OUR NEIGHBORHOOD
Community and Facilities
South’s students come from a blue-collar
background in terms of families’ occupations and salaries that are earned. The
majority of the residents surrounding Wichita South speak English at home. The
district’s 1971 desegregation plan has worked to enhance the diversity of our
school. The Wichita South regular attendance area is situated in the southwest
quadrant of the city roughly outlined by the Arkansas River on the east, 56th
Street on the south, West Street on the west and Jewell on the north.
The school district passed a comprehensive bond issue in April 2000 for $284.5
million of improvements. The South High construction began on our site in
November, 2003 and concluded in 2007. South High’s 10.1 million dollars of
renovations included: 27 new classrooms, expansion of a major hallway
intersection and relocation of support administration/staff to a common area.
All of the portable classroom buildings were removed and all classroom spaces
are now air-conditioned.
Parents and Community Support
Each year parents of seniors plan and prepare activities for Project Graduation. Through donations and fund-raising, parents purchase hundreds of dollars of gifts that are awarded to the seniors during the Project Graduation party.
The Site Council consists of community members, parent(s), staff, student(s) and administrator(s). They meet once a month and function as an advisory council in school policy decisions.
Workforce
The 2000 census data gave the following information about families of the Wichita High School South neighborhood. 81.7% of South High area families did not work in management or professional related occupations. South parents work in various blue collar occupations across Wichita and south central Kansas. 50% of South High families have moved residences in the previous 5 years.
Household Income
The 2000 census data gave the following information about families of the Wichita High School South neighborhood. 66.2% of South High households earned less than $50,000 a year. The per capita income was $17,558. The average family earned $50,246.
