schoolsbycounty

Pottawatomie County Schools & Education

School Score

80/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Higher Signal

Graduation Rate

94.4%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

94.4%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 88.7%

Per-Pupil Spending

$8,843

National avg $13,239

State avg $9,009

School Score

80/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 61/100

State Score Position

#15

of 105 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Pottawatomie County

Measured School Summary

Pottawatomie County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 80/100 and a graduation rate of 94.4%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.

Funding Context

Pottawatomie County spends $8,843 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 31% above the Kansas average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 5.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 2% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Pottawatomie 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 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

80/100

Higher measured signal. Ranks #15 of 105 Kansas counties with school score data.

Completion

94.4%

5.7 pts above the state average

Funding context

$8,843

$166 below the state average

School coverage

15

4 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

Pottawatomie County has 15 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.

Parent decision brief

What Pottawatomie 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.

Higher-signal county

Pottawatomie County screens well on the measured county-level school signal. The next check is whether that strength is broad across districts or concentrated in a few school pathways.

State position

#15

of 105 Kansas counties with school score data. The county score is 19 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.

Wamego

Elementary to high school visible

1,641 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 2Other 0

5 listed schools in this county slice.

Rock Creek

Elementary to high school visible

1,346 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 1Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

Onaga-Havensville-Wheaton

Elementary and high visible

338 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

Blue Valley

Elementary school only in this slice

122 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 0Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

Wamego is the largest listed district slice, with 5 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 Pottawatomie County?

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

Expansive Education Systems Near Manhattan

Pottawatomie County maintains a robust educational infrastructure with 15 public schools and 4,256 students. Four districts manage this network, which includes eight elementary schools and five high schools. The county provides a wide range of options for families living in both rural and growing town corridors.

Wamego and Rock Creek Drive Growth

Wamego is the largest district, serving 1,641 students across five schools, followed closely by Rock Creek with 1,346 students. These two districts represent the bulk of the county's enrollment and offer comprehensive academic and extracurricular programs. There are no charter schools in the county, reflecting a community committed to traditional public districts.

Active Town Hubs and Quiet Rural Schools

With an average school size of 284 students, Pottawatomie offers a more bustling environment than many neighboring counties. Wamego High is the largest school with 507 students, while eight rural and seven town-based campuses provide diverse settings. This variety allows families to choose between larger town schools and smaller, community-centered rural locations.

School Overview

Total Schools

15

in Pottawatomie County

Reported Enrollment

4,256

15 schools reporting

School Districts

4

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary8
Middle2
High5
Other0

4 School Districts in Pottawatomie County

Wamego

5 schools
1,641 students

Rock Creek

4 schools
1,346 students

Onaga-Havensville-Wheaton

2 schools
338 students

Blue Valley

3 schools
269 students

15 Public Schools in Pottawatomie 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 15 of 15 matching schools

Wamego High

Wamego

Wamego, 66547 / Town: Distant

Record9–12High507 students

Rock Creek Middle School

Rock Creek

St. George, 66535 / Rural: Distant

Record5–8Middle424 students

Central Elem

Wamego

Wamego, 66547 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–2Primary407 students

St George Elem

Rock Creek

St George, 66535 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–4Primary397 students

Rock Creek High School

Rock Creek

St George, 66535 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High379 students

Wamego Middle School

Wamego

Wamego, 66547 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Middle360 students

West Elem

Wamego

Wamego, 66547 / Town: Distant

Record3–5Primary356 students

Oliver Brown Elementary

Manhattan-Ogden

Manhattan, 66502 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–5Primary302 students

St Marys Elem

Kaw Valley

St Marys, 66536 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary259 students

St. Marys Junior Senior High

Kaw Valley

St Marys, 66536 / Town: Distant

Record7–12High248 students

Onaga Elem

Onaga-Havensville-Wheaton

Onaga, 66521 / Rural: Remote

RecordPK–8Primary244 students

Westmoreland Elem

Rock Creek

Westmoreland, 66549 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–4Primary146 students

McCormick Elementary

Blue Valley

Olsburg, 66520 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–4Primary122 students

Onaga Senior High

Onaga-Havensville-Wheaton

Onaga, 66521 / Rural: Remote

Record9–12High94 students

Wamego High School Virtual School

Wamego

Wamego, 66547 / Town: Distant

Record9–12Virtual11 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$8,843

State avg $9,009

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Pottawatomie 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.

View Schools

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 Pottawatomie County?
Pottawatomie County has a school score of 80/100, 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 Pottawatomie County?
The high school graduation rate in Pottawatomie County is 94.4%, 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 Pottawatomie County spend per student?
Pottawatomie County spends $8,843 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 Pottawatomie County, Kansas — FAQ

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

Pottawatomie County maintains a robust educational infrastructure with 15 public schools and 4,256 students. Four districts manage this network, which includes eight elementary schools and five high schools. The county provides a wide range of options for families living in both rural and growing town corridors.

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

Wamego is the largest district, serving 1,641 students across five schools, followed closely by Rock Creek with 1,346 students. These two districts represent the bulk of the county's enrollment and offer comprehensive academic and extracurricular programs. There are no charter schools in the county, reflecting a community committed to traditional public districts.

What is the school experience like in Pottawatomie County?

With an average school size of 284 students, Pottawatomie offers a more bustling environment than many neighboring counties. Wamego High is the largest school with 507 students, while eight rural and seven town-based campuses provide diverse settings. This variety allows families to choose between larger town schools and smaller, community-centered rural locations.

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.