Paola School District

1115 E 303rd Street
Paola, KS 66071
(District boundaries shown in map)
: 
7/
10
Top 50%

Top Rankings

Paola School District ranks among the top 20% of public school district in Kansas for:

Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 3 public elementary schools serving 1,165 students in Paola School District. This district's average elementary testing ranking is 6/10, which is in the top 50% of public elementary schools in Kansas.
Public Elementary Schools in Paola School District have an average math proficiency score of 38% (versus the Kansas public elementary school average of 34%), and reading proficiency score of 35% (versus the 35% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 13% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the Kansas public elementary school average of 40% (majority Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (KS)
# Schools
4 Schools
991 Schools
# Students
1,732 Students
318,353 Students
# Teachers
129 Teachers
23,366 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
13:1
13:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Paola School District, which is ranked within the top 50% of all 286 school districts in Kansas (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2022-2023 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 95% has increased from 90-94% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (KS)
#101 out of 286 school districts
(Top 50%)

Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

35%
31%

Showing 2012–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

33%
32%

Showing 2011–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓

39%
31%
(21-22)
≥95%
89%

Showing 2013–2022. Full 12-year historical data available below ↓

(2022-23)
16.6%
24.2%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.23
0.58

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% American Indian
1%
1%

Showing 2006–2023. Full 35-year historical data available below ↓

% Asian
n/a
3%
% Hispanic
7%
23%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% Black
1%
6%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% White
87%
60%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓

% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
7%

Showing 2014–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓

All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $28,446 is higher than the state median of $18,587. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $25,701 is higher than the state median of $17,750. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
This School District
This State (KS)
Total Revenue
$49 MM
$8,867 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending
$45 MM
$8,468 MM

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Revenue / Student
$28,446
$18,587

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Spending / Student
$25,701
$17,750

Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓

Best Paola School District Public Elementary Schools (2026-27)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Sunflower Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1401 E 303rd St
Paola, KS 66071
(913) 294-8040
Gr: 3-5 | 373 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #22.
Paola Middle School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
405 Hospital Drive
Paola, KS 66071
(913) 294-8030
Gr: 6-8 | 413 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: n/an/a
709 N. Hedge Lane
Paola, KS 66071
(913) 294-8050
Gr: PK-2 | 379 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 14%

Recent Articles

Does Your Public School Have Enough Nurses?
Does Your Public School Have Enough Nurses?
Learn whether your public school has enough nurses, how staffing affects student safety, chronic illness management, emergency care, and what parents should ask about available school health services today.
When Your Child Falls Behind Without Special Education
When Your Child Falls Behind Without Special Education
Learn what happens when your child falls behind academically but doesn't qualify for special education, including available school interventions, parent rights, tutoring options, and practical strategies for securing support.
When Your Child Finishes Classwork Faster Than Others
When Your Child Finishes Classwork Faster Than Others
Discover why some children finish classwork faster than classmates, how teachers manage early finishers, and what parents can do to ensure meaningful learning, appropriate challenges, and continued academic growth.

Quick Facts (26-27)

  • District size: 4 schools
  • Grades: PK-12
  • Enrollment: 1,732 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 13%
  • : ≥95% (Top 50% in KS)
  • : Top 50%
  • : 35% (Top 50%)
  • : 33% (Top 50%)
  • : 39% (Top 30%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), KS Dept. of Education

Quick Links