D
Graham County Unified School District 281
Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 16 towns
Serves Hill City, Hill City, Wildhorse, Bogue, Solomon, Morland, Graham, Bryant, Millbrook, Morlan, Allodium, Pioneer, Indiana, Gettysburg, Happy and Nicodemus.
Students
383
Schools
2
Spent per student
$17,246
KS $14,966
Students per teacher
10:1
Free or reduced lunch
57%
Debt
$6.2M
fiscal 2024
What stands out about Graham County Unified School District 281
- School Grade D: better than 12% of Kansas districts
- Math proficiency 6 pts below the state
- Reading / language arts 14 pts below the state
- Spends 15% more per student than the KS average
- 10 students per teacher
- Enrollment down 5.2% since 2020
- Debt of $6.2M, about $16,279 per student
Where would my kid go?
The school path for Bryant.
PK–6Hill City ElemThis district
7–12Hill City Junior-Senior HighThis district
Test scores vs. KS
2020–21Math proficiency22%
State average 27.9%
Reading / language arts22%
State average 35.5%
Graduation rate (4-year)90%
State average 88% · small group: the state reports 80–100%
Where the money goes
fiscal 2024$17,246 per student · 15% above KS
Spending
Classroom instruction 62%Support & administration 33%Other 5%
Paid for by
Local (mostly property tax) 33%State 58%Federal 9%
U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.
Enrollment over time
404’20
402’21
419’22
390’23
383’24
Down 5.2% since 2020.
Students
White 87%Two or more races 7%Hispanic 6%Black <1%
Schools in the district
2 public schools.
Towns served
Nearby districts
Compare spending and schools next door.
Logan Unified School District 326Solomon-District 3, Towanda, Township 5
$20,597per student
Norton Community Schools Unified School District 211Highland-District 2, Solomon-District 3
$13,574per student
Palco Unified School District 269Township 7, Township 8, Township 9
$23,424per student
Stockton Unified School District 271Township 5
$17,532per 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.