Central

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Burden, Kansas - 2 schools

An equity score of 67/100 ranks Central #61 of 250 districts in Kansas (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $15,948 per pupil, Central ranks #90 of 285 Kansas districts by per-pupil spending (Kansas districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

293
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$15,948
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Central operates 2 public schools serving 293 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Kansas. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 combined schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Cowley County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $15,948 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 285 Kansas districts by per-pupil spending. See how Kansas compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 18.3% local, 74.9% state, and 6.8% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 67/100, ranked #61 of 250 in Kansas against a state average of 50, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 2 schools offering Advanced Placement (1 AP courses district-wide), a 139:1 student-counselor ratio, that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 19.5% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 80.5% White, 11.4% Hispanic or Latino, 0.3% African American across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Central Elem, enrolling 162 students (54% of the district's total enrollment).

Central Elem accounts for 53.8% of all Central student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Central a distant remainder — means Central-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Central student-counselor ratio is 139:1 — well below typical (typically associated with unusually small scale or exceptionally high per-unit investment)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Values this far below typical often correlate with unusually small scale or population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se — worth checking whether the underlying denominator is itself an outlier.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Central chronic absenteeism rate is 19.5% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Central is typically wider than the Central-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

6.8%
Federal
74.9%
State
18.3%
Local

Funding Equity

67
Equity Score
61 / 250
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 2 schools in Central.

White 80.5%
Hispanic or Latino 11.4%
Multiracial 5.5%
Other 1.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 2
Schools with AP
1 AP courses total
139:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
19.5%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Central

School Enrollment
Central Elem
162
Central Jr-Sr High
139

How Central Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Kansas districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Lacrosse Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Goessel Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Ness City Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Kinsley-Offerle Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Stockton Similar size Similar spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Central's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Kansas

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Wichita
46,796 students · 88 schools · $15,361/pupil
Compare vs Central →
Olathe
29,034 students · 51 schools · $14,650/pupil
Compare vs Central →
Shawnee Mission Pub Sch
26,618 students · 45 schools · $12,112/pupil
Compare vs Central →
Blue Valley
22,384 students · 36 schools · $12,217/pupil
Compare vs Central →
Kansas City
22,015 students · 43 schools · $16,610/pupil
Compare vs Central →

Compare Central

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Wichita →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Central?

Central has 2 schools, including 2 combined. Total enrollment is 293 students.

How much does Central spend per student?

Central spends $15,948 per student. The district has an equity score of 67/100, ranking #61 in Kansas.

What is the demographic composition of Central?

Central students are 80.5% White, 11.4% Hispanic or Latino, 0.3% African American, 0.3% Asian, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Central?

Central has an equity score of 67/100, ranking #61 out of 250 districts in Kansas.