Total enrollment
26,294
-2,251 (-8%) vs SY 2017-18
Shawnee County
Kansas · Public K-12
Shawnee County sits inside Kansas and runs 54 public K-12 schools, enrolling about 26,294 students. Topeka Public Schools alone accounts for 11,695 of those students. The level mix is 31 elementary, 10 middle, and 12 high schools.
7-year change in Shawnee County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
52
-2 (-4%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
55%
was 58%
% Hispanic
23%
was 20%
% Black
9%
was 11%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
178,025
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
54
7 districts
Enrollment
26,294
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$67,104
Above Kansas avg
Free/reduced lunch
54.1%
Above Kansas avg
Elementary
31
12,443 students
Middle
10
4,952 students
High
12
8,515 students
Combined / other
1
384 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Topeka Public Schools
11,695 students · 7 districts in Shawnee County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Shawnee 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+
32.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
8.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.1%
civilian labor
Median age
39
23.1% under 18
Test scores in Shawnee County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 51 schools ranked. Kansas state average: 44.5%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Silver Lake Elem· 66.8%
- Jay Shideler Elementary· 66.1%
- North Fairview· 65.3%
- Elmont Elem· 62.6%
- Silver Lake Jr-Sr High· 61.1%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Topeka Virtual School· 10.3%
- Eisenhower Middle School· 10.8%
- Hope Street Charter Academy· 16.7%
- Highland Park High· 17.1%
- Ross Elementary· 20.6%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washburn Rural High | Topeka | High | 09-12 | 1,878 | · |
| Topeka High | Topeka | High | 09-12 | 1,578 | · |
| Shawnee Heights High | Tecumseh | High | 09-12 | 1,218 | · |
| Seaman High | Topeka | High | 09-12 | 1,190 | · |
| Topeka West High | Topeka | High | 09-12 | 971 | · |
| Washburn Rural Middle School | Topeka | Middle | 07-08 | 966 | · |
| Highland Park High | Topeka | High | 09-12 | 835 | · |
| Jardine Elementary | Topeka | Elementary | PK-05 | 729 | · |
| Farley Elementary | Topeka | Elementary | PK-06 | 596 | · |
| Ross Elementary | Topeka | Elementary | PK-05 | 563 | · |
| Berryton Elem | Berryton | Elementary | PK-06 | 560 | · |
| Seaman Middle School | Topeka | Middle | 07-08 | 560 | · |
| Logan Elementary | Topeka | Elementary | PK-06 | 558 | · |
| Shawnee Heights Middle | Tecumseh | Middle | 07-08 | 540 | · |
| Jardine Middle School | Topeka | Middle | 06-08 | 508 | · |
| Jay Shideler Elementary | Topeka | Elementary | KG-06 | 492 | · |
| Marjorie French Middle School | Topeka | Middle | 06-08 | 480 | · |
| Wanamaker Elem | Topeka | Elementary | PK-06 | 475 | · |
| Tecumseh South Elem | Tecumseh | Elementary | PK-06 | 464 | · |
| Williams Science and Fine Arts Magnet School | Topeka | Elementary | PK-05 | 447 | · |
| Eisenhower Middle School | Topeka | Middle | 06-08 | 440 | · |
| Indian Hills Elementary | Topeka | Elementary | KG-06 | 440 | · |
| Tecumseh North Elem | Tecumseh | Elementary | PK-06 | 435 | · |
| Landon Middle School | Topeka | Middle | 06-08 | 430 | · |
| Shawnee Heights Elem | Topeka | Elementary | PK-06 | 429 | · |
| McEachron Elem | Topeka | Elementary | PK-05 | 422 | · |
| Whitson Elem | Topeka | Elementary | PK-05 | 416 | · |
| State Street Elem | Topeka | Elementary | PK-05 | 411 | · |
| Northern Hills Elementary | Topeka | Elementary | KG-06 | 408 | · |
| Pauline Central Primary | Topeka | Elementary | PK-03 | 406 | · |
| Scott Dual Language Magnet | Topeka | Elementary | PK-05 | 402 | · |
| McCarter Elem | Topeka | Elementary | PK-05 | 401 | · |
| West Indianola Elem | Topeka | Elementary | KG-06 | 395 | · |
| Chase Middle School | Topeka | Middle | 06-08 | 390 | · |
| Topeka Virtual School | Topeka | Combined | 01-12 | 384 | · |
| Robinson Middle School | Topeka | Middle | 06-08 | 361 | · |
| Silver Lake Elem | Silver Lake | Elementary | PK-06 | 355 | · |
| Silver Lake Jr-Sr High | Silver Lake | High | 07-12 | 355 | · |
| Randolph Elem | Topeka | Elementary | PK-05 | 346 | · |
| Auburn Elementary | Auburn | Elementary | PK-06 | 336 | · |
| Rossville Elem | Rossville | Elementary | PK-06 | 321 | · |
| Highland Park Central | Topeka | Elementary | KG-05 | 318 | · |
| Elmont Elem | Topeka | Elementary | KG-06 | 303 | · |
| McClure Elem | Topeka | Elementary | KG-05 | 301 | · |
| Lowman Hill Elem | Topeka | Elementary | PK-05 | 294 | · |
| North Fairview | Topeka | Elementary | KG-06 | 278 | · |
| Pauline South Intermediate | Wakarusa | Middle | 04-06 | 277 | · |
| Rossville Jr.-Sr. High School | Rossville | High | 07-12 | 253 | · |
| Quincy Elem | Topeka | Elementary | KG-05 | 142 | · |
| Lawrence Gardner High School | Topeka | High | 07-12 | 111 | · |
| Hope Street Charter Academy | Topeka | High | 10-12 | 103 | · |
| Avondale Academy | Topeka | High | 06-12 | 23 | · |
| Capital City | Topeka | High | 06-12 | 0 | · |
| Meadows Elementary | Topeka | Elementary | PK-05 | · | · |
Cities in Shawnee County
About Shawnee County
Shawnee County is a medium-population county of about 178,025 residents in Kansas. Its public-school system instructs approximately 26,294 students across 54 schools.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show the median household earns about $67,104 a year, roughly 32% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and the federal-poverty share is near 9%.
For a sense of the school types, Shawnee County is made up of 31 elementary schools (12,443 students), 10 middle schools (4,952), 12 high schools (8,515), and 1 combined or other schools.
Topeka Public Schools is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 11,695 students across Shawnee County.
Over the past 7-year window. Total public-school enrollment in Shawnee County has declined 8% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 28,545 students to 26,294. Over that span, Shawnee County closed 2 schools, going from 54 to 52. Demographically, the White share of enrollment declined from 58% to 55%.
On allk12, the community for Shawnee County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Posts come from current and former families, staff, and alumni.
Frequently asked questions
Shawnee County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data