Ford County Schools & Education
Ford County, Kansas
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
52/100
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
$7,563
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,009
School Score
52/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 61/100
State Score Position
#77
of 105 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Ford County
Measured School Summary
Ford County performs at an average level with a school score of 52/100 and a solid graduation rate of 90.0%.
Funding Context
At $7,563 per pupil, Ford County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 14% below the Kansas average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 1.3 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 16% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Ford 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
15 public schools and 3 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
52/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #77 of 105 Kansas counties with school score data.
Completion
90.0%
1.3 pts above the state average
Funding context
$7,563
$1,446 below the state average
School coverage
15
3 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
Ford County has 15 public schools across 3 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 Ford 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
Dodge City carries most of the listed public-school system, with 11 of 15 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#77
of 105 Kansas counties with school score data. The county score is 9 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.
Dodge City
Elementary to high school visible
7,233 students
11 listed schools in this county slice.
Spearville
Elementary and high visible
342 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
Bucklin
Elementary and high visible
226 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Dodge City is the largest listed district slice, with 11 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 Ford County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Ford County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
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 Ford 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.
Historic Dodge City Leads the Way
Ford County operates 15 public schools across 3 districts, providing education for 7,801 students. The county is anchored by 10 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools. This network serves as a critical academic foundation for the Dodge City area and surrounding rural towns.
Dodge City District Dominates Enrollment
The Dodge City school district is the largest, enrolling 7,233 students across 11 schools. Spearville and Bucklin districts offer smaller environments, serving 342 and 226 students respectively. There are currently no charter schools in Ford County, as traditional districts provide all public schooling.
A Mix of Large Town Hubs
With 8 town-based schools and 7 rural ones, the county has a balanced locale mix and an average school size of 520 students. Dodge City High School is the largest campus with 2,084 students, while Miller Elementary also maintains a large population of 774. This gives the county a high-energy, bustling school atmosphere compared to its neighbors.
School Overview
Total Schools
15
in Ford County
Reported Enrollment
7,801
15 schools reporting
School Districts
3
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
3 School Districts in Ford County
Dodge City
GuideSpearville
Bucklin
15 Public Schools in Ford County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 15 of 15 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dodge City High School | Profile | Dodge City | Dodge City, 67801Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 2,084 |
| Dodge City Middle School | Record | Dodge City | Dodge City, 67801Town: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 809 |
| Comanche Middle School | Record | Dodge City | Dodge City, 67801Town: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 795 |
| Miller Elem | Record | Dodge City | Dodge City, 67801Town: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 774 |
| Ross Elementary School | Record | Dodge City | Dodge City, 67801Town: Remote | KG–5 | Primary | 498 |
| Soule Elementary School | Record | Dodge City | Dodge City, 67801Town: Remote | KG–5 | Primary | 403 |
| Northwest Elem | Record | Dodge City | Dodge City, 67801Town: Remote | KG–5 | Primary | 392 |
| Sunnyside Elem | Record | Dodge City | Dodge City, 67801Town: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 386 |
| Linn Elementary | Record | Dodge City | Dodge City, 67801Rural: Fringe | KG–5 | Primary | 367 |
| Beeson Elementary | Record | Dodge City | Dodge City, 67801Rural: Fringe | KG–5 | Primary | 365 |
| Central Elem | Record | Dodge City | Dodge City, 67801Town: Remote | KG–5 | Primary | 360 |
| Spearville Elem | Record | Spearville | Spearville, 67876Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 174 |
| Spearville Jr/Sr High | Record | Spearville | Spearville, 67876Rural: Remote | 6–12 | High | 168 |
| Bucklin Elem | Record | Bucklin | Bucklin, 67834Rural: Remote | PK–8 | Primary | 155 |
| Bucklin High | Record | Bucklin | Bucklin, 67834Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 71 |
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,563
State avg $9,009
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Ford 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 Ford County?
What is the graduation rate in Ford County?
How much does Ford County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Ford County, Kansas — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Ford County, Kansas?
Ford County operates 15 public schools across 3 districts, providing education for 7,801 students. The county is anchored by 10 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 3 high schools. This network serves as a critical academic foundation for the Dodge City area and surrounding rural towns.
What are the major school districts in Ford County, Kansas?
The Dodge City school district is the largest, enrolling 7,233 students across 11 schools. Spearville and Bucklin districts offer smaller environments, serving 342 and 226 students respectively. There are currently no charter schools in Ford County, as traditional districts provide all public schooling.
What is the school experience like in Ford County?
With 8 town-based schools and 7 rural ones, the county has a balanced locale mix and an average school size of 520 students. Dodge City High School is the largest campus with 2,084 students, while Miller Elementary also maintains a large population of 774. This gives the county a high-energy, bustling school atmosphere compared to its neighbors.
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.