schoolsbycounty

Barber County Schools & Education

School Score

66/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

90.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

90.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 88.7%

Per-Pupil Spending

$9,261

National avg $13,239

State avg $9,009

School Score

66/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 61/100

State Score Position

#40

of 105 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Barber County

Measured School Summary

Barber County performs at an average level with a school score of 66/100 and a solid graduation rate of 90.0%.

Funding Context

Barber County spends $9,261 per student, which is on the lower end of adequate and may require careful resource allocation to maintain quality.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 8% above the Kansas average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 1.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 3% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Barber County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

4 public schools and 2 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

66/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #40 of 105 Kansas counties with school score data.

Completion

90.0%

1.3 pts above the state average

Funding context

$9,261

$252 above the state average

School coverage

4

2 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Barber County has 4 public schools across 2 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

Parent decision brief

What Barber County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Small-system county

Barber County has a compact public-school footprint. A single school change, boundary rule, or district update can move the lived experience more than the county score suggests.

State position

#40

of 105 Kansas counties with school score data. The county score is 5 points above the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

Barber County North

Elementary and high visible

478 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

South Barber

Elementary and high visible

216 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Barber County North is the largest listed district slice, with 2 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Barber County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Barber County district systems?

Where do students transition after the visible grade band, and is that next school inside the same district path?

If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Barber County, Kansas

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

Intimate Learning in Barber County

Barber County manages 694 students through a compact system of four public schools and two districts. The county maintains two elementary schools and two high schools, ensuring students stay in their local communities throughout their education. This small footprint reflects the county's focused approach to public instruction.

Focusing on North and South Barber Districts

Barber County North is the larger district with 478 students, while South Barber serves 216 students. Both districts operate without competition from charter schools, maintaining a 100% traditional public school enrollment. These districts serve as the cultural and social anchors for their respective parts of the county.

Purely Rural, Small-Scale Classrooms

All four schools in the county are situated in rural locales, providing a quiet learning environment. Medicine Lodge Grade School is the largest campus with 260 students, while South Barber's high school serves just 88 students. The average school size of 174 ensures that no student is just a number in the system.

School Overview

Total Schools

4

in Barber County

Reported Enrollment

694

4 schools reporting

School Districts

2

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary2
Middle0
High2
Other0

2 School Districts in Barber County

Barber County North

2 schools
478 students

South Barber

2 schools
216 students

4 Public Schools in Barber County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.

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

Level

Showing 4 of 4 matching schools

Medicine Lodge Grade School

Barber County North

Medicine Lodge, 67104 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary260 students

Medicine Lodge Jr/Sr High School

Barber County North

Medicine Lodge, 67104 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High218 students

South Barber Pre-K-6

South Barber

Kiowa, 67070 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary128 students

South Barber 7-12

South Barber

Kiowa, 67070 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High88 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$9,261

State avg $9,009

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Barber County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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.
How should I read the school score in Barber County?
Barber County has a school score of 66/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Barber County?
The high school graduation rate in Barber County is 90.0%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Barber County spend per student?
Barber County spends $9,261 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Barber County, Kansas — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Barber County, Kansas?

Barber County manages 694 students through a compact system of four public schools and two districts. The county maintains two elementary schools and two high schools, ensuring students stay in their local communities throughout their education. This small footprint reflects the county's focused approach to public instruction.

What are the major school districts in Barber County, Kansas?

Barber County North is the larger district with 478 students, while South Barber serves 216 students. Both districts operate without competition from charter schools, maintaining a 100% traditional public school enrollment. These districts serve as the cultural and social anchors for their respective parts of the county.

What is the school experience like in Barber County?

All four schools in the county are situated in rural locales, providing a quiet learning environment. Medicine Lodge Grade School is the largest campus with 260 students, while South Barber's high school serves just 88 students. The average school size of 174 ensures that no student is just a number in the system.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

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.