B+

Smith Center Unified School District 237

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 23 towns

Serves Center Township, Smith Center, Oak Township, Lebanon, Harvey Township, Lane Township, Houston Township, Gaylord, Harlan Township, Logan Township, Banner Township, Beaver Township, Webster Township, Crystal Plains Township, Cora Township, White Rock Township, Garfield Township, Pleasant Township, Blaine Township, Cedar, Martin Township, Pawnee Township and Washington Township, and parts of Lincoln Township, Dor Township and Valley Township.

Students

436

Schools

Spent per student

$15,327

KS $14,966

Students per teacher

11:1

Free or reduced lunch

52%

The gist

What stands out about Smith Center Unified School District 237

School Grade B+: better than 69% of Kansas districts
Math proficiency 6 pts below the state
Reading / language arts 14 pts above the state
Graduation rate (4-year) 7 pts above the state
11 students per teacher

Where would my kid go?

The school path for Randolph.

PK–5McCormick ElementaryBlue Valley Unified School District 384

6–8Randolph MiddleBlue Valley Unified School District 384

9–12Blue Valley HighBlue Valley Unified School District 384

Test scores vs. KS

2020–21

Math proficiency22%

State average 27.9%

Reading / language arts49%

State average 35.5%

Graduation rate (4-year)95%

State average 88% · small group: the state reports 90–100%

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024

$15,327 per student · 2% above KS

Spending

Classroom instruction 62%Support & administration 33%Other 6%

Paid for by

Local (mostly property tax) 30%State 62%Federal 9%

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

Enrollment over time

421’20

468’21

453’22

455’23

436’24

Up 3.6% since 2020.

Students

White 90%Two or more races 6%Black 2%Hispanic 2%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%Asian <1%

Schools in the district

2 public schools.

Smith Center Elem

Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Smith Center

A−

253 students12:1

Smith Center Jr Sr High

High · Grades 7–12 · Smith Center

183 students10:1

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Thunder Ridge Unified School District 110Cedar Township, German Township, Kirwin Township

$23,196per student

Rock Hills Unified School District 107Erving Township, Esbon Township, Highland Township

$17,286per student

Franklin Public SchoolsWashington Township

$17,624per student

Osborne County Unified School District 392Bethany Township, Lawrence Township

$15,953per 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.