Cheney

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.

Cheney, Kansas - 3 schools

An equity score of 36/100 ranks Cheney #193 of 250 districts in Kansas (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $13,252 per pupil, Cheney ranks #214 of 285 Kansas districts by per-pupil spending (Kansas districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

840
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$13,252
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Cheney operates 3 public schools serving 840 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Kansas. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined, 1 high, 1 middle 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 Sedgwick County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,252 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 285 Kansas districts by per-pupil spending. See how Kansas compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 16.0% local, 79.1% state, and 5.0% 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 36/100, ranked #193 of 250 in Kansas against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 274.3:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 23.6% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 90.5% White, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 0.9% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Cheney High, with a diversity index of 18.9/100.

Its largest campus is Cheney Elem, enrolling 395 students (48% of the district's total enrollment).

Cheney Elem accounts for 47.0% of all Cheney student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Cheney a distant remainder — means Cheney-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

Cheney school enrollment varies 2.0× across entities

Cheney school enrollment ranges from 193 students (lowest) to 395 students (highest), a spread of 202 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

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

Cheney student-counselor ratio is 274:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

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 Variation between sub-units within Cheney is typically wider than the Cheney-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Cheney chronic absenteeism rate is 23.6% — 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 Cheney is typically wider than the Cheney-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

5.0%
Federal
79.1%
State
16.0%
Local

Funding Equity

36
Equity Score
193 / 250
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 3 schools in Cheney.

White 90.5%
Hispanic or Latino 5.9%
African American 0.9%
Multiracial 2.0%
Other 0.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 17.6/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Cheney's schools, below the Kansas average of 39.4.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Cheney High 18.9
  2. 2 Cheney Middle School 6-8 17.1
  3. 3 Cheney Elem 16.8

Programs & Resources

274.3:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
23.6%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Cheney

School Enrollment
Cheney Elem
395
Cheney High
235
Cheney Middle School 6-8
193

How Cheney Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Kansas districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Beloit Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Burlington Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Wellsville Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Halstead Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Jefferson West Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Cheney'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 Cheney →
Olathe
29,034 students · 51 schools · $14,650/pupil
Compare vs Cheney →
Shawnee Mission Pub Sch
26,618 students · 45 schools · $12,112/pupil
Compare vs Cheney →
Blue Valley
22,384 students · 36 schools · $12,217/pupil
Compare vs Cheney →
Kansas City
22,015 students · 43 schools · $16,610/pupil
Compare vs Cheney →

Compare Cheney

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 Cheney?

Cheney has 3 schools, including 1 combined, 1 high, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 840 students.

How much does Cheney spend per student?

Cheney spends $13,252 per student. The district has an equity score of 36/100, ranking #193 in Kansas.

What is the demographic composition of Cheney?

Cheney students are 90.5% White, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 0.9% African American, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Cheney?

Cheney has an equity score of 36/100, ranking #193 out of 250 districts in Kansas.