C−

Russell County Unified School District 407

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 12 towns

Serves Russell, Big Creek, Gorham, Center, Paradise, Grant, Bunker Hill, Lincoln, Waldo, Winterset, Russell and Fairfield, and parts of Herzog.

Students

762

Schools

Spent per student

$16,753

KS $14,966

Students per teacher

11:1

Free or reduced lunch

51%

The gist

What stands out about Russell County Unified School District 407

School Grade C−: better than 18% of Kansas districts
Math proficiency 6 pts below the state
Reading / language arts 10 pts below the state
Spends 12% more per student than the KS average
11 students per teacher
Enrollment up 21.3% since 2020

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Oak.

PK–6Smith Center ElemSmith Center Unified School District 237

7–12Smith Center Jr Sr HighSmith Center Unified School District 237

Test scores vs. KS

2020–21

Math proficiency22%

State average 27.9%

Reading / language arts26%

State average 35.5%

Graduation rate (4-year)84%

State average 88%

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024

$16,753 per student · 12% above KS

Spending

Classroom instruction 55%Support & administration 39%Other 6%

Paid for by

Local (mostly property tax) 24%State 66%Federal 10%

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

Enrollment over time

628’20

622’21

592’22

599’23

762’24

Up 21.3% since 2020.

Students

White 87%Two or more races 6%Hispanic 6%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%Black <1%Asian <1%

Schools in the district

3 public schools.

Bickerdyke Elem

Elementary · Grades 2–6 · Russell

261 students12:1

Simpson Elem

Elementary · Grades PK–1 · Russell

173 students14:1

Russell Junior-Senior High

High · Grades 7–12 · Russell

328 students10:1

Towns served

Russell 4,217Big Creek 664Gorham 416Center 308Paradise 230Grant 190Bunker Hill 108Lincoln 65 Waldo 62 Winterset 48 Russell 23 Fairfield 14

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Hays Unified School District 489Big Creek, Buckeye, Freedom

$15,313per student

Central Plains Unified School District 112Beaver, Dorrance, Plymouth

$8,148per student

Paradise Unified School District 399Liberty, Natoma, Township 12

$26,351per student

Sylvan Grove Unified School District 299Luray

$15,514per 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.