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Atchison County

Kansas · Public K-12

Public K-12 enrollment in Atchison County totals about 1,948 students across 6 schools, an average of 325 per campus. Atchison Public Schools is the largest district. The level mix is 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.

7-year change in Atchison County

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
1,948
-280 (-13%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
6
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
6
2 districts
Enrollment
1,948
NCES CCD
Median income
$61,112
Below Kansas avg
Free/reduced lunch
58.3%
Above Kansas avg
Elementary
2
937 students
Middle
1
287 students
High
2
673 students
Combined / other
1
51 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Atchison Public Schools
1,450 students · 2 districts in Atchison County

County vs. school enrollment demographics

Left bar is the racial makeup of Atchison County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".

County residents
White
88%
Hispanic
4%
Black
4%
Asian
0%
Two or more
8%
Native American
0%
Pacific Islander
0%
School enrollment
White
76%
Hispanic
5%
Black
6%
Asian
0%
Two or more
12%
Native American
1%
Pacific Islander
0%
Bachelor's+
21.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.6%
civilian labor
Median age
36
21.8% under 18

Test scores in Atchison County

Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 5 schools ranked. Kansas state average: 44.5%.

See all 5 schools in Atchison County ranked by score →

All schools (6)

NameCityLevelGradesEnrollmentRating
Atchison Elementary SchoolAtchisonElementaryPK-05693·
Atchison High SchoolAtchisonHigh09-12419·
Atchison Middle SchoolAtchisonMiddle06-08287·
Atchison County Community JR/SR HighEffinghamHigh07-12254·
Atchison County Community Elementary SchoolEffinghamElementaryPK-06244·
Central SchoolAtchisonCombined02-1251·

Cities in Atchison County

Atchison4 schoolsEffingham2 schools

About Atchison County

Across the thinly populated Kansas county of Atchison County of about 16,208 residents, the public-school footprint covers 6 schools and about 1,948 students.

Zooming out, census numbers show the median household earns about $61,112 a year, 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 7%. That income level is 8% below the Kansas median.

On the level-by-level breakdown, Atchison County consists of 2 elementary schools (937 students), 1 middle school (287), 2 high schools (673), and 1 combined or other schools.

The largest single district in Atchison County is Atchison Public Schools, which alone enrolls about 1,450 students.

Looking at the last 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in Atchison County has declined 13% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 2,228 students to 1,948.

On allk12, the community for Atchison County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.

Frequently asked questions

How many K-12 schools serve Atchison County?
There are 6 public K-12 schools in Atchison County, Kansas, with a combined enrollment of about 1,948.
How many high schools are in Atchison County?
Atchison County, Kansas has 2 public high schools, serving approximately 673 students.
How many middle schools are in Atchison County?
Atchison County, Kansas has 1 public middle school, serving approximately 287 students.
How many elementary schools are in Atchison County?
Atchison County, Kansas has 2 public elementary schools, serving approximately 937 students.
What is the largest school district in Atchison County?
Atchison Public Schools is the largest school district in Atchison County, serving approximately 1,450 students. The county contains 2 school districts overall.
What is the population of Atchison County?
Atchison County, Kansas has a population of approximately 16,208, with a median age of 36. About 21.8% of residents are under 18.
What is the median household income in Atchison County?
Median household income in Atchison County is $61,112, below the Kansas average of $66,199. About 7.2% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
How educated are residents of Atchison County?
Approximately 21.8% of adults 25 and older in Atchison County hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to the Census ACS 5-year estimate.
What share of students in Atchison County qualify for free or reduced lunch?
Roughly 58.3% of students in Atchison County public schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, a common proxy for low-income enrollment. This is higher than the Kansas county average of 52.0%.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Atchison County schools?
Across Atchison County public schools, the enrollment-weighted student-teacher ratio is approximately 12.7 to 1.
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data