A−
Hays Unified School District 489
Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 5 towns
Serves Hays, Big Creek, Buckeye, Freedom and Schoenchen, and parts of Hampton-Fairview and Big Timber.
Students
3,434
Schools
7
Spent per student
$15,313
KS $14,966
Students per teacher
17:1
Free or reduced lunch
42%
Debt
$143.5M
fiscal 2024
What stands out about Hays Unified School District 489
- School Grade A−: better than 81% of Kansas districts
- Math proficiency 8 pts above the state
- Reading / language arts 12 pts above the state
- 17 students per teacher
- Enrollment up 8.1% since 2020
- Debt of $143.5M, about $41,788 per student
Where would my kid go?
The school path for Beaver.
PK–6Smith Center ElemSmith Center Unified School District 237
7–12Smith Center Jr Sr HighSmith Center Unified School District 237
Test scores vs. KS
2020–21Math proficiency36%
State average 27.9%
Reading / language arts47%
State average 35.5%
Graduation rate (4-year)91%
State average 88%
Where the money goes
fiscal 2024$15,313 per student · 2% above KS
Spending
Classroom instruction 65%Support & administration 30%Other 5%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 43%State 46%Federal 11%
U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.
Enrollment over time
3,178’20
3,176’21
3,380’22
3,411’23
3,434’24
Up 8.1% since 2020.
Students
White 81%Hispanic 12%Two or more races 5%Black 2%Asian <1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%
Schools in the district
7 public schools.
Towns served
Nearby districts
Compare spending and schools next door.
LaCrosse Unified School District 395Alexander-Belle Prairie, La Crosse-Brookdale, Waring
$17,555per student
Paradise Unified School District 399Herzog, Township 12
$26,351per student
Otis-Bison Unified School District 403Illinois, Pleasantdale
$18,419per student
Victoria Unified School District 432Herzog
$15,337per student
District facts: U.S. Department of Education (NCES directory and district boundaries) and the U.S. Census Bureau school finance survey. Test scores and graduation: EDFacts via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Neighbor ratings are opinions.