Northern Valley

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.

Almena, Kansas - 3 schools

At $17,929 per pupil, Northern Valley ranks #55 of 286 Kansas districts by per-pupil spending (Kansas districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

156
Total Enrollment
3
Schools
$17,929
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Northern Valley operates 3 public schools serving 156 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 Norton County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $17,929 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 286 Kansas districts by per-pupil spending. See how Kansas compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 38.8% local, 59.1% state, and 2.1% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles.

and 6.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 92.0% White, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 3.3% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Almena Elem, with a diversity index of 19.1/100.

Its largest campus is Almena Elem, enrolling 78 students (52% of the district's total enrollment).

Almena Elem accounts for 50.0% of all Northern Valley student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Northern Valley a distant remainder — means Northern Valley-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: combined. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Because it contains a majority of the affected population, enrollment-weighted aggregates will sit closer to this entity's reported fields than to those of smaller peers; an unweighted entity count answers a different question.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Northern Valley school enrollment varies 2.5× across entities

Northern Valley school enrollment ranges from 31 students (lowest) to 78 students (highest), a spread of 47 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

Northern Valley chronic absenteeism rate is 6.9% — well below typical (typically associated with unusually small scale or exceptionally high per-unit investment)

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 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 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

2.1%
Federal
59.1%
State
38.8%
Local

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 3 schools in Northern Valley.

White 92.0%
Hispanic or Latino 4.2%
African American 3.3%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 15.0/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Almena Elem 19.1
  2. 2 Northern Valley High 13.8
  3. 3 Long Island Middle School 12.2

Programs & Resources

6.9%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Northern Valley

School Enrollment
Almena Elem
78
Northern Valley High
41
Long Island Middle School
31

How Northern Valley Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Kansas districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Cheylin Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Argonia Public Schools Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
Burrton Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded
Cedar Vale Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Southern Cloud Similar size Higher spending Less locally funded

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

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 Northern Valley

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 Northern Valley?

Northern Valley has 3 schools, including 1 combined, 1 high, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 156 students.

How much does Northern Valley spend per student?

Northern Valley spends $17,929 per student.

What is the demographic composition of Northern Valley?

Northern Valley students are 92.0% White, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 3.3% African American, averaged across 3 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.