Clay County Schools & Education
Clay County, Kansas
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
61/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
87.0%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
87.0%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 88.7%
Per-Pupil Spending
$10,163
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,009
School Score
61/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 61/100
State Score Position
#61
of 105 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Clay County
Measured School Summary
Clay County performs at an average level with a school score of 61/100 and a solid graduation rate of 87.0%.
Funding Context
Clay County spends $10,163 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 0% below the Kansas average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 1.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 13% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Clay 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
7 public schools and 1 district 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
61/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #61 of 105 Kansas counties with school score data.
Completion
87.0%
1.7 pts below the state average
Funding context
$10,163
$1,154 above the state average
School coverage
7
1 district 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
Clay County has 7 public schools across 1 district, 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.
What Clay 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
Clay 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
#61
of 105 Kansas counties with school score data. The county score is roughly in line with 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.
Clay County
Elementary to high school visible
1,344 students
7 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Clay County is the largest listed district slice, with 7 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 Clay County?
Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Clay 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.
A Comprehensive Unified School District
Clay County is served by a single school district that manages seven public schools for 1,344 students. The network includes three elementary schools, one middle school, and three high schools.
Competitive Standards and Strong Funding
The county's 87.0% graduation rate meets the national average while per-pupil spending reaches a robust $10,163. This investment level significantly exceeds the Kansas state average of $9,009.
One District, Total Coverage
The Clay County school district oversees the entire student population of 1,344. There are no charter schools in the area, ensuring a unified and consistent public school curriculum.
A Mix of Town and Rural Settings
With four schools in town and three in rural areas, the county offers diverse locales for students. Lincoln Elementary is the largest hub with 384 students, while the average school size across the district is 192.
School Overview
Total Schools
7
in Clay County
Reported Enrollment
1,344
7 schools reporting
School Districts
1
district
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
1 School District in Clay County
Clay County
7 Public Schools in Clay 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 dataLevel
Showing 7 of 7 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Elem | Record | Clay County | Clay Center, 67432Town: Distant | PK–3 | Primary | 384 |
| Clay Center Community High | Record | Clay County | Clay Center, 67432Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 335 |
| Clay Center Community Middle | Record | Clay County | Clay Center, 67432Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 246 |
| Garfield Elem | Record | Clay County | Clay Center, 67432Town: Distant | 4–5 | Primary | 151 |
| Wakefield Elem | Record | Clay County | Wakefield, 67487Rural: Distant | KG–8 | Primary | 151 |
| Wakefield High | Record | Clay County | Wakefield, 67487Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 71 |
| eLearn 379 Virtual School | Record | Clay County | Clay Center, 67432Town: Distant | 6–12 | Virtual | 6 |
Clay Center Community Middle
Clay County
Clay Center, 67432 / Rural: Fringe
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$10,163
State avg $9,009
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Clay County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Kansas counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Kansas?
How should I read the school score in Clay County?
What is the graduation rate in Clay County?
How much does Clay County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Clay County, Kansas — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Clay County, Kansas?
Clay County is served by a single school district that manages seven public schools for 1,344 students. The network includes three elementary schools, one middle school, and three high schools.
How do schools in Clay County perform academically?
The county's 87.0% graduation rate meets the national average while per-pupil spending reaches a robust $10,163. This investment level significantly exceeds the Kansas state average of $9,009.
What are the major school districts in Clay County, Kansas?
The Clay County school district oversees the entire student population of 1,344. There are no charter schools in the area, ensuring a unified and consistent public school curriculum.
What is the school experience like in Clay County?
With four schools in town and three in rural areas, the county offers diverse locales for students. Lincoln Elementary is the largest hub with 384 students, while the average school size across the district is 192.
Counties with Similar School Profile
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.