Best high schools for sports in Kansas
More than 7.6 million high school students played sports across the U.S. during the 2021-22 academic year, according to data from the National Federation of State High School Associations. Those athletes participated in a slew of sports: from football—the most popular sport for high school boys with 1 million players nationwide—to track and field, which is the most popular sport amongst high school girls in the U.S. with more than 488,000 athletes.
The dynamic landscape of high school sports has created competition not only between athletes but the institutions they represent. With more than 23,500 public and private secondary and high schools across the country, determining the best options for athletes is an arduous process.
High schools across the country are vying to be crowned the best institution for athletes in America and not only has the battle become personal but regional as well. States like California and Florida, which have high-profile high-school athletic programs, also want bragging rights.
Young athletes will continue to thrive as sports return to pre-pandemic participation levels and high schools put in the work to be considered one of the best institutions in America for sports.
Stacker compiled a list of the best high schools for sports in Kansas using data from Niche. These rankings factor in parent and student surveys on sports, total high school enrollment, K-12 sports championships, number of sports, and athletic participation rates.
#25. Manhattan High School
- City: Manhattan
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A
#24. Olathe North High School
- City: Olathe
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A+
#23. Olathe East High School
- City: Olathe
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A
#22. Shawnee Mission Northwest High School
- City: Shawnee Mission
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A
#21. Silver Lake Junior/Senior High School
- City: Silver Lake
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A-
#20. Maranatha Academy
- City: Shawnee
- Type: Private, Christian (General)
- Overall Niche grade: A
#19. Maize Senior High School
- City: Maize
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A-
#18. Hesston High School
- City: Hesston
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A-
#17. Olpe Junior/Senior High School
- City: Olpe
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B
#16. Blue Valley North High School
- City: Overland Park
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A+
#15. Blue Valley Northwest High School
- City: Overland Park
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A+
#14. Cheney High School
- City: Cheney
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B+
#13. Hayden Catholic High School
- City: Topeka
- Type: Private, Catholic
- Overall Niche grade: A-
#12. Wichita Collegiate School
- City: Wichita
- Type: Private, Montessori
- Overall Niche grade: A+
#11. Wichita Heights High School
- City: Wichita
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B-
#10. Maize South High School
- City: Wichita
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A-
#9. Blue Valley High School
- City: Stilwell
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A+
#8. McPherson High School
- City: Mcpherson
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B-
#7. St. James Academy
- City: Lenexa
- Type: Private, Catholic
- Overall Niche grade: A
#6. Andale High School
- City: Andale
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B
#5. Shawnee Mission East High School
- City: Shawnee Mission
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: A+
#4. Derby High School
- City: Derby
- Type: Public
- Overall Niche grade: B+
#3. Bishop Miege High School
- City: Roeland Park
- Type: Private, Catholic
- Overall Niche grade: A
#2. Bishop Carroll Catholic High School
- City: Wichita
- Type: Private, Catholic
- Overall Niche grade: B+
#1. Saint Thomas Aquinas High School
- City: Overland Park
- Type: Private, Catholic
- Overall Niche grade: A
