Thomas County Schools & Education
Thomas County, Kansas
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
43/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
85.2%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
85.2%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 88.7%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,827
National avg $13,239
State avg $9,009
School Score
43/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 61/100
State Score Position
#90
of 105 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Thomas County
Measured School Summary
Thomas County performs at an average level with a school score of 43/100 and a solid graduation rate of 85.2%.
Funding Context
At $7,827 per pupil, Thomas County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 30% below the Kansas average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 3.5 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 13% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Thomas 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
7 public schools and 3 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
43/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #90 of 105 Kansas counties with school score data.
Completion
85.2%
3.5 pts below the state average
Funding context
$7,827
$1,182 below the state average
School coverage
7
3 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
Thomas County has 7 public schools across 3 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 Thomas 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
Thomas 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
#90
of 105 Kansas counties with school score data. The county score is 18 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.
Colby Public Schools
Elementary to high school visible
964 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
Brewster
Elementary and high visible
131 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
Golden Plains
Middle and high visible
87 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Colby Public Schools 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 Thomas County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Thomas 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 Thomas 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.
Education infrastructure in the High Plains
Thomas County supports a network of seven public schools including two elementary, two middle, and three high schools. Three distinct districts serve a total enrollment of 1,182 students across the region. This infrastructure provides a stable foundation for learners in the northwest corner of the state.
Colby Public Schools leads regional enrollment
Colby Public Schools is the largest provider in the county, managing three schools and educating 964 students. Traditional public districts oversee 100% of the county's schools, as there are currently no charter schools in operation. Smaller districts like Golden Plains and Brewster provide alternative options with a combined enrollment of 294 students.
A blend of town and rural campuses
The educational experience is split between four rural sites and three town-based schools, with an average school size of 169 students. Colby Elementary is the largest campus with 409 students, offering a busier atmosphere than the intimate Golden Plains High, which serves just 46 students. This diversity allows families to choose between small-town community hubs and very small rural cohorts.
School Overview
Total Schools
7
in Thomas County
Reported Enrollment
1,182
7 schools reporting
School Districts
3
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
3 School Districts in Thomas County
Colby Public Schools
Golden Plains
Brewster
7 Public Schools in Thomas 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 7 of 7 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colby Elem | Record | Colby Public Schools | Colby, 67701Town: Remote | PK–4 | Primary | 409 |
| Colby Senior High | Record | Colby Public Schools | Colby, 67701Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 284 |
| Colby Middle School | Record | Colby Public Schools | Colby, 67701Town: Remote | 5–8 | Middle | 271 |
| Brewster Elem | Record | Brewster | Brewster, 67732Rural: Remote | PK–8 | Primary | 94 |
| Golden Plains High | Record | Golden Plains | Rexford, 67753Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 46 |
| Golden Plains Middle | Record | Golden Plains | Rexford, 67753Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 41 |
| Brewster High | Record | Brewster | Brewster, 67732Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 37 |
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,827
State avg $9,009
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Thomas 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 Thomas County?
What is the graduation rate in Thomas County?
How much does Thomas County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Thomas County, Kansas — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Thomas County, Kansas?
Thomas County supports a network of seven public schools including two elementary, two middle, and three high schools. Three distinct districts serve a total enrollment of 1,182 students across the region. This infrastructure provides a stable foundation for learners in the northwest corner of the state.
What are the major school districts in Thomas County, Kansas?
Colby Public Schools is the largest provider in the county, managing three schools and educating 964 students. Traditional public districts oversee 100% of the county's schools, as there are currently no charter schools in operation. Smaller districts like Golden Plains and Brewster provide alternative options with a combined enrollment of 294 students.
What is the school experience like in Thomas County?
The educational experience is split between four rural sites and three town-based schools, with an average school size of 169 students. Colby Elementary is the largest campus with 409 students, offering a busier atmosphere than the intimate Golden Plains High, which serves just 46 students. This diversity allows families to choose between small-town community hubs and very small rural cohorts.
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.