West Elk

Howard, Kansas — 2 schools

551
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$17,450
Per-Pupil Spending
Other
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

West Elk operates 2 public schools serving 551 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Kansas. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 other schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 597 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Elk County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $17,450 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 36.2% local, 54.5% state, and 9.3% 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 $104,254 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 41/100, ranked #174 of 252 in Kansas against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

a 1315.5:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 24.5% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 73.0% White, 13.3% Hispanic or Latino, 6.2% African American across the district's schools.

West Elk Schools accounts for 62.1% of all West Elk student enrollment

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

West Elk student-counselor ratio is 1316:1 — 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

West Elk chronic absenteeism rate is 24.5% — 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 West Elk is typically wider than the West Elk-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

9.3%
Federal
54.5%
State
36.2%
Local

Funding Equity

41
Equity Score
174 / 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 Elk County county, where this district is located.

$643
Studio/mo
$668
1 BR/mo
$877
2 BR/mo
$1,132
3 BR/mo
$1,276
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$104,254
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 2 schools in West Elk.

White 73.0%
Hispanic or Latino 13.3%
African American 6.2%
Asian 1.1%
Multiracial 3.9%
Other 2.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1315.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
24.5%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in West Elk

School Enrollment
West Elk Schools
371
West Elk Virtual Academy
226

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 West Elk

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 West Elk?

West Elk has 2 schools, including 2 other. Total enrollment is 551 students.

How much does West Elk spend per student?

West Elk spends $17,450 per student. The district has an equity score of 41/100, ranking #174 in Kansas.

What is the average teacher salary in West Elk?

The average teacher salary in West Elk is $104,254 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near West Elk?

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

What is the demographic composition of West Elk?

West Elk students are 73.0% White, 13.3% Hispanic or Latino, 6.2% African American, 1.1% Asian, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for West Elk?

West Elk has an equity score of 41/100, ranking #174 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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