McConnell Air Force Base

Airman and Family Readiness Center - SLO
53147 Kansas Street
Bldg. 732, Suite 105
22 FSS/FSFR
ATTN: SLO
McConnell AFB, KS 67221-3606

Phone 316-759-3326
Phone (DSN) 312-743-3326
Fax 316-759-3184
Fax (DSN) 312-743-3184

Mon - Fri 7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Sat and Sun - closed
Federal Holidays - closed

The McConnell AFB area offers a wide range of educational opportunities and options.  If you live on base, your children will attend the Derby Unified School District (USD) 260. Wineteer Elementary is located adjacent to base housing.  Students in grades 6-12 living in base housing are bused to the Derby Sixth Grade Center, Derby Middle and Derby High.  Contact the School Liaison Officer at the Airman & Family Readiness Center at 316-759-6020 or DSN 312-743-6020, for more information on other schooling options in the area.

In addition to a rich tradition of neighborhood schools serving students at the elementary (PreK-5), middle (6-8) and high school (9-12) levels, Wichita also offers numerous special programs to meet student needs. The districts schools of choice, a network of 25 magnet schools at all grade levels, enhance the options available for parents and students.

Most schools also have their own school Web site, in addition to the informational profile pages listed here.

• 48,705 students, an increase of nearly 2 percent over the last 10 years.
• Educating approximately 11 percent of all public school students in the State of Kansas, and half of all school-aged children in Sedgwick County.
• Largest district between the Mississippi River and Denver, and Dallas and the Canadian border.
• Fourth largest employer in the Wichita MSA. 
• Approximately 4,000 teachers, 3,000 classified/support staff, and 240 administrators, which includes principals.
• $516 million annual budget, 74 percent of which is for salaries and benefits.
• Student body rich with diversity: 39% Caucasian, 23% Hispanic, 21% African-American, 9% multi-racial, 5% Asian, 3% American Indian.

Public School

State law states that a child must be 5 years old as of 1 September to enter Kindergarten and 6 years old to enter first grade. Kansas also requires an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for all students requesting placement in both special needs and advanced classes.  Kansas is a signer of the Military Child Education Compact which, in some cases, offers accommodations for military children. Contact the McConnell School Liaison for specific information. There are several other public school districts in McConnell area. For district specifics, such as demographics, graduation requirements, and course offerings, please visit the websites for each specific district.

Public School Districts

Andover-USD 385: The Andover Public School District has an enrollment of approximately 4,800 students attending six elementary schools, two middle and two high schools.  The district offers high school students Advanced Placement courses and Dual Credit courses through its partnership with Butler Community College.

Derby-USD 260: The Derby Public Schools serve more than 6,500 students, including residents of base housing.  There are nine elementary schools, a sixth grade center, a middle school, a high school, and an alternative high school setting.  Derby offers the nationally recognized Project Lead the Way curriculum in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) as well as Advanced Placement courses.

Haysville-USD 261: The Haysville School System has more than 5,000 students enrolled in six elementary schools, two middle schools, one high school and four special facilities.  Their specialty schools include Haysville Alternative High School, Learning by Design Virtual Charter School, and Tri-City Day School (a cooperative effort between Derby, Haysville and Mulvane schools to meet the diverse emotional and mental health needs of their K-12 students).

Maize-USD 266: The Maize School District has one K-5 elementary, one K-1 elementary, and two 2-5 elementary schools; two middle schools; two high schools; and one alternative high school.  USD 266 currently allows students and parents to submit a preference for which of the two high schools they would like to attend.  Both offer Advanced Placement courses and a wide variety of activities.

Mulvane-USD 263: USD 263 is home to approximately 1,900 students.  They attend one primary school (K-2), one grade school (3-5), one middle school (6-8), and one high school (9-12).  The Mulvane School District also sponsors a charter school, Mulvane Academy, for students who have not flourished in a traditional setting.  Mulvane Academy has a total enrollment of 20 students, allowing for one-on-one instruction.

Rose Hill-USD 394: Rose Hill is a district with one primary school (grades K-2), one intermediate school (grades 3-5), a middle school (grades 6-8), and a high school (grades 9-12).  USD 394 has an enrollment of approximately 1,700 students.  The school system is excited about its technology in the classroom, including laptops, Smartboards and, most recently, the IPod Touch.

Wichita-USD 259: The Wichita Public School District is the largest school district in Kansas with an enrollment of more than 50,000 students.  There are 56 elementary schools, 16 middle schools, two K-8 schools, 10 high schools and 16 other special program locations.  USD 259 offers 26 magnet programs: 19 elementary school, two K-8, four middle school, and one high school.  USD 259 also offers alternative schools and special programs.  One special program is the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.  There is a Pre-IB for grades 6-8 at Robinson Middle and IB at East High for grades 9-12.  For information on all magnet, alternative and special programs please visit the district website.

Private Schools

There are a number of private schools in Wichita.  The Kansas State Department of Education provides lists of private schools accredited by the state and non-accredited private schools.  They are available on the Kansas Department of Education website.

Virtual Schools

There are a growing number of virtual schooling options available.  Virtual schools are online courses.  Many Kansas school districts are now offering virtual education.  A list of virtual schools affiliated with Kansas school districts is listed online at www.ksde.org.  You can also contact the School Liaison Officer at 316-759-6020 for additional information.

Homeschooling

All homeschools are considered Non-Accredited Private Schools in Kansas.  Kansas does not specifically authorize “home instruction” or “homeschooling.”  Therefore, you are required by law to register the name and address of the private school (homeschool) with the State Board of Education.  The form is available online.  Contact the School Liaison at 316-759-6020 for additional information and resources.

School Liaison

The School Liaison Officer for McConnell Air Force Base is available to assist you in matters concerning school-age children and school related concerns. Please contact the School Liaison Officer at the Airman & Family Readiness Center at 316-759-6020 or DSN 312-743-6020 for more information.

Adult Education

Educational opportunities on McConnell include classes through Southwestern College, Butler Community College, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University and Webster University. In addition to college opportunities, the education office provides counseling, testing, Professional Military Education, tuition assistance, Air Force Educational Leave of Absence program, education deferments, commissioning programs, Community College of the Air Force, high school equivalency testing and developmental reading in support of on the job training.