Kansas Schools & Education

Public school metrics and education data for all 105 counties.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Avg Graduation Rate

88.7%

Avg Per-Pupil Spending

$9,009

Avg School Score

61/100

Total Schools

1,355

290 districts

State Overview

About Schools in Kansas

This summary is generated from the NCES metrics shown on this page and reviewed against the source data by the Data Editor. It is not school advice.

Kansas Graduation Rates Outpace the National Average

Kansas achieves an 88.7% average graduation rate, surpassing the national benchmark of 87.0%. Despite this success, the state spends significantly less on its students, averaging $9,009 per pupil compared to the $13,000 national median.

A Diverse Landscape Across 105 Local Districts

Education quality varies across all 105 counties, with school scores ranging from a low of 44.3 in Wyandotte to a high of 71.1 in Elk. Graduation rates reflect this divide, peaking at 97.0% in Scott County while Kiowa County trails at 67.0%.

State Score Context

How Kansas Counties Are Distributed

105 of 105 counties have enough NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data to receive a county school score. Use this distribution to understand whether the state has a concentrated cluster of high, midrange, or lower measured signals.

Scored county coverage

Counties with complete enough data for the composite score

100%

Higher measured signal

Score range 70-100

Midrange measured signal

Score range 40-69

Lower measured signal

Score range 0-39

Scores are comparative signals from available federal data, not ratings of individual schools.

Best school counties

Best Counties for Public School Research in Kansas

For a first-pass answer to parent searches about where the best schools are in Kansas, start with county-level evidence, then open individual school and district records. SchoolsByCounty ranks counties by public education signals, not by private opinions or paid school ratings.

Short answer for Kansas

Woodson County is the strongest county-level starting point in Kansas by the current SchoolsByCounty score, with a measured school signal of 88/100. This is a county comparison signal, not a promise that every school in the county is the best fit for every family.

Ranking methodology

105 of 105 counties have enough federal education data for a county school score. The ranking favors counties with stronger available graduation-rate and school-finance signals, then asks parents to verify individual school fit locally. The table below should help parents choose what to compare next; it should not replace attendance-boundary checks, program eligibility, commute, services, or direct district confirmation.

State average per-pupil spending in this dataset: $9,009.

Top measured county school signals

Ranked by the county school score where enough federal data is available.

1Woodson CountyGraduation 95.0% · Spending $10,43088/100 2Mitchell CountyGraduation 93.8% · Spending $12,66888/100 3Smith CountyGraduation 93.4% · Spending $11,40386/100 4Coffey CountyGraduation 92.9% · Spending $12,17685/100 5Wabaunsee CountyGraduation 95.0% · Spending $9,31884/100 6Norton CountyGraduation 95.0% · Spending $9,28784/100 7Trego CountyGraduation 95.0% · Spending $9,18784/100

Graduation-focused starting point

Scott County

97.0%

Scott County has the strongest reported county graduation-rate signal in Kansas. Use this as a broad county context, then review individual high-school records.

Funding context to inspect

Elk County

$16,438

Elk County reports the highest per-pupil spending among counties with available data. Higher spending is context, not a guarantee of student fit.

Counties to research carefully

Morton County

17/100

Morton County has one of the lowest measured county school signals in Kansas. Review missing data, district context, and individual school records before drawing conclusions.

District research

Compare Kansas public school districts before narrowing by address

Kansas has 290 public school district records and 1,355 school records in the NCES file. Use the district hub to sort large district systems by enrollment, school count, county context, and generated district-guide coverage.

View District Rankings

All Kansas Counties

County-level school score, graduation rate, and per-pupil spending for Kansas.
County	School Score	Graduation Rate	Per-Pupil Spending
Woodson County Graduation 95.0% Per pupil $10,430	88/100	95.0%	$10,430
Mitchell County Graduation 93.8% Per pupil $12,668	88/100	93.8%	$12,668
Smith County Graduation 93.4% Per pupil $11,403	86/100	93.4%	$11,403
Coffey County Graduation 92.9% Per pupil $12,176	85/100	92.9%	$12,176
Wabaunsee County Graduation 95.0% Per pupil $9,318	84/100	95.0%	$9,318
Norton County Graduation 95.0% Per pupil $9,287	84/100	95.0%	$9,287
Trego County Graduation 95.0% Per pupil $9,187	84/100	95.0%	$9,187
Nemaha County Graduation 96.3% Per pupil $8,590	83/100	96.3%	$8,590
Ottawa County Graduation 95.0% Per pupil $9,122	83/100	95.0%	$9,122
Kearny County Graduation 93.5% Per pupil $10,027	83/100	93.5%	$10,027
Neosho County Graduation 96.6% Per pupil $8,459	83/100	96.6%	$8,459
Anderson County Graduation 95.9% Per pupil $8,418	81/100	95.9%	$8,418
Jackson County Graduation 92.6% Per pupil $10,463	81/100	92.6%	$10,463
Hamilton County Graduation 95.0% Per pupil $8,654	81/100	95.0%	$8,654
Pottawatomie County Graduation 94.4% Per pupil $8,843	80/100	94.4%	$8,843
Morris County Graduation 93.8% Per pupil $8,896	79/100	93.8%	$8,896
Gray County Graduation 92.5% Per pupil $9,713	78/100	92.5%	$9,713
Doniphan County Graduation 92.4% Per pupil $9,732	78/100	92.4%	$9,732
Scott County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $7,743	77/100	97.0%	$7,743
Stevens County Graduation 93.9% Per pupil $8,565	77/100	93.9%	$8,565
Saline County Graduation 91.6% Per pupil $10,861	77/100	91.6%	$10,861
Atchison County Graduation 92.7% Per pupil $8,730	74/100	92.7%	$8,730
Greenwood County Graduation 91.3% Per pupil $10,018	74/100	91.3%	$10,018
Stanton County Graduation 95.0% Per pupil $7,811	73/100	95.0%	$7,811
Barton County Graduation 91.5% Per pupil $9,749	73/100	91.5%	$9,749
Rooks County Graduation 91.4% Per pupil $9,709	73/100	91.4%	$9,709
Ellis County Graduation 91.5% Per pupil $9,570	73/100	91.5%	$9,570
Lyon County Graduation 91.2% Per pupil $9,736	72/100	91.2%	$9,736
Labette County Graduation 92.2% Per pupil $8,502	71/100	92.2%	$8,502
Edwards County Graduation 90.0% Per pupil $10,669	71/100	90.0%	$10,669
Jefferson County Graduation 91.5% Per pupil $9,044	70/100	91.5%	$9,044
Comanche County Graduation 90.0% Per pupil $10,020	69/100	90.0%	$10,020
Washington County Graduation 93.0% Per pupil $7,934	69/100	93.0%	$7,934
Cloud County Graduation 89.1% Per pupil $11,194	69/100	89.1%	$11,194
Chase County Graduation 90.0% Per pupil $9,818	68/100	90.0%	$9,818
Sheridan County Graduation 90.0% Per pupil $9,742	68/100	90.0%	$9,742
Marshall County Graduation 91.0% Per pupil $8,858	67/100	91.0%	$8,858
Rawlins County Graduation 90.0% Per pupil $9,346	66/100	90.0%	$9,346
Clark County Graduation 90.0% Per pupil $9,308	66/100	90.0%	$9,308
Barber County Graduation 90.0% Per pupil $9,261	66/100	90.0%	$9,261
Bourbon County Graduation 91.8% Per pupil $8,275	66/100	91.8%	$8,275
Cheyenne County Graduation 90.0% Per pupil $9,216	66/100	90.0%	$9,216
Jewell County Graduation 90.0% Per pupil $9,198	66/100	90.0%	$9,198
Johnson County Graduation 93.2% Per pupil $7,542	65/100	93.2%	$7,542
Kingman County Graduation 90.3% Per pupil $8,828	65/100	90.3%	$8,828
Osage County Graduation 91.0% Per pupil $8,556	65/100	91.0%	$8,556
Lane County Graduation 90.0% Per pupil $9,095	65/100	90.0%	$9,095
Republic County Graduation 90.3% Per pupil $8,796	65/100	90.3%	$8,796
Phillips County Graduation 89.9% Per pupil $9,322	65/100	89.9%	$9,322
Rice County Graduation 87.4% Per pupil $10,973	64/100	87.4%	$10,973
McPherson County Graduation 89.9% Per pupil $9,152	64/100	89.9%	$9,152
Ness County Graduation 90.0% Per pupil $8,711	63/100	90.0%	$8,711
Logan County Graduation 90.0% Per pupil $8,658	63/100	90.0%	$8,658
Sumner County Graduation 90.4% Per pupil $8,364	62/100	90.4%	$8,364
Brown County Graduation 88.9% Per pupil $9,227	62/100	88.9%	$9,227
Wichita County Graduation 90.0% Per pupil $8,539	62/100	90.0%	$8,539
Linn County Graduation 89.0% Per pupil $9,070	62/100	89.0%	$9,070
Elk County Graduation 84.7% Per pupil $16,438	61/100	84.7%	$16,438
Franklin County Graduation 90.0% Per pupil $8,460	61/100	90.0%	$8,460
Cowley County Graduation 87.5% Per pupil $9,772	61/100	87.5%	$9,772
Clay County Graduation 87.0% Per pupil $10,163	61/100	87.0%	$10,163
Graham County Graduation 90.0% Per pupil $8,280	60/100	90.0%	$8,280
Hodgeman County Graduation 90.0% Per pupil $8,286	60/100	90.0%	$8,286
Cherokee County Graduation 89.3% Per pupil $8,589	60/100	89.3%	$8,589
Gove County Graduation 85.4% Per pupil $11,062	59/100	85.4%	$11,062
Harvey County Graduation 88.8% Per pupil $8,667	59/100	88.8%	$8,667
Pawnee County Graduation 85.0% Per pupil $11,376	59/100	85.0%	$11,376
Meade County Graduation 86.9% Per pupil $9,569	57/100	86.9%	$9,569
Chautauqua County Graduation 85.0% Per pupil $10,542	57/100	85.0%	$10,542
Leavenworth County Graduation 90.7% Per pupil $7,605	55/100	90.7%	$7,605
Ellsworth County Graduation 86.6% Per pupil $9,121	55/100	86.6%	$9,121
Reno County Graduation 88.8% Per pupil $8,128	55/100	88.8%	$8,128
Montgomery County Graduation 88.9% Per pupil $8,081	54/100	88.9%	$8,081
Stafford County Graduation 83.7% Per pupil $10,258	54/100	83.7%	$10,258
Crawford County Graduation 89.0% Per pupil $7,954	54/100	89.0%	$7,954
Haskell County Graduation 82.1% Per pupil $10,784	53/100	82.1%	$10,784
Ford County Graduation 90.0% Per pupil $7,563	52/100	90.0%	$7,563
Dickinson County Graduation 88.9% Per pupil $7,850	52/100	88.9%	$7,850
Lincoln County Graduation 84.9% Per pupil $9,104	51/100	84.9%	$9,104
Harper County Graduation 82.8% Per pupil $9,917	51/100	82.8%	$9,917
Rush County Graduation 80.9% Per pupil $9,676	48/100	80.9%	$9,676
Allen County Graduation 84.5% Per pupil $8,368	46/100	84.5%	$8,368
Shawnee County Graduation 87.6% Per pupil $7,600	46/100	87.6%	$7,600
Wilson County Graduation 82.7% Per pupil $8,611	45/100	82.7%	$8,611
Marion County Graduation 83.6% Per pupil $8,358	44/100	83.6%	$8,358
Osborne County Graduation 70.2% Per pupil $10,055	44/100	70.2%	$10,055
Russell County Graduation 84.0% Per pupil $8,222	44/100	84.0%	$8,222
Wallace County Graduation 75.0% Per pupil $9,574	44/100	75.0%	$9,574
Pratt County Graduation 85.2% Per pupil $7,856	43/100	85.2%	$7,856
Thomas County Graduation 85.2% Per pupil $7,827	43/100	85.2%	$7,827
Decatur County Graduation 90.0% Per pupil $6,744	41/100	90.0%	$6,744
Miami County Graduation 79.9% Per pupil $8,552	41/100	79.9%	$8,552
Grant County Graduation 87.0% Per pupil $7,336	41/100	87.0%	$7,336
Sherman County Graduation 82.0% Per pupil $7,952	38/100	82.0%	$7,952
Greeley County Graduation 75.0% Per pupil $8,405	37/100	75.0%	$8,405
Butler County Graduation 91.9% Per pupil $5,802	37/100	91.9%	$5,802
Seward County Graduation 84.6% Per pupil $7,449	37/100	84.6%	$7,449
Kiowa County Graduation 67.0% Per pupil $8,517	36/100	67.0%	$8,517
Geary County Graduation 85.0% Per pupil $7,345	36/100	85.0%	$7,345
Riley County Graduation 83.4% Per pupil $7,533	36/100	83.4%	$7,533
Sedgwick County Graduation 85.7% Per pupil $7,184	35/100	85.7%	$7,184
Finney County Graduation 85.8% Per pupil $6,978	32/100	85.8%	$6,978
Douglas County Graduation 84.2% Per pupil $7,029	30/100	84.2%	$7,029
Wyandotte County Graduation 72.6% Per pupil $6,958	20/100	72.6%	$6,958
Morton County Graduation 86.6% Per pupil $5,394	17/100	86.6%	$5,394

— = data not available for this county.

Compare county school profiles in Kansas

Use the comparison tool to review school scores, graduation rates, and spending side by side.

Compare Counties

Frequently Asked Questions About Kansas Schools

Which Kansas counties have the highest graduation rates?

Scott County (97.0%), Neosho County (96.6%), and Nemaha County (96.3%) currently lead Kansas among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in Kansas?

Across Kansas counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $9,009. The highest current county values are Elk County ($16,438), Mitchell County ($12,668), and Coffey County ($12,176). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

What are the best school counties in Kansas?

Woodson County, Mitchell County, Smith County have the strongest measured county-level school signals in Kansas, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data. These are county context rankings, not individual school ratings.

Which Kansas county has the strongest measured school score?

Woodson County has the highest school score in Kansas with a score of 88/100, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data.

What is the average graduation rate in Kansas?

The average high school graduation rate across Kansas counties is 88.7%, based on NCES data.

Which county in Kansas has the lowest school score?

Morton County has the lowest school score in Kansas with a score of 17/100. School scores reflect available graduation-rate and per-pupil spending signals.

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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