Total enrollment
4,040
+163 (+4%) vs SY 2017-18
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 campus. Hays is the largest district. By level, that breaks down as 6 elementary, 1 middle, and 3 high schools.
7-year change in Ellis County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
11
+1 (+10%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
83%
was 92%
% Hispanic
11%
was 4%
% Black
1%
was 0%
% Asian
1%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
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 7-year window. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment grew 4%: 3,877 students in SY 2017-18 versus 4,040 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Ellis County gained 1 school, going from 10 to 11. On the demographic side, White enrollment moved from 92% to 83% over the same window.
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
Ellis County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data