General Information
School Hours
School Boundaries
History
Our History
Since almost every school in Kansas was in its own district, by the year 1896 the number of school districts had grown to 9,284. According to a 2001 Kansas State Department of Education report on the history of education in Kansas, 18 different kinds and types of districts, each requiring a special set of policies and regulations, were still functioning as late as 1960.
Thousands of these small common school districts had limited enrollment and financial resources and included grades K-8 only. High schools often operated under their own governing boards and encompassed several of the common school districts. Beginning with the Brown versus Topeka Board of Education decision in 1954, Kansas began integrating all public schools.
In 1962, there were more than 3,000 common school districts in Kansas. By order of the state, schools were to consolidate into a more manageable number and operate as K-12 school districts. As a result of state-mandated unification, school districts had to meet two of three criteria in order to become a unified school district:
- 200 square miles
- At least 400 students
- $4 million in assessed valuation
The De Soto City School District, as it was commonly known back then, could have stood on its own as a district. However, the six "one-room schoolhouse" districts of Monticello Township (the area from Mize Road to roughly I-435) had to merge with a school district. The De Soto City School District was the only school system willing to consolidate with the six one-room schoolhouse districts of Round Prairie, Virginia, Monticello, Holliday, Wilder and Meadowlane. The district, by state statute, became known as Unified School District No. 232, Johnson County, Kansas and was given its boundaries of nearly 100 square miles. Its first major construction project was Woodsonia Elementary, built to accommodate the increased student enrollment. Today there are approximately 293 school districts in Kansas.
Timeline
Prior to Unification
1899
- School built on land where the District Service Center is located, former De Soto Grade School (8355 Peoria, De Soto, Kansas).
1917
- Rural High School District formed.
1919
- Rural High School opened (the building still stands today at 32905 W 84th Street in De Soto, Kansas, and now serves as City Hall for De Soto).
1923
- Former Monticello Kindergarten building opened as K-8 Grade School.
1953
- De Soto Grade School completed.
1955
- Addition to Countryside Elementary.
Unification
1962
- Unified School District No. 232, Johnson County, Kansas formed (De Soto City School District consolidates with Round Prairie, Virginia, Monticello, Holliday, Wilder and Meadow Lane common school districts).
1964
- Woodsonia Elementary School completed.
- De Soto Grade School addition.
1968
- De Soto High School opens (8800 Penner Avenue, De Soto, Kansas).
- Old high school became De Soto Jr. High.
1973
- Land purchase at 71st and Hilltop.
1977
- Woodsonia Elementary Addition.
- Countryside Elementary Addition.
1980
- De Soto High School remodel (8800 Penner).
1982
- Vocational education students complete Education Center.
1982
- De Soto High School remodel (8800 Penner).
1985
- Woodsonia Elementary Addition.
- Countryside Elementary remodel.
1995
- Monticello Trails Middle School completed.
- De Soto High School becomes Lexington Trails Middle School.
- New De Soto High School building opens.
- De Soto Junior High School closes.
1998
- Monticello Kindergarten Center closes.
- Clear Creek Elementary opens.
- Starside Elementary opens.
- Countryside Elementary School becomes Countryside Learning Center.
- De Soto High School Addition.
2000
- Mill Valley High School opens.
- Mize Elementary opens
2001
- Administrative Offices open.
- District Service Center remodel.
- De Soto High School addition.
- Monticello Trail Middle School addition.
2002
- Lexington Trails Middle School addition.
- Riverview Elementary opens.
- Woodsonia Elementary becomes Kindergarten Center.
2003
- Land purchase at 83rd and Mize.
- Land purchase at 57th and Belmont.
2004
- Mill Valley High School addition.
- Prairie Ridge Elementary opens.
- Woodsonia Kindergarten Center closed in May 2004.
2005
- De Soto High School kitchen addition.
- Monticello Trails Middle School office addition.
- Groundbreaking at 83rd and Mize Boulevard (Lenexa) for 3rd Middle School.
- Plans were underway for a sixth elementary near 71st and Chouteau in Shawnee.
2007
- Horizon Elementary opens at 7210 Chouteau in Shawnee
- Mill Creek Middle School opens at 83rd and Mize Boulevard.
2010
- Belmont Elementary opens at 5805 Belmont Drive in Shawnee.
- Mill Valley High School expansion (expanded to accommodate approximately 1,500 students).
- Phase 1 of De Soto High School expansion (added 5 classrooms and 3 Flex classrooms).
2012
- Phase II Construction at De Soto High School completed.
2016
- Phase III construction at De Soto High School was completed, increasing enrollment capacity to approximately 1,200 students.
2018
- Voters overwhelmingly approved a bond issue for $85 million on May 7, 2018, to address a number of needs across the district. The bonds did not increase the tax rate (mill levy) for bond and interest. Projects were divided into three phases.
- All schools received modernized building access controls, including new video/audio door stations to better control access to facilities.
2019
- Elementary playgrounds at Starside, Mize, and Clear Creek were replaced and upgraded.
2020
- New performing arts center and new competition gym were completed at Mill Valley High School.
- South fieldhouse addition was completed at Mill Valley, along with a track renovation, stadium upgrade, and soccer field improvements.
- Elementary playgrounds at Prairie Ridge, Horizon, Riverview, and Belmont were replaced and upgraded.
- Additional parking and new north entrance/exit access was completed at De Soto High School.
2021
- Cafeteria expansion was completed at Starside Elementary.
- Cedar Trails Exploration Center (CTEC) was completed in Lenexa. The facility is home to CTEC CAPS (Center for Advanced Professional Studies), a program dedicated to providing high school students with the academic and technical skills, knowledge, and training necessary to succeed in career pathways. It is located on the campus of Mill Creek Middle School, on the northeast corner of 83rd Street and Mize Boulevard.
- Early Childhood Center at CTEC opened. Although a separate space, it is connected to CTEC CAPS as one overall facility.
- New district warehouse was completed. It is located east of CTEC and shares the same campus.
- Stadium renovation, including fieldhouse and concessions upgrades, were completed at De Soto High School, along with soccer field improvements.
- A new restroom and concessions facility in the track and field area was completed at Mill Creek Middle School.
2022
- New performing arts center was completed at De Soto High School.
- Softball and baseball fields were added and/or upgraded at both De Soto High School and Mill Valley High School.
- Land acquisition of approximately 150 acres near 127th Street and South Waverly Road for future needs.
2023
- Special Education addition to Mize Elementary completed.
- Land acquisition of approximately 38 acres near 83rd Street and Cedar Niles Road in Lenexa for future elementary school.