Total enrollment
4,179
-35 (-1%) vs SY 2017-18
Barton County
Kansas · Public K-12
Barton County runs 15 public K-12 schools per the latest NCES counts, with an average school size of about 279 students. The level mix is 8 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high schools.
7-year change in Barton County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
15
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
65%
was 68%
% Hispanic
29%
was 27%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
15
4 districts
Enrollment
4,179
NCES CCD
Median income
$58,851
Below Kansas avg
Free/reduced lunch
62.4%
Above Kansas avg
Elementary
8
2,065 students
Middle
3
668 students
High
4
1,446 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Great Bend
2,876 students · 4 districts in Barton County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Barton 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+
21.7%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
10.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.9%
civilian labor
Median age
39
24.1% under 18
Test scores in Barton County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 14 schools ranked. Kansas state average: 44.5%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Jefferson Elem· 63.2%
- Lincoln Elem· 61.2%
- Lincoln Elementary· 59.9%
- Ellinwood Elem· 40.7%
- Ellinwood Middle School· 37.7%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Eisenhower Elem· 21.2%
- Ellinwood High· 27.5%
- Riley Elem· 29.1%
- Park Elem· 29.6%
- Hoisington High· 30.3%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Bend High School | Great Bend | High | 09-12 | 923 | · |
| Great Bend Middle School | Great Bend | Middle | 07-08 | 438 | · |
| Eisenhower Elem | Great Bend | Elementary | PK-06 | 343 | · |
| Park Elem | Great Bend | Elementary | PK-06 | 304 | · |
| Jefferson Elem | Great Bend | Elementary | PK-06 | 297 | · |
| Riley Elem | Great Bend | Elementary | PK-06 | 296 | · |
| Lincoln Elem | Great Bend | Elementary | PK-06 | 275 | · |
| Hoisington High | Hoisington | High | 09-12 | 225 | · |
| Ellinwood Elem | Ellinwood | Elementary | PK-06 | 202 | · |
| Lincoln Elementary | Hoisington | Elementary | 02-05 | 193 | · |
| Hoisington Middle | Hoisington | Middle | 06-08 | 158 | · |
| Roosevelt Elementary | Hoisington | Elementary | PK-01 | 155 | · |
| Central Plains Jr. Sr. High School | Claflin | High | 07-12 | 152 | · |
| Ellinwood High | Ellinwood | High | 09-12 | 146 | · |
| Ellinwood Middle School | Ellinwood | Middle | 07-08 | 72 | · |
Cities in Barton County
About Barton County
Barton County is a sparse Kansas county of about 25,097 residents, home to 15 public schools and roughly 4,179 students.
Stepping back, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $58,851, roughly 22% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 11%. That income level is 11% below the Kansas median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Barton County is built around 8 elementary schools (2,065 students), 3 middle schools (668), and 4 high schools (1,446).
Great Bend is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 2,876 students across Barton County.
Trend over the past 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment stayed largely flat: 4,214 students in SY 2017-18 versus 4,179 in SY 2024-25.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Barton County discusses sports rivalries, cross-district programs, and shared facilities. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
Barton County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data