Total enrollment
4,040
+156 (+4%) vs SY 2020-21
Ellis County
Kansas · Public K-12
Public K-12 enrollment in Ellis County totals about 4,040 students across 11 schools, an average of 367 per school. Hays is the largest district. By level, that breaks down as 6 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools.
4-year change in Ellis County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
11
+1 (+10%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Ellis County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Kansas | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 44.4% | #7 of 57 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 4,040 | #25 of 61 | #1,527 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 11 | #31 of 61 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 15.3:1 | #56 of 61 | #1,852 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 41.4% | #49 of 61 | #2,029 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 30.0% | #39 of 60 | #1,807 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.
Ellis County school rankings
Residents
28,920
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
11
3 districts
Enrollment
4,040
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$63,084
Below Kansas avg
Free/reduced lunch
41.4%
Below Kansas avg
Elementary
6
1,764 students
Middle
1
726 students
High
3
1,288 students
Combined / other
1
262 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Hays
3,434 students · 3 districts in Ellis County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Ellis 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+
38.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
10.6%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.2%
civilian labor
Median age
33
20.1% under 18
Test scores in Ellis County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 10 schools ranked. Kansas state average: 44.5%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Kathryn O'Loughlin McCarthy Elem· 73.6%
- Woodrow Wilson Elem· 69.9%
- Washington Elem· 63.3%
- Lincoln Elem· 63.1%
- Hays Middle School· 51.5%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Victoria Junior-Senior High School· 40.4%
- Ellis Jr/Sr High· 42.1%
- Hays High· 44.9%
- Roosevelt Elem· 50.0%
- Victoria Elementary· 50.5%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hays High | Hays | High | 09-12 | 1,017 | · |
| Hays Middle School | Hays | Middle | 06-08 | 726 | · |
| Roosevelt Elem | Hays | Elementary | KG-05 | 420 | · |
| Kathryn O'Loughlin McCarthy Elem | Hays | Elementary | KG-05 | 371 | · |
| Woodrow Wilson Elem | Hays | Elementary | KG-05 | 364 | · |
| Lincoln Elem | Hays | Elementary | PK-05 | 274 | · |
| Hays Virtual School | Hays | Combined | KG-12 | 262 | · |
| Washington Elem | Ellis | Elementary | PK-06 | 182 | · |
| Ellis Jr/Sr High | Ellis | High | 07-12 | 161 | · |
| Victoria Elementary | Victoria | Elementary | PK-06 | 153 | · |
| Victoria Junior-Senior High School | Victoria | High | 07-12 | 110 | · |
Cities in Ellis County
About Ellis County
Ellis County is a compact county of about 28,920 residents in Kansas. Its public-school system educates approximately 4,040 students across 11 schools.
Zooming out, census numbers show the median household earns about $63,084 a year, 39% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 11% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 5% lower than the Kansas median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Ellis County covers 6 elementary schools (1,764 students), 1 middle school (726), 3 high schools (1,288), and 1 combined or other schools.
Hays dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 3,434 students on its own.
Over the past 4-year window. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment grew 4%: 3,884 students in SY 2020-21 versus 4,040 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Ellis County gained 1 school, going from 10 to 11.
On this page, the community for Ellis County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data