Fort Scott

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, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Fort Scott, Kansas - 4 schools

An equity score of 69/100 ranks Fort Scott #41 of 252 districts in Kansas (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $14,109 per pupil, Fort Scott ranks #203 of 286 Kansas districts by per-pupil spending (Kansas districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,839
Total Enrollment
4
Schools
$14,109
Per-Pupil Spending
High, Middle
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Fort Scott operates 4 public schools serving 1,839 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Kansas. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 high, 1 middle, 1 elementary, 1 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 Bourbon County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $14,109 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 286 Kansas districts by per-pupil spending. See how Kansas compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 14.0% local, 77.2% state, and 8.9% 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 69/100, ranked #41 of 252 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.

a 333.3:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 34.7% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 83.8% White, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 3.4% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Winfield Scott Elem, with a diversity index of 34.0/100.

Its largest campus is Fort Scott Sr High, enrolling 578 students (36% of the district's total enrollment).

Fort Scott Sr High accounts for 31.4% of all Fort Scott student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Fort Scott-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: high. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Fort Scott reports 51.1% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share clears the 50% majority mark. Title I operates under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015), but its statutory allocation uses additional LEA-level counts and rules not represented by this average. This percentage is an economic-need context measure; it does not establish a Title I award, show dollars received, or describe how funds are distributed among campuses.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Fort Scott student-counselor ratio is 333:1 — 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 Fort Scott is typically wider than the Fort Scott-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Fort Scott chronic absenteeism rate is 34.7% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

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

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

8.9%
Federal
77.2%
State
14.0%
Local

Funding Equity

69
Equity Score
41 / 252
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 4 schools in Fort Scott.

White 83.8%
Hispanic or Latino 4.9%
African American 3.4%
Asian 1.4%
Multiracial 6.0%
Other 0.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 29.0/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Winfield Scott Elem 34.0
  2. 2 Eugene Ware Elem 30.6
  3. 3 Fort Scott Middle School 28.6
  4. 4 Fort Scott Sr High 22.7

Programs & Resources

333.3:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
34.7%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Fort Scott

School Enrollment
Fort Scott Sr High
578
Fort Scott Middle School
372
Eugene Ware Elem
361
Winfield Scott Elem
311

How Fort Scott Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Kansas districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Mulvane Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Chanute Public Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Paola Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
Louisburg Similar size Lower spending More locally funded
Coffeyville Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Fort Scott'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 · $15,549/pupil
Compare vs Fort Scott →
Olathe
29,034 students · 51 schools · $14,314/pupil
Compare vs Fort Scott →
Shawnee Mission Pub Sch
26,618 students · 45 schools · $12,247/pupil
Compare vs Fort Scott →
Blue Valley
22,384 students · 36 schools · $12,498/pupil
Compare vs Fort Scott →
Kansas City
22,015 students · 43 schools · $17,611/pupil
Compare vs Fort Scott →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Fort Scott

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 Fort Scott?

Fort Scott has 4 schools, including 1 high, 1 middle, 1 elementary, 1 combined. Total enrollment is 1,839 students.

How much does Fort Scott spend per student?

Fort Scott spends $14,109 per student. The district has an equity score of 69/100, ranking #41 in Kansas.

What is the demographic composition of Fort Scott?

Fort Scott students are 83.8% White, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 3.4% African American, 1.4% Asian, averaged across 4 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Fort Scott?

Fort Scott has an equity score of 69/100, ranking #41 out of 252 districts in Kansas.