Visit helps narrow choice Gauge level of family involvement, PTA

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Sep 26, 2004 by Barbara Hollingsworth Capital-Journal

SCHOOLS

FAST FACT: 'Report cards' are at www.ksbe.state.ks.us.

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Theodore Harris and Amber Clark, who were seniors at Hope Street Academy last year, listen during a discussion on immigration inside the school's library.

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Harriette Ramsey helps Hope Lange with her classwork in Sharon Kibbe's fifth-grade class at Shaner Elementary School. Ramsey volunteers each week.

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The English room at Topeka High School, which is used for history classes, has paintings depicting the life of George Washington that were commissioned in 1933-34. The room also has one of the school's several fireplaces.

By Barbara Hollingsworth

THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL

Before choosing a school, parents could be well-served by doing a little studying of their own.

The Kansas State Department of Education offers annual report cards for each school and school district. The report cards are accessible on the Internet at the department's Web site, www.ksbe.state.ks.us.

The report cards include test scores, demographics and graduation data for area schools.

Jenni Gaster Sopko, a spokeswoman for the National PTA in Chicago, suggests parents visit prospective schools, take a tour and talk to the principal. School Web sites often provide information about programs and activities at the schools.

"I think that sometimes parents have a hard time getting past neighborhood gossip and test scores," she said. "There is so much more to finding a good school for their children."

Important issues for parents to consider are funding, academic standards, staff qualifications, professional development for staff, community partnerships with the school and school maintenance.

She said parents also should check on the level of involvement from families and ensure that families are encouraged to get involved in schools.

Following is a list of Topeka-area schools:

Auburn-Washburn Unified School District 437

- Auburn Elementary --- Principal Mark Koepsel, 339-4400

- Early Childhood Special Education Center --- 339-4675

- Indian Hills Elementary --- Principal George Huckabee, 339-4500

- Jay Shideler Elementary --- Principal Charyll Boggs, 339-4600

- Parents As Teachers --- 339-4762

- Pauline Central Primary --- Principal Alan Hageman, 339-4700

- Pauline South Intermediate --- Principal Chris Holman, 339-4750

- Tallgrass Student Learning Center --- Principal David Cromer, 339-4270

- Washburn Rural Alternative High School --- Principal Dick Patterson, 339-4900

- Wanamaker Elementary --- Principal Marcy Cassidy, 339-4800

- Washburn Rural High School --- Principal Bill Edwards, 339-4100

- Washburn Rural Middle School --- Principal Jerry Meier, 339- 4300

Seaman Unified School District 345

- East Indianola Elementary --- Principal Tony Smith, 575-8750

- Elmont Elementary --- Principal Gary Groves, 286-8450

- Indian Creek Elementary --- Principal Kim Crooks, 286-8470

- Logan Junior High --- Principal Kathy Sooter, 575-8700

- Lyman Elementary --- Principal Kyle Hicks, 575-8770

- North Fairview Elementary --- Principal Ed Albert, 286-8500

- Northern Hills Junior High --- Principal Bob Horton, 286-8400

- Pleasant Hill Elementary --- Principal Craig Carter, 286-8510

- Rochester Elementary --- Principal Patricia Bishop, 286-8530

- Seaman High School --- Principal Ron Vinduska, 286-8300

- West Indianola Elementary --- Principal Terri Anderson, 286- 8550

Shawnee Heights Unified School District 450

- Berryton Elementary --- Principal Mark K. Crawford, 861-1300

- Shawnee Heights Elementary --- Principal Layne Hunley, 357-5400

- Shawnee Heights High School --- Associate principal Matthew Hirsch, 379-5860

- Shawnee Heights Middle School --- Principal Cleo Gardner, 379- 5830

- Shawnee Heights Senior High School --- Principal Warren W. Watson, 379-5880

- Special Education Services --- 357-5440

- Tecumseh North Elementary School --- Principal Dennis Hippe, 379- 5910

- Tecumseh South Elementary School --- Principal Marcia Bone, 379- 5950

Silver Lake Unified School District 372

- Silver Lake Elementary --- Principal Ronda Dewey, 582-4185

- Silver Lake Junior/Senior High School --- Principal Larry Winter, 582-4639

Topeka Unified School District 501

- Avondale East Elementary --- Principal Duke Palmer, 274-4655

- Avondale West Elementary --- Principal Scott Henson, 274-4775

- Bishop Elementary --- Principal Raymond Thomas, 271-3735

- Capital City School --- Principal Tim Wurtz, 295-3600

- Chase Middle School --- Principal Teresa Songs, 295-3840

- Eisenhower Middle School --- Principal Steve Roberts, 274-6160

- French Middle School --- Principal Judy Reiners, 438-4150

- Highland Park Central Elementary --- Principal Val Patterson, 575-6635

- Highland Park High School --- Principal Dale Cushinberry, 274- 6000

- Holland Student Service Center --- 232-0551

- Hope Street Academy --- Principal Bill Bagshaw, 438-4280

- Jardine Middle School --- Principal Jeanne Vawter, 274-6330