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Video Credits: Daniela Veleta
Frequently Asked Questions
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Safety is our top priority. We have secure campus entry points, regular emergency drills, and on-site staff trained in emergency response. Our visitor management system ensures that all guests are signed in and monitored.
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K-12 grades begin class at 7:40 AM and are released at 3:40 PM (MST). School is in session Monday through Thursday with an occasional Friday.
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PK-12 registration is all done in-person and takes place a couple weeks prior to the first day of school. If you have any questions about registration dates, please reach out to your childs appropriate school.
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We welcome family involvement! Parents can volunteer in classrooms, join Elementary PTO or site council, participate in family nights, or attend school events. Parents can also be a club sponsor, as well as, apply to become a coach! Your involvement strengthens our school community and supports your child's learning experience.
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Technology is integrated to enhance learning, with resources such as interactive whiteboards, tablets, and educational software that support students' digital literacy and engagement.
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On the homepage of the website, there is a drop-down menu in the top right corner labeled ‘Popular Links.’ Click on ‘Popular Links’ and you’ll see a link to the breakfast and lunch menus.
View the full calendar to see all the exciting events we have happening in the next few weeks and months!
USD 494 Syracuse Public Schools
Mission Statement:
Together, Educational, Excellence, Every Day.
Grades: Preschool – 12th Grade
Enrollment: 492 students
Superintendent: Paul Larkin
School Hours: 7:40 AM – 3:40 PM
Superintendent’s Message
Superintendent, Paul Larkin brings over 28 years of educational leadership and a passion for student success, driving excellence and innovation throughout our school.
Welcome to USD #494 Syracuse. We are a county-wide (Hamilton) rural school district in west central Kansas bordering Colorado to the west. Our bus district encompasses 992 square miles, making us the largest geographical school district in Kansas. All of Hamilton County operates on Mountain Standard Time. The District consists of a pre-K through 6th grade elementary school and a 7th grade through 12th grade middle school/high school with a total student enrollment of about 492. We employ approximately 40 certified staff and 30 classified staff. Our total budget is approximately $11.5 million annually.
Syracuse has many assets that have kept our student population relatively consistent when others with similar demographics have struggled with declining enrollments. Syracuse is the Hamilton County Seat with a KDOT office and a modern airport located in town. We have numerous farming and ranching operations in the county, and several large dairy farms that provide employment opportunities. We have a modern hospital facility, retirement village, locally owned theater, several restaurants, and numerous local businesses. Our municipal golf course may be the nicest 9-hole course in any small rural community in the mid-west, and the SHS golf teams, both boys and girls, have several state golf championships to show for it. Outdoor recreational opportunities are abundant as well. Four-wheeling along the banks of the Arkansas, fishing, hunting, hiking, cycling, and swimming are among the options for outdoor enthusiasts.
Our academics have been time tested and proven and our graduates have excelled in college and careers across Kansas and the nation. We maintain high academic standards with rigor and relevance at every level. We are currently transitioning to Common Core State Standards at all grade levels, known in Kansas as College and Career Ready Standards, and are completing some major technology upgrades that will help our students acclimate to the resulting increased demands. Our organizational team approach combined with a focus on student success has allowed us to continue serving our community in spite of funding challenges that continue to plague Kansas public education. Excellence in education requires our very best efforts as educators regardless of the challenges. At USD #494 we will do whatever it takes to achieve excellence, always moving forward in lock-step with a rapidly changing world.
Please stop by the school if you have a chance, and let us know how we are doing. We welcome feedback, comments, and suggestions. We are very proud of our school, our students, and our community. Go Bulldogs!
Warm regards,
Paul Larkin, Superintendent
Phone: 620.384.7872 | plarkin@usd494.net