schoolsbycounty

Decatur County Schools & Education

School Score

41/100

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

$6,744

National avg $13,239

State avg $9,009

School Score

41/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 61/100

State Score Position

#91

of 105 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Decatur County

Measured School Summary

Decatur County performs at an average level with a school score of 41/100 and a solid graduation rate of 90.0%.

Funding Context

At $6,744 per pupil, Decatur County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 32% below the Kansas average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 1.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 25% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Decatur 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

2 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

41/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #91 of 105 Kansas counties with school score data.

Completion

90.0%

1.3 pts above the state average

Funding context

$6,744

$2,265 below the state average

School coverage

2

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

Decatur County has 2 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.

Parent decision brief

What Decatur 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

Decatur 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

#91

of 105 Kansas counties with school score data. The county score is 20 points below 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.

Oberlin

Elementary and high visible

413 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Oberlin 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 Decatur County?

Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?

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 Decatur 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.

Streamlined Rural Education

Decatur County maintains an exceptionally streamlined education system with only two public schools. One elementary and one high school serve the entire county's enrollment of 413 students.

Exceeding Benchmarks with Less

The county achieves a 90.0% graduation rate, which is higher than the state's 88.7% average. Remarkably, this is accomplished with a per-pupil expenditure of only $6,744, significantly lower than the state and national averages.

The Oberlin District Anchor

The Oberlin school district manages all 413 students in the county across its two facilities. There are no charter schools, keeping the community's academic focus entirely on its traditional public institutions.

A Truly Rural Learning Experience

Both schools in the county are classified as rural, reflecting the area's agricultural roots. Oberlin Elementary is the larger facility with 277 students, while the Jr/Sr High serves 136 students.

School Overview

Total Schools

2

in Decatur County

Reported Enrollment

413

2 schools reporting

School Districts

1

district

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary1
Middle0
High1
Other0

1 School District in Decatur County

Oberlin

2 schools
413 students enrolled

2 Public Schools in Decatur 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 2 of 2 matching schools

Oberlin Elem

Oberlin

Oberlin, 67749 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–6Primary277 students

Decatur Community Jr/Sr High

Oberlin

Oberlin, 67749 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High136 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$6,744

State avg $9,009

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Decatur 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 Decatur County?
Decatur County has a school score of 41/100, 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 Decatur County?
The high school graduation rate in Decatur 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 Decatur County spend per student?
Decatur County spends $6,744 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 Decatur County, Kansas — FAQ

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

Decatur County maintains an exceptionally streamlined education system with only two public schools. One elementary and one high school serve the entire county's enrollment of 413 students.

How do schools in Decatur County perform academically?

The county achieves a 90.0% graduation rate, which is higher than the state's 88.7% average. Remarkably, this is accomplished with a per-pupil expenditure of only $6,744, significantly lower than the state and national averages.

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

The Oberlin school district manages all 413 students in the county across its two facilities. There are no charter schools, keeping the community's academic focus entirely on its traditional public institutions.

What is the school experience like in Decatur County?

Both schools in the county are classified as rural, reflecting the area's agricultural roots. Oberlin Elementary is the larger facility with 277 students, while the Jr/Sr High serves 136 students.

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.