schoolsbycounty

Kearny County Schools & Education

School Score

83/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Higher Signal

Graduation Rate

93.5%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

93.5%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 88.7%

Per-Pupil Spending

$10,027

National avg $13,239

State avg $9,009

School Score

83/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 61/100

State Score Position

#10

of 105 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Kearny County

Measured School Summary

Kearny County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 83/100 and a graduation rate of 93.5%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.

Funding Context

Kearny County spends $10,027 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 36% above the Kansas average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 4.8 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 11% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Kearny 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

6 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

83/100

Higher measured signal. Ranks #10 of 105 Kansas counties with school score data.

Completion

93.5%

4.8 pts above the state average

Funding context

$10,027

$1,018 above the state average

School coverage

6

2 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county screens well on the combined school metrics available here. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Kearny County has 6 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 Kearny 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

Kearny 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

#10

of 105 Kansas counties with school score data. The county score is 22 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.

Lakin

Elementary to high school visible

654 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

Deerfield

Elementary to high school visible

248 students

Elementary 1Middle 1High 1Other 0

3 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Deerfield is the largest listed district slice, with 3 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 Kearny County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Kearny 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 Kearny 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.

Coordinated Education in Western Kansas

Kearny County manages a balanced system of six public schools serving 902 students. The county provides two elementary, two middle, and two high schools through two local districts. This structure ensures that students have dedicated facilities for every stage of their education.

Lakin and Deerfield Anchor the Community

The Lakin district is the largest, educating 654 students across three schools. Deerfield serves the remaining 248 students in its three-school system. There are no charter schools, keeping the community's focus on these two central public districts.

Small Classes in a Great Plains Setting

All six schools are located in rural locales, offering an average enrollment of 150 students per school. Lakin Elementary is the largest campus with 256 students, while Deerfield High provides a very intimate setting with only 63 students. The small student body allows for significant personal interaction between teachers and pupils.

School Overview

Total Schools

6

in Kearny County

Reported Enrollment

902

6 schools reporting

School Districts

2

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary2
Middle2
High2
Other0

2 School Districts in Kearny County

Lakin

3 schools
654 students

Deerfield

3 schools
248 students

6 Public Schools in Kearny 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 6 of 6 matching schools

Lakin Elem

Lakin

Lakin, 67860 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–4Primary256 students

Lakin High

Lakin

Lakin, 67860 / Rural: Remote

Record9–12High199 students

Lakin Middle

Lakin

Lakin, 67860 / Rural: Remote

Record5–8Middle199 students

Deerfield Elem

Deerfield

Deerfield, 67838 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–5Primary135 students

Deerfield High

Deerfield

Deerfield, 67838 / Rural: Remote

Record9–12High63 students

Deerfield Middle School

Deerfield

Deerfield, 67838 / Rural: Remote

Record6–8Middle50 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$10,027

State avg $9,009

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Kearny 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 Kearny County?
Kearny County has a school score of 83/100, which is a higher 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 Kearny County?
The high school graduation rate in Kearny County is 93.5%, 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 Kearny County spend per student?
Kearny County spends $10,027 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 Kearny County, Kansas — FAQ

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

Kearny County manages a balanced system of six public schools serving 902 students. The county provides two elementary, two middle, and two high schools through two local districts. This structure ensures that students have dedicated facilities for every stage of their education.

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

The Lakin district is the largest, educating 654 students across three schools. Deerfield serves the remaining 248 students in its three-school system. There are no charter schools, keeping the community's focus on these two central public districts.

What is the school experience like in Kearny County?

All six schools are located in rural locales, offering an average enrollment of 150 students per school. Lakin Elementary is the largest campus with 256 students, while Deerfield High provides a very intimate setting with only 63 students. The small student body allows for significant personal interaction between teachers and pupils.

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.