Total enrollment
5,012
-321 (-6%) vs SY 2020-21
Harvey County
Kansas · Public K-12
Harvey County's public-school directory totals 18 schools, with student enrollment near 5,012. Newton is the largest district. Median household income runs around $74,368. The level mix is 7 elementary, 4 middle, and 6 high schools.
4-year change in Harvey County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
17
-1 (-6%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Harvey County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Kansas | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 32.7% | #42 of 57 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 5,012 | #19 of 61 | #1,334 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 17 | #18 of 61 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 12.6:1 | #35 of 61 | #752 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 51.5% | #33 of 61 | #1,542 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 47.1% | #18 of 60 | #1,218 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.
Harvey County school rankings
Residents
33,756
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
18
5 districts
Enrollment
5,012
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$74,368
Above Kansas avg
Free/reduced lunch
51.5%
Below Kansas avg
Elementary
7
1,748 students
Middle
4
1,481 students
High
6
1,783 students
Combined / other
1
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Newton
2,943 students · 5 districts in Harvey County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Harvey 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+
30.1%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
4.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.8%
civilian labor
Median age
41
23.5% under 18
Test scores in Harvey County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 15 schools ranked. Kansas state average: 44.5%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Hesston Elem· 67.4%
- Hesston Middle· 63.2%
- R L Wright Elem· 59.5%
- Hesston High· 51.2%
- Halstead Middle School· 46.4%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Newton Sr High· 26.8%
- Sunset Elementary· 28.8%
- Chisholm Middle School· 29.2%
- Santa Fe 5/6 Center· 29.5%
- Burrton Elem· 31.2%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newton Sr High | Newton | High | 09-12 | 932 | · |
| Santa Fe 5/6 Center | Newton | Middle | 05-06 | 440 | · |
| Chisholm Middle School | Newton | Middle | 07-08 | 422 | · |
| Halstead Middle School | Halstead | Middle | 04-08 | 346 | · |
| Northridge Elementary | Newton | Elementary | PK-04 | 345 | · |
| South Breeze Elementary | Newton | Elementary | PK-04 | 316 | · |
| Hesston Elem | Hesston | Elementary | PK-04 | 306 | · |
| R L Wright Elem | Sedgwick | Elementary | PK-06 | 283 | · |
| Hesston High | Hesston | High | 09-12 | 274 | · |
| Hesston Middle | Hesston | Middle | 05-08 | 273 | · |
| Halstead High | Halstead | High | 09-12 | 240 | · |
| Sedgwick High | Sedgwick | High | 07-12 | 238 | · |
| Slate Creek Elementary | Newton | Elementary | KG-04 | 236 | · |
| Sunset Elementary | Newton | Elementary | KG-04 | 199 | · |
| Burrton Elem | Burrton | Elementary | PK-06 | 63 | · |
| Opportunity Academy | Newton | High | 06-12 | 53 | · |
| Burrton MS/HS | Burrton | High | 07-12 | 46 | · |
| Walton Rural Life Center | Walton | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Harvey County
About Harvey County
Harvey County is a compact Kansas county of about 33,756 residents, home to 18 public schools and roughly 5,012 students.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $74,368, roughly 30% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 5%. That income level is 12% higher than the Kansas median.
Looking at the level breakdown, Harvey County is built around 7 elementary schools (1,748 students), 4 middle schools (1,481), 6 high schools (1,783), and 1 combined or other schools.
Newton is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 2,943 students across Harvey County.
Five-year track record. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment shrank 6%: 5,333 students in SY 2020-21 versus 5,012 in SY 2024-25. Over that span, Harvey County lost 1 school, going from 18 to 17.
On this page, the community for Harvey County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data