Total enrollment
8,784
-63 (-1%) vs SY 2020-21
Reno County
Kansas · Public K-12
Reno County's public schools total 33 across the county, with enrollment of about 8,909 and Hutchinson Public Schools the largest single district. The level mix is 15 elementary, 6 middle, and 6 high schools.
4-year change in Reno County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
30
+1 (+3%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Reno County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In Kansas | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 31.7% | #43 of 57 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 8,909 | #8 of 61 | #882 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 32 | #6 of 61 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 12.5:1 | #34 of 61 | #723 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 55.1% | #27 of 61 | #1,349 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 41.5% | #27 of 60 | #1,432 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.
Reno County school rankings
Residents
61,553
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
33
6 districts
Enrollment
8,909
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$60,645
Below Kansas avg
Free/reduced lunch
55.1%
Above Kansas avg
Elementary
15
4,166 students
Middle
6
1,403 students
High
6
2,459 students
Combined / other
6
881 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Hutchinson Public Schools
3,957 students · 6 districts in Reno County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Reno 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+
20.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.9%
civilian labor
Median age
41
22.0% under 18
Test scores in Reno County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 27 schools ranked. Kansas state average: 44.5%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Buhler Grade School· 64.4%
- Nickerson Elem· 55.4%
- Plum Creek Elementary· 54.6%
- Pretty Prairie Elem· 53.1%
- Union Valley Elem· 47.6%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Central State Academy· 18.4%
- Hutchinson Virtual School· 20.5%
- Hutchinson Middle School 8· 22.3%
- McCandless Elementary· 25.0%
- Hutchinson Middle School 7· 27.6%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hutchinson High School | Hutchinson | High | 09-12 | 1,214 | · |
| Buhler High | Buhler | High | 09-12 | 674 | · |
| Prairie Hills Middle | Hutchinson | Middle | 06-08 | 532 | · |
| Plum Creek Elementary | Hutchinson | Elementary | PK-05 | 448 | · |
| Union Valley Elem | Hutchinson | Elementary | PK-05 | 435 | · |
| Morgan Elementary | Hutchinson | Elementary | PK-06 | 388 | · |
| Haven Elem | Haven | Elementary | PK-06 | 348 | · |
| McCandless Elementary | Hutchinson | Elementary | PK-06 | 346 | · |
| South Hutchinson Elem | South Hutchinson | Elementary | PK-06 | 326 | · |
| Wiley Elementary | Hutchinson | Elementary | PK-06 | 322 | · |
| Graber Elementary | Hutchinson | Elementary | PK-06 | 311 | · |
| Hutchinson Virtual School | Hutchinson | Combined | 01-12 | 300 | · |
| Hutchinson Middle School 7 | Hutchinson | Middle | 07-08 | 284 | · |
| Faris Elementary | Hutchinson | Elementary | PK-08 | 279 | · |
| Fairfield Schools | Langdon | Combined | PK-12 | 268 | · |
| Hutchinson Middle School 8 | Hutchinson | Middle | 07-08 | 264 | · |
| Nickerson High | Nickerson | High | 09-12 | 255 | · |
| Hutchinson Magnet School at Allen | Hutchinson | Elementary | KG-06 | 249 | · |
| Buhler Grade School | Buhler | Elementary | PK-05 | 241 | · |
| Haven High | Haven | High | 09-12 | 223 | · |
| Nickerson Elem | Nickerson | Elementary | PK-06 | 183 | · |
| Ad Astra Virtual Academy | Hutchinson | Combined | KG-12 | 171 | · |
| Reno Valley Middle School | Hutchinson | Middle | 07-08 | 137 | · |
| Pretty Prairie Elem | Pretty Prairie | Elementary | PK-05 | 133 | · |
| Haven Middle School | Haven | Middle | 07-08 | 118 | · |
| Central State Academy | Hutchinson | Combined | KG-12 | 110 | · |
| Yoder Charter Elem School | Yoder | Elementary | PK-08 | 93 | · |
| Pretty Prairie High | Pretty Prairie | High | 09-12 | 82 | · |
| Pretty Prairie Middle | Pretty Prairie | Middle | 06-08 | 68 | · |
| Little Learners at Yoder | Yoder | Elementary | PK-PK | 64 | · |
| Haven Virtual Academy | Haven | Combined | KG-12 | 32 | · |
| Ad Astra Alternative Academy | Hutchinson | High | 07-12 | 11 | · |
| Lincoln Elementary School | Hutchinson | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Reno County
About Reno County
Reno County is a moderately sized Kansas county of about 61,553 residents, home to 33 public schools and roughly 8,909 students.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $60,645, about 20% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and roughly 9% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 8% meaningfully below the Kansas median.
On the level-by-level breakdown, Reno County consists of 15 elementary schools (4,166 students), 6 middle schools (1,403), 6 high schools (2,459), and 6 combined or other schools.
Hutchinson Public Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 3,957 students on its own.
Trend over the past 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Reno County has held roughly steady since SY 2020-21, moving from about 8,847 students to 8,784. Reno County now counts 30 public schools, up from 29 in SY 2020-21.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Reno County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data