Total enrollment
1,948
-146 (-7%) vs SY 2020-21
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 school. Atchison Public Schools is the largest district. The level mix is 2 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
4-year change in Atchison County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
6
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Atchison County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Kansas | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 28.2% | #51 of 57 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 1,948 | #38 of 61 | #2,241 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 6 | #53 of 61 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 12.4:1 | #30 of 61 | #650 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 58.3% | #17 of 61 | #1,190 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 40.1% | #28 of 60 | #1,479 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Residents
16,208
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
6
2 districts
Enrollment
1,948
students · 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
School enrollment
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%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atchison Elementary School | Atchison | Elementary | PK-05 | 693 | · |
| Atchison High School | Atchison | High | 09-12 | 419 | · |
| Atchison Middle School | Atchison | Middle | 06-08 | 287 | · |
| Atchison County Community JR/SR High | Effingham | High | 07-12 | 254 | · |
| Atchison County Community Elementary School | Effingham | Elementary | PK-06 | 244 | · |
| Central School | Atchison | Combined | 02-12 | 51 | · |
Cities in Atchison County
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 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Atchison County has declined 7% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 2,094 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
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data