Smith County Schools & Education
Smith County, Kansas
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
86/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Higher Signal
Graduation Rate
93.4%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
93.4%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 88.7%
Per-Pupil Spending
$11,403
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,009
School Score
86/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 61/100
State Score Position
#3
of 105 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Smith County
Measured School Summary
Smith County has a higher measured school signal with a school score of 86/100 and a graduation rate of 93.4%, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-score inputs.
Funding Context
Smith County spends $11,403 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 40% above the Kansas average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 4.7 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 27% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Smith 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
4 public schools and 1 district 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
86/100
Higher measured signal. Ranks #3 of 105 Kansas counties with school score data.
Completion
93.4%
4.7 pts above the state average
Funding context
$11,403
$2,394 above the state average
School coverage
4
1 district 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
Smith County has 4 public schools across 1 district, 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 Smith 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
Smith 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
#3
of 105 Kansas counties with school score data. The county score is 25 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.
Smith Center
Elementary and high visible
453 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Smith Center is the largest listed district slice, with 2 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 Smith County?
Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?
Where do students transition after the visible grade band, and is that next school inside the same district path?
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 Smith 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.
Excellent Outcomes in a Rural Setting
Smith County supports 566 students across four public schools, divided evenly between elementary and high school levels. One school district oversees the educational needs of this North Central Kansas community.
Smith Center Schools Lead the Region
The Smith Center district is the largest, educating 453 students across its two campuses. Without any charter schools, the county maintains a focused commitment to its traditional rural public school system.
Small Schools with Big Impact
Every school in the county is classified as rural, with an average school size of only 142 students. Smith Center Elementary is the largest school with 259 students, while Thunder Ridge Elementary serves just 46 children in an intimate setting.
School Overview
Total Schools
4
in Smith County
Reported Enrollment
566
4 schools reporting
School Districts
1
district
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
1 School District in Smith County
Smith Center
4 Public Schools in Smith 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 4 of 4 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith Center Elem | Record | Smith Center | Smith Center, 66967Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 259 |
| Smith Center Jr Sr High | Record | Smith Center | Smith Center, 66967Rural: Remote | 7–12 | High | 194 |
| THUNDER RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL | Record | Thunder Ridge Schools | KENSINGTON, 66951Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 67 |
| THUNDER RIDGE ELEMENTARY | Record | Thunder Ridge Schools | KENSINGTON, 66951Rural: Remote | KG–3 | Primary | 46 |
THUNDER RIDGE HIGH SCHOOL
Thunder Ridge Schools
KENSINGTON, 66951 / Rural: Remote
THUNDER RIDGE ELEMENTARY
Thunder Ridge Schools
KENSINGTON, 66951 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$11,403
State avg $9,009
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Smith 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 Smith County?
What is the graduation rate in Smith County?
How much does Smith County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Smith County, Kansas — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Smith County, Kansas?
Smith County supports 566 students across four public schools, divided evenly between elementary and high school levels. One school district oversees the educational needs of this North Central Kansas community.
What are the major school districts in Smith County, Kansas?
The Smith Center district is the largest, educating 453 students across its two campuses. Without any charter schools, the county maintains a focused commitment to its traditional rural public school system.
What is the school experience like in Smith County?
Every school in the county is classified as rural, with an average school size of only 142 students. Smith Center Elementary is the largest school with 259 students, while Thunder Ridge Elementary serves just 46 children in an intimate setting.
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.