A−

Paola Unified School District 368

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 8 towns

Serves Paola, Richland, Marysville, Middle Creek, Paola, Valley, Miami and Stanton, and parts of Osawatomie, Ten Mile and Peoria.

Students

1,732

Schools

Spent per student

$22,822

KS $14,966

Students per teacher

13:1

Free or reduced lunch

37%

Debt

$6.4M

fiscal 2024

The gist

What stands out about Paola Unified School District 368

School Grade A−: better than 76% of Kansas districts
Math proficiency 10 pts above the state
Spends 52% more per student than the KS average
13 students per teacher
Debt of $6.4M, about $3,669 per student

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Junction.

PK–84 schoolsSanta Fe Trail Unified School District 434

83 middle schoolsSanta Fe Trail Unified School District 434

9–123 high schoolsSanta Fe Trail Unified School District 434

Test scores vs. KS

2020–21

Math proficiency38%

State average 27.9%

Reading / language arts37%

State average 35.5%

Graduation rate (4-year)92%

State average 88%

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024

$22,822 per student · 52% above KS

Spending

Classroom instruction 75%Support & administration 23%Other 3%

Paid for by

Local (mostly property tax) 51%State 37%Federal 12%

U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances.

Enrollment over time

1,725’20

1,743’21

1,776’22

1,758’23

1,732’24

About steady.

Students

White 87%Hispanic 7%Two or more races 4%Black 1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%Asian <1%Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander <1%

Schools in the district

4 public schools.

Cottonwood Elem

Elementary · Grades PK–2 · Paola

379 students14:1

Sunflower Elem

Elementary · Grades 3–5 · Paola

373 students13:1

Paola Middle

Middle · Grades 6–8 · Paola

413 students13:1

Paola High

High · Grades 9–12 · Paola

C−

567 students14:1

Towns served

Paola 5,770Richland 2,357Marysville 2,302Middle Creek 1,833Paola 1,021Valley 969Miami 878Stanton 809

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Louisburg Unified School District 416Louisburg, Sugar Creek, Wea

$11,569per student

Prairie View Unified School District 362Lincoln, Linn Valley, Osage

$18,093per student

Osawatomie Unified School District 367Osawatomie

$15,919per student

Wellsville Unified School District 289Franklin, Wellsville

$13,501per 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.