When the district selected the location for the proposed new high school, where the majority of our students and families live was an important part of that decision.

As of September 8, 2026, USD 251 has 350 students. 283 are resident students who live within the district boundaries, and 166 of those students — 59% — live in the 66835 ZIP code.

Our district covers a large geographic area and is home to many communities and families. Every community matters, and this decision was not about leaving one community out or making one community more important than another. It was about looking at the population of students we serve and where those students and families live.

Sometimes the geographic center of a district and the population center are not the same. In this case, the location of the largest concentration of students and families was an important part of the decision.

The attached graphic shows where our resident students live and the approximate road mileage to the current school locations. It gives our community a clearer picture of the population behind the decision.

We know a school location affects real families, real commutes, and our communities for years to come. That is why we believe it is important to look at the actual numbers and understand the information behind the decision.

Every community matters. The numbers simply help tell the story of where our students and families are today.

Road mileage is based on Google Maps and represents the approximate distance from the center of each community or ZIP code area, not the exact distance from each individual student's home. The 25 students in the 66801 ZIP live in North Lyon County and are resident USD 251 students; their mailing ZIP code is Emporia