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 Timken.
PK–5Otis-Bison ElementaryOtis-Bison Unified School District 403
6–12Otis-Bison Junior/Senior High SchoolOtis-Bison Unified School District 403
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.