Salina

Salina, Kansas — 13 schools

6,952
Total Enrollment
13
Schools
$19,945
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Salina operates 13 public schools serving 6,952 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Kansas. The school portfolio breaks down into 9 other, 2 high, 2 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 6,441 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Saline County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $19,945 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 33.2% local, 52.9% state, and 13.8% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $106,402 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 64/100, ranked #66 of 252 in Kansas against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 2 of 13 schools offering Advanced Placement (32 AP courses district-wide), a 321.2:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 32.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 54.9% White, 28.4% Hispanic or Latino, 2.8% African American across the district's schools.

Salina High South accounts for 16.2% of all Salina student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Salina-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. 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

Salina school enrollment varies 21× across entities

Salina school enrollment ranges from 50 students (lowest) to 1,046 students (highest), a spread of 996 students. That spread reflects typical mixed-portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. 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

Salina has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 53.2% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

Salina student-counselor ratio is 321:1 — 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 Salina is typically wider than the Salina-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Salina chronic absenteeism rate is 32.0% — 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 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

13.8%
Federal
52.9%
State
33.2%
Local

Funding Equity

64
Equity Score
66 / 252
State Rank
50
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Saline County county, where this district is located.

$765
Studio/mo
$770
1 BR/mo
$1,009
2 BR/mo
$1,222
3 BR/mo
$1,336
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$106,402
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 13 schools in Salina.

White 54.9%
Hispanic or Latino 28.4%
African American 2.8%
Asian 2.3%
Multiracial 11.5%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

2 / 13
Schools with AP
32 AP courses total
321.2:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
32.0%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Salina

School Enrollment
Salina High South
1,046
Salina High Central
934
Salina South Middle
782
Lakewood Middle School
647
Meadowlark Ridge Elem
431
Stewart Elem
406
Heusner Elem
392
Coronado Elem
389
Sunset Elem
380
Schilling Elem
376
Cottonwood Elementary School
326
Oakdale Elem
282
Salina Virtual Innovation Academy
50

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 · $17,357/pupil
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Olathe
29,034 students · 51 schools · $15,538/pupil
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Shawnee Mission Pub Sch
26,618 students · 45 schools · $15,904/pupil
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Blue Valley
22,384 students · 36 schools · $16,186/pupil
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Kansas City
22,015 students · 43 schools · $17,507/pupil
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Compare Salina

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 Salina?

Salina has 13 schools, including 2 high, 2 middle, 9 other. Total enrollment is 6,952 students.

How much does Salina spend per student?

Salina spends $19,945 per student. The district has an equity score of 64/100, ranking #66 in Kansas.

What is the average teacher salary in Salina?

The average teacher salary in Salina is $106,402 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Salina?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Saline County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Salina?

Salina students are 54.9% White, 28.4% Hispanic or Latino, 2.8% African American, 2.3% Asian, averaged across 13 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Salina?

Salina has an equity score of 64/100, ranking #66 out of 252 districts in Kansas. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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