Best school districts in Kansas

A good school can lead to a lifetime of opportunities. Myriad data shows that lifetime earnings dramatically increase with every degree obtained. Bachelor's degree holders will earn an average of roughly $26,000 more each year than high school graduates. And for those who decide that pursuing a college degree is not the best postsecondary option, a good school will provide students with the tools and support to make that choice, and the foundational skills necessary to succeed in the workforce.

For many families, the school district is a top criteria when deciding where to buy a home. But this consideration and ability to choose is not a luxury all families can afford, especially in today's wildly competitive housing market.

One important proxy of a quality education is per-student spending. According to the most recent Census data available, the national average per-pupil expenditure in fiscal year 2019 was $13,187. Several recent studies suggest that increased spending per student correlates with higher academic achievement, particularly in districts serving predominantly low-income students. Since public schools are largely funded by property taxes, schools in low-income areas suffer the most from a lack of funding for critical expenditures like staff salaries and benefits, transportation, instructional resources, and support services.

There are more than 13,000 school districts in the U.S., each one slightly different, for better or worse, than the next. However, several common denominators exist and, when compared, can serve as indicators of what makes an impactful district.

Stacker compiled a list of the best school districts in Kansas using rankings from Niche. Niche ranks school districts based on a variety of criteria including academics (SAT/ACT scores and state proficiency tests), teacher salaries, expenses per student, and access to extracurricular activities.

#10. Weskan Unified School District (Weskan)
- Number of schools: 2 (106 students)
- Graduation rate: No data available (45% reading proficient and 35% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $29,042 (6:1 student to teacher ratio)

#9. Sterling Unified School District (Sterling)
- Number of schools: 2 (501 students)
- Graduation rate: 90% (52% reading proficient and 54% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $46,162 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)

#8. Shawnee Mission School District (Shawnee Mission)
- Number of schools: 44 (27,587 students)
- Graduation rate: 90% (48% reading proficient and 44% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $62,744 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)

#7. Maize Unified School District (Maize)
- Number of schools: 10 (8,000 students)
- Graduation rate: 95% (49% reading proficient and 42% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $54,754 (18:1 student to teacher ratio)

#6. Silver Lake Unified School District (Silver Lake)
- Number of schools: 2 (732 students)
- Graduation rate: 90% (49% reading proficient and 55% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $42,416 (11:1 student to teacher ratio)

#5. Auburn Washburn Unified School District (Topeka)
- Number of schools: 9 (6,349 students)
- Graduation rate: 94% (47% reading proficient and 42% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $46,067 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)

#4. Olathe Public Schools (Olathe)
- Number of schools: 51 (30,164 students)
- Graduation rate: 94% (45% reading proficient and 42% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $55,861 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)

#3. West Elk Unified School District (Howard)
- Number of schools: 1 (397 students)
- Graduation rate: 90% (42% reading proficient and 42% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $55,861 (10:1 student to teacher ratio)

#2. DeSoto Unified School District (De Soto)
- Number of schools: 12 (7,467 students)
- Graduation rate: 98% (54% reading proficient and 50% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $53,142 (15:1 student to teacher ratio)

#1. Blue Valley Unified School District (Overland Park) (Overland Park)
- Number of schools: 35 (22,887 students)
- Graduation rate: 96% (61% reading proficient and 55% math proficient)
- Average teacher salary: $52,026 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)