Nickerson Unified School District 309

Public school districtGrades PK–12Regional · 12 towns

Serves Reno, South Hutchinson, Grant, Nickerson, Salt Creek, The Highlands, East Washington, Medford, Enterprise, West Washington, Willowbrook and Walnut, and parts of Hutchinson, Yoder and Huntsville.

Students

1,011

Schools

Spent per student

$16,145

KS $14,966

Students per teacher

10:1

Free or reduced lunch

56%

Debt

$7.6M

fiscal 2024

The gist

What stands out about Nickerson Unified School District 309

School Grade C: better than 32% of Kansas districts
Reading / language arts 8 pts below the state
Spends 8% more per student than the KS average
10 students per teacher
Enrollment down 13.1% since 2020
Debt of $7.6M, about $7,517 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

2020–21

Math proficiency26%

State average 27.9%

Reading / language arts28%

State average 35.5%

Graduation rate (4-year)87%

State average 88%

Where the money goes

fiscal 2024

$16,145 per student · 8% above KS

Spending

Classroom instruction 61%Support & administration 34%Other 5%

Paid for by

Local (mostly property tax) 21%State 67%Federal 12%

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

Enrollment over time

1,164’20

1,118’21

1,083’22

1,031’23

1,011’24

Down 13.1% since 2020.

Students

White 83%Hispanic 11%Two or more races 4%Black <1%American Indian/Alaska Native <1%Asian <1%

Schools in the district

5 public schools.

South Hutchinson Elem

Elementary · Grades PK–6 · South Hutchinson

B−

326 students11:1

Nickerson Elem

Elementary · Grades PK–6 · Nickerson

A−

183 students10:1

Reno Valley Middle School

Middle · Grades 7–8 · Hutchinson

C−

137 students8:1

Nickerson High

High · Grades 9–12 · Nickerson

255 students9:1

Central State Academy

Other · Grades K–12 · Hutchinson

110 students

Towns served

Reno 4,337South Hutchinson 2,751Grant 1,605Nickerson 1,001Salt Creek 604The Highlands 479East Washington 176Medford 170Enterprise 132West Washington 81 Willowbrook 81 Walnut 13

Nearby districts

Compare spending and schools next door.

Haven Public Schools Unified School District 312Center, Clay, Haven

$15,028per student

Buhler Unified School District 313Clay, Medora, Valley

$11,265per student

Fairfield Unified School District 310Hayes, Plevna, Westminster

$20,077per student

Sterling Unified School District 376Sterling, Valley

$15,611per 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.