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USD 434 Vision and Mission Statement

Vision Statement  Adopted August 11, 2021

Inspiring and Empowering Every Charger, Every Day

District Mission Statement  Adopted  8-13-2014

The mission of Santa Fe Trail USD 434 is to support individual student needs in preparation for successful life work. 

District Beliefs

• The individual needs of all students should be the focus in instructional planning and addressing personal well-being.
• Guidance in exploring various college and career opportunities is an essential element of a comprehensive education program.
• Character education efforts help prepare students to become responsible and accountable citizens.
• Personal growth and achievements should be privately and publicly recognized.
• Parents and communities are an integral part of the educational process and student success.
• A well-rounded student takes advantage of opportunities inside and outside the classroom.

USD 434 District Goals

Click here to view our District Goals. 

About Us

The Santa Fe Trail school district is a predominately rural school community of approximately 1100 students Pre-K through grade 12.

Each of the district’s three communities has an attendance center. PreSchool attend at Scranton Attendance Center. Kindergarten through third grade attends school at Overbrook. Carbondale Attendance Center instructs grades 4 - 8. Santa Fe Trail High School, grades 9-12, a 3A school with approximately 350 students, is located two miles east of the US Highways 75 and 56 intersection. It is approximately five miles from each of the district’s communities.

The district is located in northern Osage County and is bordered on the north by Shawnee County and to the east by Douglas County. Topeka is a 20 minute drive from the center of the district. Shopping in Kansas City is an hour away.

The Santa Fe Trail school district provides staff and students with modern, air conditioned  facilities in which to teach and learn.  An extensive remodeling project at the high school was completed on the library and science rooms  in 2010.

Our staff of nearly 100 regular and special education professionals includes six building administrators, 3 school counselors, and one District Social Worker

The Santa Fe Trail school district has proven itself to be a wonderful place to work, live, and raise a family. Our small-town, rural environment is complemented by our proximity to Topeka, Lawrence and Kansas City - without a doubt, the best of both worlds!

Our Partnerships

Comprehensive special education services are provided through the Three Lakes Education Cooperative in Lyndon.

Santa Fe Trail USD 434 is a member of the Washburn Institute of Technology cooperative. Juniors and seniors are eligible to attend half days at Washburn Tech in Topeka.

The district has a long-standing, strong partnership with Allen Community College. For many years, Santa Fe Trail High School has hosted a full complement of evening and summer outreach classes. In addition, SFTHS students have the opportunity to enroll in many concurrent credit  classes offered during their regular school day.

Many district teachers are employed by the college to teach evening and summer outreach classes, and all concurrent credit classes are taught by SFTHS staff.

Santa Fe Trail School Foundation

The Santa Fe Trail School Foundation provides scholarships to graduating seniors to support their pursuit of higher education at either a two-year or four-year college, or a technical institution. These scholarships are presented annually in May during the high school awards ceremony.

The Santa Fe Trail School Foundation looks forward to the opportunity to grant scholarships that will assist young individuals in pursuing their education and achieving their future goals. You can also contribute to these initiatives by making a donation to the Foundation. The Foundation welcomes contributions of any size and provides membership in the 200 Club for donations of $200 or more.

Membership in the 200 Club includes support from:

• Trailhands and Santa Fe Trail High School Wrestling Programs
• Santa Fe Trail Staff 2013
• Kansas State Bank Overbrook & Scranton
• Overbrook Family Dentistry
• Santa Fe Trail Band Boosters
• Dean Tucker Family
• Courtwright Family
• Morris J. Krouse & Flossie Krouse-Waller
• Derrick & Brenda Dahl

For further details regarding the Santa Fe Trail School Foundation, please refer to the brochure linked here.

In Our Area

Known as the “Water Sports Capital of Kansas,” Osage County is one of only two counties in the United States to have two federal lakes located within its boundaries. Located on the scenic eastern edge of the Flint Hills, the area is characterized by gently rolling hills covered with tall native grasses and woodlands. Not only do water sports and outdoor recreation abound, but so does Osage County’s rich history. The Santa Fe Trail passed through Osage County and its wagon ruts remain visible today. As its name would suggest, Santa Fe Trail High School sits directly on the Santa Fe Trail. The first line on the Santa Fe Railway was in Osage  County, prompted by the county’s vast coal mining heritage. Wagon ruts, one-room schoolhouses, and railroad museums, or water skiing, golf courses, and antique shops - you can find it all in Osage County, Kansas.

Colleges & Universities

• University of Kansas at Lawrence (approximately 30 minutes)
• Kansas State University at Manhattan (approximately 75 minutes)
• Emporia State University at Emporia( approximately 50 minutes)
• Washburn University at Topeka( approximately 20 minutes)
• Baker University at Baldwin City( approximately 25 minutes)
• Ottawa University at Ottawa (approximately 30 minutes)
• Allen Community College at Burlingame (approximately 15 minutes)

Other Items of Interest

Carbondale

Medical Clinic with 4 doctors
Nearest hospital: 15 miles                      
E.M.S.                      
Municipal swimming pool                      
Jones Recreational Park

Overbrook

Nearest hospital: 25 miles                      
Dentist                      
E.M.S.                      
Municipal swimming pool                      
Jones Recreational Park                      

Scranton

E.M.S.                      
Nearest hospital: 20 miles                      
Jones Recreational Park