McPherson County Schools & Education
McPherson County, Kansas
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
64/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
89.9%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
89.9%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 88.7%
Per-Pupil Spending
$9,152
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,009
School Score
64/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 61/100
State Score Position
#51
of 105 counties by score
Education Data Brief: McPherson County
Measured School Summary
McPherson County performs at an average level with a school score of 64/100 and a solid graduation rate of 89.9%.
Funding Context
McPherson County spends $9,152 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 5% above the Kansas average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 1.2 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 2% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read McPherson 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
18 public schools and 5 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
64/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #51 of 105 Kansas counties with school score data.
Completion
89.9%
1.2 pts above the state average
Funding context
$9,152
$143 above the state average
School coverage
18
5 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
McPherson County has 18 public schools across 5 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 McPherson 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.
Mixed school landscape
McPherson County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.
State position
#51
of 105 Kansas counties with school score data. The county score is 3 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.
McPherson
Elementary to high school visible
2,270 students
6 listed schools in this county slice.
Smoky Valley
Elementary to high school visible
1,103 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Moundridge
Elementary to high school visible
497 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Inman
Elementary and high visible
435 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
McPherson is the largest listed district slice, with 6 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 McPherson County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different McPherson 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 McPherson 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 Robust and Diverse Educational Hub
McPherson County features a significant educational footprint with 18 public schools serving 4,794 students. Five districts manage this infrastructure, which includes nine elementary, three middle, and five high schools. This variety provides families with multiple specialized paths, including one charter school option.
McPherson District Sets the Pace
The McPherson district is the largest, supporting 2,270 students across six schools. Smoky Valley provides a secondary hub with 1,103 students and hosts the Smoky Valley Virtual Charter School, which enrolls 283 students. Moundridge also plays a vital role, managing three schools and 497 students.
Town Centers and Academic Diversity
Schools are split between 10 town-based campuses and eight rural locations, offering a blend of environments. McPherson High is the largest school with 709 students, while Soderstrom Elementary maintains a mid-sized feel with 321 students. The average school size of 266 students is higher than neighboring rural counties, reflecting its vibrant town centers.
School Overview
Total Schools
18
in McPherson County
Reported Enrollment
4,794
18 schools reporting
School Districts
5
districts
Charter Schools
1
6% of total
School Level Breakdown
5 School Districts in McPherson County
McPherson
Smoky Valley
Moundridge
Inman
Canton-Galva
18 Public Schools in McPherson 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 18 of 18 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McPherson High | Record | McPherson | McPherson, 67460Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 709 |
| McPherson Middle School | Record | McPherson | McPherson, 67460Town: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 492 |
| Soderstrom Elem | Record | Smoky Valley | Lindsborg, 67456Town: Remote | PK–4 | Primary | 321 |
| Washington Elem | Record | McPherson | McPherson, 67460Town: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 285 |
| Smoky Valley Virtual Charter School | Record | Smoky Valley | Lindsborg, 67456Town: Remote | KG–12 | CharterVirtual | 283 |
| Roosevelt Elem | Record | McPherson | McPherson, 67460Town: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 266 |
| Eisenhower Elementary | Record | McPherson | McPherson, 67460Town: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 265 |
| Lincoln Elem | Record | McPherson | McPherson, 67460Town: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 253 |
| Smoky Valley High | Record | Smoky Valley | Lindsborg, 67456Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 253 |
| Smoky Valley Middle School | Record | Smoky Valley | Lindsborg, 67456Town: Remote | 5–8 | Middle | 246 |
| Inman Elem | Record | Inman | Inman, 67546Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 236 |
| Canton-Galva Elementary | Record | Canton-Galva | Galva, 67443Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 204 |
| Inman Jr/Sr High School | Record | Inman | Inman, 67546Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 199 |
| Moundridge Elem | Record | Moundridge | Moundridge, 67107Rural: Distant | PK–3 | Primary | 188 |
| Moundridge Middle | Record | Moundridge | Moundridge, 67107Rural: Distant | 4–8 | Middle | 177 |
| Windom Elem | Record | Little River | Windom, 67491Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 148 |
| Canton-Galva Jr./Sr. High | Record | Canton-Galva | Canton, 67428Rural: Remote | 7–12 | High | 137 |
| Moundridge High | Record | Moundridge | Moundridge, 67107Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 132 |
Smoky Valley Virtual Charter School
Smoky Valley
Lindsborg, 67456 / Town: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$9,152
State avg $9,009
Compare Nearby Counties
Review McPherson 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 McPherson County?
What is the graduation rate in McPherson County?
How much does McPherson County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in McPherson County, Kansas — FAQ
What does the school system look like in McPherson County, Kansas?
McPherson County features a significant educational footprint with 18 public schools serving 4,794 students. Five districts manage this infrastructure, which includes nine elementary, three middle, and five high schools. This variety provides families with multiple specialized paths, including one charter school option.
What are the major school districts in McPherson County, Kansas?
The McPherson district is the largest, supporting 2,270 students across six schools. Smoky Valley provides a secondary hub with 1,103 students and hosts the Smoky Valley Virtual Charter School, which enrolls 283 students. Moundridge also plays a vital role, managing three schools and 497 students.
What is the school experience like in McPherson County?
Schools are split between 10 town-based campuses and eight rural locations, offering a blend of environments. McPherson High is the largest school with 709 students, while Soderstrom Elementary maintains a mid-sized feel with 321 students. The average school size of 266 students is higher than neighboring rural counties, reflecting its vibrant town centers.
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.