Shawnee County Schools & Education
Shawnee County, Kansas
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
46/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
87.6%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
87.6%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 88.7%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,600
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,009
School Score
46/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 61/100
State Score Position
#83
of 105 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Shawnee County
Measured School Summary
Shawnee County performs at an average level with a school score of 46/100 and a solid graduation rate of 87.6%.
Funding Context
At $7,600 per pupil, Shawnee County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 25% below the Kansas average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 1.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 16% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Shawnee 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
53 public schools and 7 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
46/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #83 of 105 Kansas counties with school score data.
Completion
87.6%
1.1 pts below the state average
Funding context
$7,600
$1,409 below the state average
School coverage
53
7 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
Shawnee County has 53 public schools across 7 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 Shawnee 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
Shawnee 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
#83
of 105 Kansas counties with school score data. The county score is 15 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.
Topeka Public Schools
Elementary to high school visible
12,351 students
26 listed schools in this county slice.
Auburn Washburn
Elementary to high school visible
6,059 students
9 listed schools in this county slice.
Seaman
Elementary to high school visible
3,890 students
7 listed schools in this county slice.
Shawnee Heights
Elementary to high school visible
3,748 students
6 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Topeka Public Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 26 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 Shawnee County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Shawnee 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 Shawnee 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 Diverse Infrastructure for Thousands of Students
Shawnee County manages a robust network of 53 public schools, including 31 elementary, 10 middle, and 11 high schools. Seven different districts serve a massive total enrollment of 27,422 students across the capital region.
Graduation Success Amidst Budget Challenges
The county achieves an 87.6% graduation rate, which beats the national average of 87.0% but falls slightly behind the state's 88.7% benchmark. This performance comes despite a per-pupil expenditure of $7,600, which is significantly lower than the $13,000 national average.
Capital City Schools Lead the Way
Topeka Public Schools is the dominant provider, educating 12,351 students across 26 different schools. The county also offers school choice through one charter school, which represents about 1.9% of the total educational landscape.
From Urban Centers to Rural Classrooms
The area features a mix of 29 city schools, 16 rural schools, and 8 suburban sites with an average school size of 517 students. Washburn Rural High is the largest facility with 1,884 students, offering a large-campus experience contrasted by smaller rural options.
School Overview
Total Schools
53
in Shawnee County
Reported Enrollment
27,422
53 schools reporting
School Districts
7
districts
Charter Schools
1
2% of total
School Level Breakdown
7 School Districts in Shawnee County
Topeka Public Schools
GuideAuburn Washburn
GuideSeaman
GuideShawnee Heights
GuideKaw Valley
Silver Lake
Department of Corrections
53 Public Schools in Shawnee County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 6 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 53 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washburn Rural High | Profile | Auburn Washburn | Topeka, 66619Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,884 |
| Topeka High | Profile | Topeka Public Schools | Topeka, 66612City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 1,514 |
| Shawnee Heights High | Profile | Shawnee Heights | Tecumseh, 66542Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,293 |
| Seaman High | Profile | Seaman | Topeka, 66617Suburb: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 1,239 |
| Topeka West High | Profile | Topeka Public Schools | Topeka, 66604City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 1,085 |
| Washburn Rural Middle School | Profile | Auburn Washburn | Topeka, 66619Rural: Fringe | 7–8 | Middle | 943 |
| Highland Park High | Record | Topeka Public Schools | Topeka, 66605City: Midsize | 9–12 | High | 857 |
| Jardine Elementary | Record | Topeka Public Schools | Topeka, 66611City: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 743 |
| Logan Elementary | Record | Seaman | Topeka, 66608City: Midsize | PK–6 | Primary | 624 |
| Farley Elementary | Record | Auburn Washburn | Topeka, 66614Suburb: Midsize | PK–6 | Primary | 621 |
| Seaman Middle School | Record | Seaman | Topeka, 66617Suburb: Midsize | 7–8 | Middle | 585 |
| Jay Shideler Elementary | Record | Auburn Washburn | Topeka, 66610Rural: Fringe | KG–6 | Primary | 567 |
| Ross Elementary | Record | Topeka Public Schools | Topeka, 66605City: Midsize | PK–5 | Primary | 558 |
| Jardine Middle School | Record | Topeka Public Schools | Topeka, 66611City: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 542 |
| Shawnee Heights Middle | Record | Shawnee Heights | Tecumseh, 66542Rural: Fringe | 7–8 | Middle | 538 |
| Berryton Elem | Record | Shawnee Heights | Berryton, 66409Rural: Fringe | PK–6 | Primary | 511 |
| Tecumseh South Elem | Record | Shawnee Heights | Tecumseh, 66542Rural: Fringe | PK–6 | Primary | 492 |
| Eisenhower Middle School | Record | Topeka Public Schools | Topeka, 66605City: Midsize | 6–8 | Middle | 486 |
| Wanamaker Elem | Record | Auburn Washburn | Topeka, 66615City: Midsize | PK–6 | Primary | 484 |
| Indian Hills Elementary | Record | Auburn Washburn | Topeka, 66614Suburb: Midsize | KG–6 | Primary | 474 |
Washburn Rural High
Auburn Washburn
Topeka, 66619 / Rural: Fringe
Topeka High
Topeka Public Schools
Topeka, 66612 / City: Midsize
Shawnee Heights High
Shawnee Heights
Tecumseh, 66542 / Rural: Fringe
Seaman High
Seaman
Topeka, 66617 / Suburb: Midsize
Topeka West High
Topeka Public Schools
Topeka, 66604 / City: Midsize
Washburn Rural Middle School
Auburn Washburn
Topeka, 66619 / Rural: Fringe
Eisenhower Middle School
Topeka Public Schools
Topeka, 66605 / City: Midsize
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,600
State avg $9,009
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Shawnee 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 Shawnee County?
What is the graduation rate in Shawnee County?
How much does Shawnee County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Shawnee County, Kansas — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Shawnee County, Kansas?
Shawnee County manages a robust network of 53 public schools, including 31 elementary, 10 middle, and 11 high schools. Seven different districts serve a massive total enrollment of 27,422 students across the capital region.
How do schools in Shawnee County perform academically?
The county achieves an 87.6% graduation rate, which beats the national average of 87.0% but falls slightly behind the state's 88.7% benchmark. This performance comes despite a per-pupil expenditure of $7,600, which is significantly lower than the $13,000 national average.
What are the major school districts in Shawnee County, Kansas?
Topeka Public Schools is the dominant provider, educating 12,351 students across 26 different schools. The county also offers school choice through one charter school, which represents about 1.9% of the total educational landscape.
What is the school experience like in Shawnee County?
The area features a mix of 29 city schools, 16 rural schools, and 8 suburban sites with an average school size of 517 students. Washburn Rural High is the largest facility with 1,884 students, offering a large-campus experience contrasted by smaller rural options.
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.