User guide to Ellis County schools
Hays USD 489
The Hays public school system serves about 3,200 students, preschool through grade 12, in Ellis County.
New pupils in the district should make contact with the school they will attend as soon as possible to make necessary arrangements for enrollment.
All pupils enrolling in kindergarten must present a copy of their birth certificate and immunization records at enrollment time. Completed kindergarten enrollments must include a health assessment.
Pupils enrolling in Kansas schools for the first time must present certificates of physical examination and immunization records signed by their physicians or the county health department. Forms can be obtained from a district principal.
Students living 2.5 miles or more from school are eligible for transportation by bus or mileage reimbursement. Applications for transportation reimbursement can be obtained at Sixth and Oak or by calling (785) 623-2560.
The district food service program includes both breakfast and lunch programs. Free and reduced-price meals are available for children with approved applications on file with their school principal.
Application forms will be available at enrollment time.
The district offers a number of courses for adults. Call Hays High School at (785) 623-2600 for information about offerings, schedules and enrollment. The Learning Center offers adults the opportunity to earn a high school diploma. Call (785) 623-2426 for information about the program.
An extensive special education program serves children with special needs.
The district has a long-time history of National Merit scholars, and this last year, Hays High had two finalists. USD 489 schools perennially perform well in state assessments and last year made Standard of Excellence in 36 of the 44 opportunities in subjects tested.
For additional enrollment information, call the district office, in the Rockwell Administration Center, 323 W. 12th, at (785) 623-2400. The superintendent is Fred Kaufman.
Thomas More Prep-Marian High School
Thomas More Prep-Marian High School is a private, Catholic, co-educational college preparatory school of about 270 students.
Because TMP-Marian is a private school, it is not supported by tax money.
The school is supported by a tithing program through the eight Heartland Parishes, which includes four parishes in Hays and four in the surrounding area.
Students outside the Heartland Parishes pay tuition. Need-based financial grants are available.
The curriculum is designed to meet the needs of students at all levels. Advanced placement classes to basic classes are offered to meet the needs of a diverse student body. Hays USD 489 provides special-education services on the TMP-Marian campus.
Traditionally, between 85 and 88 percent of TMP-Marian graduates receive scholarships to continue their educations, and this past year, the school received the Kansas Standard of Excellence in three areas of testing -- math, reading and writing.
TMP-Marian also was one of 18 high schools across the state to earn the Governor's Achievement Award as one of the top achieving schools in the state.
For more information, call the TMP-Marian admissions office at (785) 625-6577. The school's address is 1701 Hall. The principal is Denis Coakley.
High Plains Christian School
The small private school at 27th and Canterbury averages an enrollment of about 35 to 40 students, preschool through eighth grade, each year. It teaches the normal school curriculum, as well as the Bible, daily. For more information, call Ben Lowery, pastor, High Plains Baptist Church, at (785) 628-2558 or 628-1991.
Hays Seventh-day Adventist School
This a state-approved, teacher-certified school for kindergarten through eighth grade, focusing on a Christian education, at 207 E. Fourth. Call (785) 625-3975. It is affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church, La Crosse.
Holy Family Elementary School
Like TMP-Marian, Holy Family is funded by the tithing program through the Heartland Parishes. Holy Family has an enrollment of about 340 in preschool through sixth grade. For enrollment information, call (785) 625-3131. The address is 1800 Milner. Holy Family principal is Jana Simon.
Preschools
Ellis County and the surrounding area have several different options for preschools, some which are owned individually, and others run out of centers and in elementary schools.
The Northwest Kansas Childcare Resource and Referral maintains and provides a free list of options in 18 northwest Kansas counties, including family childcare, centers and preschools. Call toll free at (877) 678-2548.
Ellis USD 388
The district covers the western third of Ellis County for preschool through grade 12. Ellis schools last year made Standard of Excellence in 10 of the 14 individual subjects in the state assessments. For enrollment information, call the district office, located at 1706 S. Monroe, Ellis. Information can be obtained by calling (785) 726-3151. The superintendent is Kyle Hayden.
St. Mary Grade School
The private school in Ellis serves students in kindergarten through sixth grade, and its enrollment is about 70. The school is funded primarily through the St. Mary Catholic Parish and tuition. It is located at 601 Monroe, Ellis. More information can be obtained by calling (785) 726-3185. The principal is Jim Moeder.
Victoria USD 432
The district covers the eastern third of Ellis County for preschool through grade 12. Victoria schools last year made Standard of Excellence in 10 of the 14 individual subjects in the state assessments. For enrollment information, call the district office, located at 900 Cathedral, Victoria, at (785) 735-9212. The superintendent is Linda Kenne.
Fort Hays State University
The university offers hundreds of courses in each of its four main colleges -- Education and Technology, Arts and Sciences, Business and Leadership and Health and Life Sciences -- as well as through the Graduate School.
The university has experienced a lot of growth over the past few years, from 5,800 students as recently as the 2001-2002 school year to over 9,000 this year.
Those increases are due in large part to its Virtual College, which provides courses and degrees through various media to sites across Kansas and beyond, including four universities in China.
FHSU is governed by a Board of Regents appointed by the governor of the state of Kansas.
The university has won numerous national championships, in both athletics and academics.
More information can be found on the university Web site at www.fhsu.edu. For admissions or enrollment information, call the office of admissions at (785) 628-5666.
Hays Academy of Hair Design
The private school at 1214 W. 27th in Hays offers cosmetology classes, nail technology classes and salon services to the general public. For information about classes and financial aid, call (785) 628-6624. Owners are Danielle Markley and Summer Melvin.
North Central Kansas Technical College
The Hays campus is a satellite of the main NCKTC campus based in Beloit. Vocational training is available in several areas in Hays.
Students can earn either a diploma or an associate of science degree, from which credits can be transferred to an accredited college or university. Programs at the Hays campus automotive technology, business and computer technology, business management, nursing, pharmacy technician and residential electricity.
For enrollment information, call the Hays campus, 2205 Wheatland, at (888) 567-4297 or (785) 625-2437. Its Web site is www.ncktc.tec.ks.us. The dean of the Hays campus is Don Benjamin.
Hays (Early Childhood)
Northwest Kansas Childcare Resource and Referral
94 Lewis Drive, (785) 625-3257. Director Doug Greer.
Hays Head Start
320 W. 13th, (785) 623-2430. Director Donna Hudson-Hamilton.
PATHS (Parents As Teachers/Early Head Start)
2300 E. 13th, (785) 623-2440. Coordinator Joan Dunn.
Hays area (preschools)
Hays Head Start
320 W. 13th, (785) 623-2430. Director Donna Hudson-Hamilton.
Hays USD 489 Preschool at O'Loughlin Elementary
1401 Hall, (785) 623-2510. Teachers Tina Albers, Joelene Vitztum.
Holy Family Preschool, Hays
1800 Milner, (785) 625-3131. Director Karen Bieker.
Learning Lane Preschool, Hays
305 W. Seventh, (785) 623-8721. Director Sandra Henningsen.
Northwest Kansas Childcare Resource and Referral
94 Lewis Drive, (785) 625-3257. Director Doug Greer.
Little Sprouts Preschool, Hays
2818 Grant Ave., (785) 625-2518. Director Brenda Porter.
St. Mary Childcare and Preschool, Ellis
605 Monroe, (785) 726-3592. Director Jean Yanda.
Victoria USD 432 Preschool
602 10th, (785) 735-2870. Teacher Stephanie Broyles.
Hays (public)
Hays High School
2300 E. 13th, (785) 623-2600. Principal Mike Hester.
The Learning Center
323 W. 12th, (785) 623-2426. Director Shanna Dinkel.
Felten Middle School
29th and Fort, (785) 623-2450. Principal Craig Pallister.
Kennedy Middle School
1309 Fort, (785) 623-2470. Principal Lee Keffer.
Lincoln Elementary School
1906 Ash, (785) 623-2500. Principal Elaine Rohleder.
O'Loughlin Elementary School
1401 Hall, (785) 623-2510. Principal Nancy Harman.
Roosevelt Elementary School
2000 MacArthur, (785) 623-2520. Principal Carol Shepherd.
Washington Elementary School
305 Main, (785) 623-2540. Principal Allen Park.
Westside School
323 W. 12th, (785) 623-2416. Program Coordinator Tammy Lynn.
Wilson Elementary School
101 E. 28th, (785) 623-2550, Principal Tom Meagher.
USD 489 on the Web: www.hays489.k12.ks.us
Hays (private)
Hays Seventh-day Adventist School
207 E. Fourth, (785) 625-3975.
e-mail: sevenday@ruraltel.net
High Plains Christian School
27th and Canterbury, (785) 628-2558. Pastor Ben Lowery.
Holy Family Elementary School
1800 Milner, (785) 625-3131. Principal Jana Simon.
Thomas More Prep-Marian High School
1701 Hall, (785) 625-6577. Principal Denis Coakley.
On the Web: www.tmp-m.org
Victoria (public)
Victoria High School
1107 10th, (785) 735-9211. Principal Michael Kreller.
On the Web: www.fhedc.org/w3/victoriahs
Victoria Elementary School
602 10th, (785) 735-2870. Principal David Ottley.
Ellis (public)
Ellis High School
1706 S. Monroe, (785) 726-3151. Principal Corey Burton.
Washington Elementary School
100 E. 13th, (785) 726-3136. Principal Larry Campbell.
On the Web: usd388.k12.ks.us
Ellis (private)
St. Mary Elementary School
601 Monroe, (785) 726-3185. Principal Jim Moeder.
On the Web: www.fhedc.org/w3/stmary
Post-secondary (public)
Fort Hays State University
600 Park, (785) 628-4000. President Edward H. Hammond.
On the Web: www.fhsu.org
North Central Kansas Technical College
2205 Wheatland, (785) 625-2437. Dean Don Benjamin.
On the Web: www.ncktc.org
Post-secondary (private)
Hays Academy of Hair Design
1214 E. 27th, (785) 628-6624. Owners Danielle Markley and Summer Melvin.