Curtis Middle School

The teachers, staff, family and community of Charles Curtis Middle School work together to help each and every student succeed academically and socially.

Curtis offers a variety of academic programs. Students with special needs or exceptionalities are enrolled in gifted and talented programs, hearing impaired and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classes. Other academic programs include Academic League and Science Olympiad. Curtis also provides an after school program to help students with tutorial, mentoring and recreational opportunities.

• Highly qualified teachers in every subject area
• Clearly defined focus on education of all students
• Advanced use of technology (hand-helds, CPS) available to students and staff
• Safe and orderly hall-way movement

1. Students will improve their reading skills, will demonstrate competency in writing activities across the curriculum and will improve their study skills.
2. Students will apply mathematical principles and processes to problem solve, communicate and reason independently and collaboratively in all curricular areas.
3. Students, parents and community will be actively involved in their school where the climate is safe, positive and supportive.

Charles Curtis Middle School has a site council, which is a group of parents, community members, business representatives, teachers and other school staff. Our site council identifies, considers and discusses educational opportunities and issues at the school. Our Site Council provides advice and counsel for evaluating state, school district and school site performance goals and objectives. They may also recommend methods that may be employed at the school site to meet these goals and objectives.

• Hearing Impaired program
• English Speakers of Other Languages program
• Interrelated Special Education
• After-school recreation program (cosponsored by YMCA Board)
• National Academic League
• Wichita Athletic League (girls' volleyball, boys' and girls' basketball, boys' and girls' track)
• Leadership (JROTC)

• Exploratory opportunities
• Unique special education programs – Hearing Impaired, TMR
• Quarterly school-wide talent shows and dances for students

Curtis Junior High School was named for Charles Curtis, a Kansan who became vice president of the United States. Charles Curtis was born January 25, 1860, in Topeka, Kansas. His father was a French settler and his mother a Kaw Indian princess. His mother died when Charles was only three years old, and after his sixth birthday he was taken to live with his grandmother on the Kansas Indian Reservation. When he was eight, his grandmother encouraged him to return to Topeka. At 16 he began to study law and passed his Kansas Bar Examination at the age of 21. He was elected prosecuting attorney and later county attorney of Shawnee County. He was elected to the House of Representatives, filled an unexpired term in the Senate, and was then elected senator. He served in the Senate almost 30 years. He served as vice president of the United States under Herbert Hoover. He died in 1936 at the age of 76.

The Industrial Construction Company started construction of Curtis School in 1951, and the building was completed in 1953. Hibbs and Robinson were the architects for the structure.

The school opened in September 1953 with 19 classrooms, an office, library, auditorum, gymnasium and cafeteria for capacity of 600 students. The staff consisted of a principal and 25 teachers.

In 1954 two shop rooms were added, and an assitant principal was added to the staff. In 1955, 12 additional classrooms were constructed, and enrollment the following fall was 979 with a staff of a principal, an assistant principal and 38 teachers. In 1961, 23 classrooms, a second office, gymnasium and dining room were added. The old library was converted into classrooms and a new library added.

The enrollment in the fall of 1961 was 1,221 with a staff of 55 teachers. At that time Spanish, Latin, world history and biology were added to the curriculum. The peak enrollment of 1,440 was reached in 1969. The enrollment declined to 810 in 1994.

In the fall of 1988, all ninth graders were moved to high schools leaving seventh and eighth graders. In the fall of 1989, all junior high schools became middle schools (6-8).

From A History of Wichita Public School Buildings, c 1997