Total enrollment
3,530
+28 (+1%) vs SY 2020-21
Dickinson County
Kansas · Public K-12
For a Kansas county, Dickinson County operates a compact public-school system: 19 schools and 3,530 students, broken out as 10 elementary, 3 middle, and 6 high.
4-year change in Dickinson County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
19
+1 (+6%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Dickinson County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Kansas | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 36.3% | #26 of 57 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 3,530 | #27 of 61 | #1,673 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 19 | #12 of 61 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 12.2:1 | #27 of 61 | #591 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 49.2% | #35 of 61 | #1,663 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 25.9% | #44 of 60 | #1,934 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.
Dickinson County school rankings
Residents
18,445
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
19
5 districts
Enrollment
3,530
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$68,417
Above Kansas avg
Free/reduced lunch
49.2%
Below Kansas avg
Elementary
10
1,734 students
Middle
3
656 students
High
6
1,140 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Abilene
1,476 students · 5 districts in Dickinson County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Dickinson 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+
23.7%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
4.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.8%
civilian labor
Median age
43
23.2% under 18
Test scores in Dickinson County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 15 schools ranked. Kansas state average: 44.5%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Blue Ridge Elem· 67.5%
- Chapman High· 61.7%
- Chapman Elem· 54.5%
- Hope Elem· 53.7%
- McKinley Elem· 52.9%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Herington High· 23.1%
- Herington Middle Sch· 27.0%
- Solomon High· 35.5%
- Enterprise Elem· 39.0%
- Solomon Elem· 39.8%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene High School | Abilene | High | 09-12 | 443 | · |
| Chapman High | Chapman | High | 09-12 | 383 | · |
| Abilene Middle School | Abilene | Middle | 06-08 | 319 | · |
| Solomon Elem | Solomon | Elementary | PK-08 | 283 | · |
| Chapman Elem | Chapman | Elementary | PK-05 | 282 | · |
| Kennedy Elem | Abilene | Elementary | PK-01 | 276 | · |
| Chapman Middle School | Chapman | Middle | 06-08 | 250 | · |
| Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary | Abilene | Elementary | 04-05 | 218 | · |
| McKinley Elem | Abilene | Elementary | 02-03 | 196 | · |
| Herington Elem | Herington | Elementary | PK-05 | 186 | · |
| Herington High | Herington | High | 09-12 | 141 | · |
| Solomon High | Solomon | High | 09-12 | 116 | · |
| Herington Middle Sch | Herington | Middle | 06-08 | 87 | · |
| Enterprise Elem | Enterprise | Elementary | PK-05 | 86 | · |
| Hope Elem | Hope | Elementary | PK-08 | 74 | · |
| Blue Ridge Elem | Abilene | Elementary | PK-05 | 71 | · |
| Rural Center Elem | Abilene | Elementary | PK-05 | 62 | · |
| Hope High | Hope | High | 09-12 | 33 | · |
| Abilene Virtual School | Abilene | High | 07-12 | 24 | · |
Cities in Dickinson County
About Dickinson County
Dickinson County is a small county of about 18,445 residents in Kansas. Its public-school system teaches approximately 3,530 students across 19 schools.
For perspective, census numbers show the median household earns about $68,417 a year, roughly 24% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 5%.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Dickinson County covers 10 elementary schools (1,734 students), 3 middle schools (656), and 6 high schools (1,140).
Abilene dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 1,476 students on its own.
Looking at the last 4 years. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment held roughly steady: 3,502 students in SY 2020-21 versus 3,530 in SY 2024-25. The school count climbed from 18 to 19 across the same 4-year window.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Dickinson County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data