Total enrollment
2,563
+2,084 (+435%) vs SY 2017-18
Elk County
Kansas · Public K-12
Elk County reports 5 public K-12 schools and roughly 2,563 students enrolled, per NCES, with a mix of 1 elementary and 1 high.
7-year change in Elk County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
5
+2 (+67%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
75%
was 84%
% Hispanic
11%
was 10%
% Black
8%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
5
2 districts
Enrollment
2,563
NCES CCD
Median income
$64,609
Below Kansas avg
Free/reduced lunch
66.7%
Above Kansas avg
Elementary
1
67 students
Middle
0
schools
High
1
55 students
Combined / other
3
2,441 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Elk Valley
1,966 students · 2 districts in Elk County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Elk 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+
21.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.0%
civilian labor
Median age
49
23.1% under 18
Test scores in Elk County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 3 schools ranked. Kansas state average: 44.5%.
Top 3 schools (ELA)
- West Elk Schools· 40.8%
- Elk Valley High School· 33.3%
- West Elk Virtual Academy· 29.0%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocket Online Schools (ROCS) | Longton | Combined | KG-12 | 1,844 | · |
| West Elk Schools | Howard | Combined | PK-12 | 371 | · |
| West Elk Virtual Academy | Howard | Combined | KG-12 | 226 | · |
| Elk Valley Elementary | Longton | Elementary | PK-05 | 67 | · |
| Elk Valley High School | Longton | High | 06-12 | 55 | · |
Cities in Elk County
About Elk County
Elk County is a low-population Kansas county of about 2,453 residents, home to 5 public schools and roughly 2,563 students.
Zooming out, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $64,609, 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 6% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
On the school-mix side, Elk County is made up of 1 elementary school (67 students), 1 high school (55), and 3 combined or other schools.
Elk Valley is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 1,966 students across Elk County.
Over the past 7-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 2,563 students, climbed 435% from the 479 reported in SY 2017-18. Over that span, Elk County gained 2 schools, going from 3 to 5. Demographically, the White share of enrollment decreased from 84% to 75%.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Elk County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data