demographics
White Students Hit 60% in Kansas Schools
Kansas public schools crossed a demographic threshold in 2025-26, with white students at exactly 60% of enrollment, down from 75.8% in 2005. Hispanic enrollment has doubled.
Kansas
Education News & Data
Local education reporting from every corner of Kansas, grounded in Kansas Department of Education data.
Shawn Poyser Moves From Interim to Permanent Superintendent in Tonganoxie
As Dr. Shawn Poyser begins the permanent role, he points to relationships, budget discipline, and the district's community reputation.
Paige Prouty Centers Relationships as She Steps Up at West Franklin
West Franklin's incoming MS/HS principal says literacy work, experienced staff, community traditions, and expanded learning pathways will shape the next chapter.
Cody Rierson Wants McPherson Students to See Their Superintendent in the Building
McPherson's incoming superintendent says visibility, trust, and shared leadership will matter as the district starts a new chapter during bond construction.
Kansas Has Lost 22 School Districts in 21 Years
Over half of Kansas school districts now enroll fewer than 500 students. Thirty-two have vanished since 2005, with four disappearing this year alone.
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enrollment
Kansas Lost 16,000 Students to COVID. Then It Lost 7,000 More.
Five years after COVID emptied Kansas classrooms, the state hasn't recovered a single student. Nearly two-thirds of districts are now below their pandemic-era trough.
demographics
Where 86% of Students Are Hispanic: Inside Kansas's Meatpacking Corridor
Three southwest Kansas districts built around beef plants have become among the most Hispanic school systems in the nation, reshaping how the state funds and staffs its schools.
special-populations
One in Seven Kansas Students Now Receives Special Education
Kansas special education enrollment has grown 39% since 2005, crossing the 1-in-7 threshold even as total enrollment stagnates. The post-COVID acceleration is reshaping district budgets statewide.
enrollment
Kansas Lost 12,539 Students in Three Years
After a brief post-COVID recovery, Kansas enrollment has dropped for three straight years, with 181 districts losing students in 2026 and no sign of stabilization.
district-spotlight
Goddard's 18-Year Growth Streak Was the Longest in Kansas
Goddard USD 265 grew every year from 2006 to 2023, adding 2,100 students. Then the streak broke, and voters rejected a $196 million bond.
demographics
In Turner-KC, a 43-Point Demographic Reversal
No Kansas district has changed more. Turner-Kansas City went from 67% white to 23% in 21 years, the largest racial composition shift in the state.
enrollment
Kansas Publishes 2025-26 Enrollment Data
KSDE releases 2025-26 enrollment data showing 447,803 students statewide — a three-year decline of 12,539 and the lowest count since 2011.