Total enrollment
4,829
-583 (-11%) vs SY 2017-18
McPherson County
Kansas · Public K-12
McPherson County runs 18 public K-12 schools inside Kansas, with the county population around 30,205. The mix is 9 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high.
7-year change in McPherson County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
18
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
82%
was 85%
% Hispanic
11%
was 10%
% Black
1%
was 1%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
18
6 districts
Enrollment
4,829
NCES CCD
Median income
$78,851
Above Kansas avg
Free/reduced lunch
39.8%
Below Kansas avg
Elementary
9
2,107 students
Middle
3
897 students
High
5
1,423 students
Combined / other
1
402 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
McPherson
2,117 students · 6 districts in McPherson County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of McPherson 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+
34.3%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.0%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
1.8%
civilian labor
Median age
39
21.6% under 18
Test scores in McPherson County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 18 schools ranked. Kansas state average: 44.5%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Soderstrom Elem· 67.9%
- Washington Elem· 64.8%
- Eisenhower Elementary· 61.8%
- Smoky Valley High· 61.5%
- Moundridge Elem· 61.3%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Smoky Valley Virtual Charter School· 23.8%
- Canton-Galva Jr./Sr. High· 31.5%
- McPherson High· 32.7%
- Roosevelt Elem· 33.0%
- McPherson Middle School· 39.4%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McPherson High | Mcpherson | High | 09-12 | 658 | · |
| McPherson Middle School | Mcpherson | Middle | 06-08 | 474 | · |
| Smoky Valley Virtual Charter School | Lindsborg | Combined | KG-12 | 402 | · |
| Soderstrom Elem | Lindsborg | Elementary | PK-04 | 318 | · |
| Roosevelt Elem | Mcpherson | Elementary | PK-05 | 269 | · |
| Inman Elem | Inman | Elementary | PK-06 | 260 | · |
| Washington Elem | Mcpherson | Elementary | PK-05 | 256 | · |
| Smoky Valley Middle School | Lindsborg | Middle | 05-08 | 253 | · |
| Smoky Valley High | Lindsborg | High | 09-12 | 243 | · |
| Eisenhower Elementary | Mcpherson | Elementary | PK-05 | 239 | · |
| Lincoln Elem | Mcpherson | Elementary | PK-05 | 221 | · |
| Canton-Galva Elementary | Galva | Elementary | PK-05 | 193 | · |
| Inman Jr/Sr High School | Inman | High | 07-12 | 188 | · |
| Moundridge Elem | Moundridge | Elementary | PK-03 | 182 | · |
| Canton-Galva Jr./Sr. High | Canton | High | 06-12 | 174 | · |
| Moundridge Middle | Moundridge | Middle | 04-08 | 170 | · |
| Windom Elem | Windom | Elementary | PK-06 | 169 | · |
| Moundridge High | Moundridge | High | 09-12 | 160 | · |
Cities in McPherson County
About McPherson County
In Kansas, McPherson County is a thinly populated county of about 30,205 residents. 18 public schools across the county educates about 4,829 students between them.
Stepping back, census numbers show the median household earns about $78,851 a year, roughly 34% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the poverty rate is around 6%. That income level is 19% higher than the Kansas median.
For a sense of the school types, McPherson County covers 9 elementary schools (2,107 students), 3 middle schools (897), 5 high schools (1,423), and 1 combined or other schools.
McPherson is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 2,117 students across McPherson County.
Looking at the last 7 years. Combined enrollment now sits at 4,829 students, shrank 11% from the 5,412 reported in SY 2017-18.
On allk12, the community for McPherson County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Discussions cut across districts, schools, and grade levels.
Frequently asked questions
McPherson County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data