Hiawatha

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.

Hiawatha, Kansas - 3 schools

An equity score of 31/100 ranks Hiawatha #209 of 250 districts in Kansas (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $12,635 per pupil, Hiawatha ranks #239 of 285 Kansas districts by per-pupil spending (Kansas districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

911
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$12,635
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Hiawatha operates 3 public schools serving 911 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Kansas. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 combined, 1 elementary, 1 high 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 Brown County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,635 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 31.8% local, 62.9% state, and 5.3% 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 31/100, ranked #209 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 236.8:1 student-counselor ratio, that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 25.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 75.5% White, 8.9% Hispanic or Latino, 1.0% Asian across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Hiawatha Middle School, with a diversity index of 43.7/100.

Its largest campus is Hiawatha Elem, enrolling 337 students (38% of the district's total enrollment).

Hiawatha Elem accounts for 37.0% of all Hiawatha student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Hiawatha-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

Hiawatha student-counselor ratio is 237:1 — low (typically associated with meeting or exceeding the American School Counselor Association (ASCA) recommended 250:1 benchmark, which correlates with stronger college and career counseling capacity)

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 Lower values often correlate with smaller scale and population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se.

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

Hiawatha chronic absenteeism rate is 25.1% — 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 Hiawatha is typically wider than the Hiawatha-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

5.3%
Federal
62.9%
State
31.8%
Local

Funding Equity

31
Equity Score
209 / 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 Hiawatha.

White 75.5%
Hispanic or Latino 8.9%
African American 0.6%
Asian 1.0%
Multiracial 8.4%
Other 5.7%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 41.1/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Hiawatha's schools, about the same as the Kansas average of 39.4.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Hiawatha Middle School 43.7
  2. 2 Hiawatha Elem 40.0
  3. 3 Hiawatha Sr High 39.7

Programs & Resources

236.8:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
25.1%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Hiawatha

School Enrollment
Hiawatha Elem
337
Hiawatha Middle School
278
Hiawatha Sr High
264

How Hiawatha Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Kansas districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Baxter Springs Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Columbus Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Prairie View Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Hesston Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Frontenac Public Schools Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded

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

Compare Hiawatha

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 Hiawatha?

Hiawatha has 3 schools, including 1 combined, 1 elementary, 1 high. Total enrollment is 911 students.

How much does Hiawatha spend per student?

Hiawatha spends $12,635 per student. The district has an equity score of 31/100, ranking #209 in Kansas.

What is the demographic composition of Hiawatha?

Hiawatha students are 75.5% White, 8.9% Hispanic or Latino, 1.0% Asian, 0.6% African American, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Hiawatha?

Hiawatha has an equity score of 31/100, ranking #209 out of 250 districts in Kansas.