The large number of black pupils enrolled rose rapidly; the number of white pupils enrolled decreased at the same rate. By 1965 Mueller had become a predominantly black school.

To overcome crowded conditions at Mueller and to help integrate other elementary schools in Wichita in 1968, approximately 425 students were bused to 11 other elementary schools. In 1971 the Mueller district was included in the Assigned Attendance Area of the integration plan adopted by the Board of Education. Since that date the ratio of 26 to 30 percent black pupils has been consistently maintained.

Mueller School was named for Charles P. Mueller, a Wichita pioneer and former president of the Board of Education. He was born in Williamsville, New York, June 13, 1862 and came to Kansas with his parents in 1867. His father had taken a soldier's claim near Lawrence; however, the family moved back to New York in 1874 because of the grasshoppers. Charles began work in a greenhouse in Buffalo, New York, in 1875 and in 1882 he returned to Lawrence where he worked as a florist. He came to Wichita in 1883, again working as a florist, and in 1885 he started his own greenhouse. At the time of his death on November 24, 1932 his company was one of the largest floral establishments in Kansas.

Mr. Mueller was very active in civic organizations, a charter member of St. Paul's Methodist Church, one of the founders of the Wichita YMCA, and a member of the Rotary Club of Wichita. He was an organizing member of the Wichita Chamber of Commerce and served on its Board of Directors. Mr. Mueller was a member of the Wichita Board of Education from 1914 to 1926, serving as president when Wichita High School East was built.

At the beginning of the 1988-89 year, sixth grade students were incorporated into the middle school program, leaving a K-5 enrollment of around 475 with 30 percent black 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.

With the help of PBA Architects P.A. and Sauerwein Construction Co. Mueller received an upgraded infrastructure and the library was expanded and renovated.

The Bond celebration was held at the completion of the project on February 10, 2004.