In 2024, Council Grove ranked 6th in the entire state in Math proficiency and 41st in ELA. According to the KS Open Gov website, 267 schools reported test results for Math and 265 schools for ELA. That places our Math scores in the top 2% of Kansas schools and our ELA scores in the top 15%. With the addition of our new ELA enrichment class for sophomores, there is every reason to expect our ELA performance to continue rising and eventually mirror the success we are already seeing in Math.

The data clearly shows that our current system is working, and the biggest structural difference between us and almost every other district is the trimester schedule. Only two schools in Kansas use a trimester system. Nearly every school ranked below us is on a semester schedule, and the number of schools below us isn’t even close to the number above us. The results speak for themselves. Trimesters are not holding us back, they are helping us excel.

Trimesters don’t just support academics, they support our activities as well. Because we have longer class periods, our athletes get more consistent and meaningful time in the weight room during the school day. You can see the impact directly. The male class of 2025 is one of the most dedicated weight room classes we’ve had, and our sports programs began to turn a corner during their sophomore year. Council Grove has become a contender in nearly every male sport, and that momentum began when consistent access to weights became the norm rather than the exception. 

Sincerely,

Colton Elsen

Sophomore Class President

Council Grove Junior Senior High School