Colby Public Schools

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.

Colby, Kansas - 3 schools

An equity score of 15/100 ranks Colby Public Schools #241 of 250 districts in Kansas (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $12,771 per pupil, Colby Public Schools ranks #233 of 285 Kansas districts by per-pupil spending (Kansas districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

964
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$12,771
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Colby Public Schools operates 3 public schools serving 964 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Kansas. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined, 1 high, 1 elementary 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 Thomas County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,771 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 35.6% local, 58.1% state, and 6.3% 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 15/100, ranked #241 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 390.7:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 16.7% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 78.4% White, 17.0% Hispanic or Latino, 0.8% Asian across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Colby Elem, with a diversity index of 38.0/100.

Its largest campus is Colby Elem, enrolling 369 students (39% of the district's total enrollment).

Colby Elem accounts for 38.3% of all Colby Public Schools student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Colby Public Schools-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

Colby Public Schools student-counselor ratio is 391:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

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

Colby Public Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 16.7% — 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 Colby Public Schools is typically wider than the Colby Public Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

6.3%
Federal
58.1%
State
35.6%
Local

Funding Equity

15
Equity Score
241 / 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 Colby Public Schools.

White 78.4%
Hispanic or Latino 17.0%
African American 0.6%
Asian 0.8%
Multiracial 3.2%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 35.4/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Colby Elem 38.0
  2. 2 Colby Middle School 36.2
  3. 3 Colby Senior High 32.0

Programs & Resources

390.7:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
16.7%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Colby Public Schools

School Enrollment
Colby Elem
369
Colby Senior High
296
Colby Middle School
293

How Colby Public Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Kansas districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Goodland Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Garnett Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Scott County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Humboldt Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Kingman - Norwich Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded

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

Compare Colby Public Schools

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 Colby Public Schools?

Colby Public Schools has 3 schools, including 1 combined, 1 high, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 964 students.

How much does Colby Public Schools spend per student?

Colby Public Schools spends $12,771 per student. The district has an equity score of 15/100, ranking #241 in Kansas.

What is the demographic composition of Colby Public Schools?

Colby Public Schools students are 78.4% White, 17.0% Hispanic or Latino, 0.8% Asian, 0.6% African American, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Colby Public Schools?

Colby Public Schools has an equity score of 15/100, ranking #241 out of 250 districts in Kansas.