Emporia Public Schools Celebrates Seven Nominations for Capturing Kids’ Hearts® National Showcase Schools

Seven out of nine schools in the Emporia Public Schools district have been nominated as Capturing Kids’ Hearts National Showcase Schools. These schools are “recognized for their excellence in creating safe and welcoming environments where students are relationally connected and eager to learn.” The nominations reflect the entire district's efforts to focus on relationship-building and fostering positive student experiences.    

“These nominations are a huge credit to our principals, teachers, administrative staff, students, and parents,” says Dr. Allison Harder, Superintendent of Emporia Public Schools. “It speaks to their hard work that we achieved these nominations in just two years.”

The Emporia Public School District (USD #253) is a tremendous asset to the community, both to the parents who send their children here and to the business community that hires recent graduates. Keep reading to discover why this district shines. 

The District Creates Welcoming School Environments

Parents considering moving to Emporia can feel excited about sending their children to Emporia Public Schools. USD 253 takes intentional steps to create and maintain healthy learning environments for students before they ever set foot in the classroom.

“We are really proud that we keep small class sizes in our schools,” says Harder. “We know that students learn better when they have small class sizes. We strive to make sure our teachers have ample planning time and opportunities to collaborate. By supporting our staff, we support our students.”

Even before the pandemic, Emporia Public Schools embraced one-to-one technology to reinforce or expand their learning. However, the district also balances the amount of appropriate screen time in younger students so they can learn to use these devices responsibly.

“There’s so much technology in our homes that students need to learn self-regulation skills first,” says Harder. “We don’t introduce technology right away, instead focusing on teaching responsibility and interpersonal skills.”

Emporia Public Schools also shines because of its electives. The elementary levels have Music, Art, Physical Education, and STREAM/STEM classes with integrated Library time. Emporia Middle School has a large number of electives, activities, clubs, and athletics. Students can participate in more than 75 athletics, clubs, and activities at Emporia High School. Emporia Public Schools is one of five districts in the nation that offers glass blowing to high school students. 

Emporia Public Schools is Also a Purple Star School District

2025 has been a significant year for Emporia Public Schools. On March 11, USD 253 was named a Purple Star School District by the Kansas State Board of Education. The Kansas Purple Star School Recognition Program is designed to help schools better respond to the challenges of military-connected children and their families. This could include providing extra counseling and guidance throughout their time in the district or recognizing how these students might move schools more frequently than others.  

“Emporia, Kansas, is the founding city of Veterans Day, so it makes sense that the school district would pursue this special designation to further support local military-connected families,” says Harder. “If a veteran or active military member moves to Emporia with their family, the school district will be able to offer the resources and support to meet students’ needs.”

USD 253 is Closely Connected to the Business Community

Emporia Public Schools prepares students for successful careers after graduation, whether they pursue college degrees, join the military, or enter the workforce. The Career Technical Education (CTE) Pathways allow students to explore careers they are interested in or try out new paths that are new to them. The education pathway is currently growing, with more students considering future careers as teachers.  

“We need a strong school district to have a strong community, and a strong community to have a strong school district,” says Harder, speaking to the need for community support in order to prepare students to live successfully in Emporia. The district works alongside the Emporia Area Chamber of Commerce, Emporia State University, Flint Hills Technical College, and other partners to make Emporia the best it can be.

Families Thrive Through Emporia Public Schools

Positive learning environments for students benefit entire families. Kids can feel excited about their education and optimistic about the opportunities ahead of them. Emporia Public Schools shows that it cares about every learner and wants to find ways for all students to succeed. It is a significant asset in the community.

Learn more about life in Emporia and how the Emporia Regional Development Association (RDA) works to support employment, education, and quality of life improvements in the area.