Douglas County Schools & Education
Douglas County, Kansas
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
30/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
84.2%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
84.2%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 88.7%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,029
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,009
School Score
30/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 61/100
State Score Position
#103
of 105 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Douglas County
Measured School Summary
Douglas County faces educational challenges with a school score of 30/100 and a graduation rate of 84.2%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $7,029 per pupil, Douglas County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 50% below the Kansas average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 4.5 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 22% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Douglas 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
29 public schools and 4 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
30/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #103 of 105 Kansas counties with school score data.
Completion
84.2%
4.5 pts below the state average
Funding context
$7,029
$1,980 below the state average
School coverage
29
4 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Douglas County has 29 public schools across 4 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.
What Douglas 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.
Dominant-district county
Lawrence carries most of the listed public-school system, with 20 of 29 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#103
of 105 Kansas counties with school score data. The county score is 31 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.
Lawrence
Elementary to high school visible
10,908 students
20 listed schools in this county slice.
Eudora
Elementary to high school visible
1,706 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Baldwin City
Elementary to high school visible
1,395 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Perry Public Schools
Elementary school only in this slice
289 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Lawrence is the largest listed district slice, with 20 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 Douglas County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Douglas County district systems?
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 Douglas 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.
Douglas County's Major Education Hub
As one of the state's largest educational hubs, Douglas County manages 29 schools and 14,298 students. The network is extensive, featuring 17 elementary schools, six middle schools, and five high schools.
Challenges in Academic Outcomes
The county's 84.2% graduation rate currently trails both the state and national averages. Spending sits at $7,029 per pupil, which is below the Kansas average of $9,009 despite the high student volume.
Lawrence Dominates the Landscape
The Lawrence district manages 20 of the county's 29 schools and serves 10,908 students. The county also hosts one charter school, Lawrence Virtual School, which accounts for about 3.4% of all local schools.
City Living and Large Schools
Twenty schools are located in city settings, giving the area a much more urban feel than its neighbors. Lawrence Free State High is the largest school with 1,777 students, contributing to a high average school size of 493.
School Overview
Total Schools
29
in Douglas County
Reported Enrollment
14,298
29 schools reporting
School Districts
4
districts
Charter Schools
1
3% of total
School Level Breakdown
4 School Districts in Douglas County
Lawrence
GuideEudora
Baldwin City
Perry Public Schools
29 Public Schools in Douglas County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 2 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 29 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence Free State High | Profile | Lawrence | Lawrence, 66049City: Small | 9–12 | High | 1,777 |
| Lawrence High | Profile | Lawrence | Lawrence, 66046City: Small | 9–12 | High | 1,589 |
| Lawrence Virtual School | Record | Lawrence | Lawrence, 66047City: Small | KG–12 | CharterVirtual | 766 |
| Eudora Elementary School | Record | Eudora | Eudora, 66025Town: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 742 |
| Lawrence Southwest Middle School | Record | Lawrence | Lawrence, 66047City: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 641 |
| Lawrence West Middle School | Record | Lawrence | Lawrence, 66049City: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 609 |
| Eudora High School | Record | Eudora | Eudora, 66025Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 541 |
| Billy Mills Middle School | Record | Lawrence | Lawrence, 66046City: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 516 |
| Langston Hughes Elem | Record | Lawrence | Lawrence, 66049City: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 476 |
| Sunflower Elementary | Record | Lawrence | Lawrence, 66047City: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 468 |
| Deerfield Elem | Record | Lawrence | Lawrence, 66049City: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 457 |
| Baldwin High School | Record | Baldwin City | Baldwin City, 66006Town: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 424 |
| Lawrence Liberty Memorial Central Mid School | Record | Lawrence | Lawrence, 66044City: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 422 |
| New York Elem | Record | Lawrence | Lawrence, 66044City: Small | PK–5 | Primary | 416 |
| Eudora Middle School | Record | Eudora | Eudora, 66025Town: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 401 |
| Quail Run Elementary | Record | Lawrence | Lawrence, 66049City: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 393 |
| Baldwin Elementary Primary Center | Record | Baldwin City | Baldwin City, 66006Town: Fringe | PK–2 | Primary | 388 |
| Sunset Hill Elem | Record | Lawrence | Lawerence, 66049City: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 378 |
| Prairie Park Elem | Record | Lawrence | Lawrence, 66046City: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 376 |
| Hillcrest Elem | Record | Lawrence | Lawrence, 66044City: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 346 |
Lawrence Free State High
Lawrence
Lawrence, 66049 / City: Small
Lawrence High
Lawrence
Lawrence, 66046 / City: Small
Lawrence Liberty Memorial Central Mid School
Lawrence
Lawrence, 66044 / City: Small
Baldwin Elementary Primary Center
Baldwin City
Baldwin City, 66006 / Town: Fringe
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,029
State avg $9,009
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Douglas 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 Douglas County?
What is the graduation rate in Douglas County?
How much does Douglas County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Douglas County, Kansas — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Douglas County, Kansas?
As one of the state's largest educational hubs, Douglas County manages 29 schools and 14,298 students. The network is extensive, featuring 17 elementary schools, six middle schools, and five high schools.
How do schools in Douglas County perform academically?
The county's 84.2% graduation rate currently trails both the state and national averages. Spending sits at $7,029 per pupil, which is below the Kansas average of $9,009 despite the high student volume.
What are the major school districts in Douglas County, Kansas?
The Lawrence district manages 20 of the county's 29 schools and serves 10,908 students. The county also hosts one charter school, Lawrence Virtual School, which accounts for about 3.4% of all local schools.
What is the school experience like in Douglas County?
Twenty schools are located in city settings, giving the area a much more urban feel than its neighbors. Lawrence Free State High is the largest school with 1,777 students, contributing to a high average school size of 493.
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.