Pioneering a Brighter Future

West High School opened in 1953 to serve the most western population of Wichita. Over the years, as Wichita grew, Maize and Goddard developed, and new schools opened, the demographics of West High School changed drastically. Today, between 90-94% of students are living in or at risk of poverty, and 51% of students face chronic absenteeism. With low parent involvement, or community engagement, West was an easy choice for the Foundation’s first large investment, launching in Fall 2026. We believe talent and determination—not household income—should shape a student’s future.

West is perfectly positioned for a new program in tourism, hospitality and business. Focusing on careers in Downtown Wichita which is located less than a mile from the school, students have a unique opportunity to combine classroom learning, hands-on training and visits to business in the downtown core to prepare them for a career or college in hospitality after graduation.

Classes will be taught by Wichita Public Schools teachers and supplemented by Field Trips, presentations by industry experts, and internships throughout Downtown Wichita. 

This program is a part of Career and Technical Education division of Wichita Public Schools, and a Travel and Tourism Pathway is being added through the Kansas Department of Education. 

Coursework includes: 

• Business Essentials

• Career Planning

• Entrepreneurship 

• Event Management

• Culinary Essentials

• Community Connections

• Career Connections

• Principals of Marketing 

• Hospitality Management 

• Foundations of Travel and Tourism

While the coursework is covered through the Career and Technical Education Office, all supplemental programming, career exploration and internships will be funded through the Wichita Public Schools Foundation. Your support changes the lives of our most vulnerable students. We believe talent and determination—not household income—should shape a student’s path.

This program is broken into three pathways, explained below. In each pathway, students participate in a capstone project building upon what they learned in the classroom. 

• Travel and Tourism - plan all parts of a senior project to a U.S. tourism hub - like NYC, Miami or Washington D.C. Students will coordinate tours of travel destinations and meet with city leaders.

• Entrepreneurship and Business - create a business plan, develop a budget and launch a business at the school, tracking revenue, expenses and meeting with industry leaders to overcome barriers.

• Event Management - take part in an internship at a Wichita hospitality center - including museums, sports arenas, hotels, and visit Wichita. Students will also plan and execute a school-wide event.

​Funding will cover costs associated with these capstone projects, plus transportation. 

In line with Wichita Public Schools Strategic Plan – our goal is ensure every student graduates future ready – for a career, college and life after high school.

The Hospitality Hub has three main goals

1. Lower Absenteeism – currently 51% of all West High School students miss 10% or more days of class. By creating a unique program, we will create a sense of belonging and purpose for students and lower absenteeism.

2. Increase Graduation Rates – 77% of students graduate from West High School in 4 years, significantly lower than the state’s 88% and districts 84% graduation percentage, by building a new program accessible to all students, we create connection and a strong school culture, which increases graduation rates

3. Increase students attending college or career – 39% of students earn an industry certification, associates degree, or attend 2 years of college in the 2 years following high school graduation. By providing students a path to careers in hospitality, or access to post-secondary programs through WSU Tech, Butler CC and WSU’s hospitality program, we aim to enroll more students in college and provide career paths after high school.