Total enrollment
1,702
+732 (+75%) vs SY 2017-18
Ellsworth County
Kansas · Public K-12
Of the 7 public K-12 schools in Ellsworth County, the largest district by enrollment is Central Plains (1,073 students). Total county enrollment runs around 1,702. By grade band, the county runs 3 elementary, 1 middle, and 2 high schools.
7-year change in Ellsworth County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
6
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% Hispanic
13%
was 5%
% Black
10%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
7
2 districts
Enrollment
1,702
NCES CCD
Median income
$65,560
Below Kansas avg
Free/reduced lunch
39.3%
Below Kansas avg
Elementary
3
491 students
Middle
1
141 students
High
2
1,070 students
Combined / other
1
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Central Plains
1,073 students · 2 districts in Ellsworth County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Ellsworth 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+
22.7%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
7.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.6%
civilian labor
Median age
44
17.6% under 18
Test scores in Ellsworth County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 5 schools ranked. Kansas state average: 44.5%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Central Plains Elementary School - Holyrood· 66.4%
- Ellsworth Elem· 63.3%
- Wilson Elementary School· 52.4%
- Kanopolis Middle· 45.3%
- Ellsworth High· 34.9%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Central Plains Adult Diploma Program | Claflin | High | 09-12 | 770 | · |
| Ellsworth High | Ellsworth | High | 07-12 | 300 | · |
| Central Plains Elementary School - Holyrood | Holyrood | Elementary | PK-06 | 229 | · |
| Ellsworth Elem | Ellsworth | Elementary | PK-03 | 188 | · |
| Kanopolis Middle | Kanopolis | Middle | 04-06 | 141 | · |
| Wilson Elementary School | Wilson | Elementary | PK-06 | 74 | · |
| Wilson Junior/Senior High School | Wilson | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Ellsworth County
About Ellsworth County
Ellsworth County is a sparse county of about 6,360 residents in Kansas. Its public-school system enrolls approximately 1,702 students across 7 schools.
Zooming out, census numbers show the median household earns about $65,560 a year, about 23% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 8% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Ellsworth County spans 3 elementary schools (491 students), 1 middle school (141), 2 high schools (1,070), and 1 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Ellsworth County is Central Plains, which alone enrolls about 1,073 students.
Trend over the past 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment rose 75%: 970 students in SY 2017-18 versus 1,702 in SY 2024-25. On the demographic side, Black enrollment moved from 1% to 10% over the same window.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Ellsworth 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