Great Bend USD 428 joins schools across the state and nation to celebrate Public Schools Week, Feb. 27 – March 3, a week designated to highlight the vital role local public schools play in both our students’ and nation’s future.
“We’ll take any opportunity to celebrate the staff, students, and families of USD 428,” said Khris Thexton, superintendent of USD 428. “Take a look inside any building, any classroom, and you’ll find dedicated professionals who are working every day to nurture students and positively impact their growth and development.”
One highlight that captures the success of USD 428 is the steady improvement in graduation rates over the past decade. From 2010 to 2022, Great Bend High School’s graduation rate improved from 80.7% to 92.8%.
“Improved graduation rates are a district-wide accomplishment,” said Thexton. “A strong foundation for learning begins in preschool and continues throughout a student’s educational career. Seeing more students successfully reach this milestone takes intentional and focused academic support at every level and especially by the dedicated staff at GBHS.”
Across the nation, public schools are providing educational opportunities for more than 50 million students inside their school buildings. According to the Learning First Alliance, nine out of every ten students in the US attend public schools. Public Schools Week 2023 (#PSW23) is part of a larger campaign - #HerefortheKids - one that brings together families, educators, and community members to shine a light on local public schools and share the stories of the positive things happening in classrooms and school buildings nationwide.
As USD 428 shares positive highlights on social media this week, they invite the community to reach out to teachers and school staff and thank them for their efforts to make Great Bend Public Schools a great place to learn and grow.
For more information about Public Schools Week, Feb. 27-Mar. 3, visit Learning First Alliance’s website, publicschoolproud.org. For questions about Great Bend USD 428, please contact the District Education Center at 620-793-1500 or visit GreatBendSchools.net.
About the Learning First Alliance
The Learning First Alliance is a partnership of leading education organizations with more than 10 million members dedicated to improving student learning in America’s public schools. Alliance members include American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education; AASA: The School Superintendents Association; American Federation of Teachers; American School Counselor Association; Consortium for School Networking; Learning Forward; National Association of Elementary School Principals; National Association of Secondary School Principals; National Education Association; National PTA; National School Boards Association, National School Public Relations Association, and PDK International.