Enrollment
1,774
Kansas · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Lawrence, KS
Lawrence Free State High
Federal NCES profile for Lawrence Free State High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 200840001189
👥 S:T ratio 21
📚 AP courses 80
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 11
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Lawrence Free State High earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 96% of Kansas schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Kansas.
- #20 of 20
- public schools in Lawrence · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.7:1
- large classes for Kansas
- 24.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Lawrence Free State High has class sizes larger than 96% of Kansas schools. Computed live against every Kansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Lawrence Free State High ranks #20 of 20 public schools in Lawrence, KS.
School address
Teachers (FTE)
90.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
19.7:1
vs 13.8:1 Kansas avg
+43% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
24.6%
vs 42.7% Kansas avg
-42% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Lawrence Free State High compares with Kansas and U.S. medians
What stands out at Lawrence Free State High
Lawrence Free State High is a large high school in Lawrence, Kansas, enrolling 1,774 students.
Class loads run heavy: 19.7:1 is larger than about 96% of Kansas schools and 43% above the 13.8:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 24.6% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Kansas, bigger than 99% of state schools at 1,774 students.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 97% of the 1,346 Kansas schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 22 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Kansas schools statewide, it ranks #22, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (70%) and Two or More (10%) (diversity index 48/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 16 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 444 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 45.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Lawrence spends $12,091 per pupil, 22% below the Kansas average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 3 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Lawrence's high schools, it stands alongside Lawrence High (1,454 students): Lawrence Free State High is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (19.7:1 vs 16.7:1).
Lawrence also operates Lawrence High (1,454 students) and Lawrence West Middle School (648 students) alongside Lawrence Free State High.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Lawrence Free State High compares
Lawrence Free State High on the metrics families compare, against Kansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kansas | Kansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.7:1 | ▲ 43% | 13.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 24.6% | ▼ 42% | 42.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,774 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.7:1
Leaner classes than 17% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,774
Bigger than 97% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
24.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 42% below the Kansas average of 42.7%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
19.7:1
students per teacher
- 43% above state mean
Top 96% in Kansas - lower ratio than 4% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
45.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$12,091
per pupil, district-wide
- below Kansas avg of $15,487
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 444 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
22
in-school suspensions + 60 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 70.3%
Two or More 9.5%
Hispanic or Latino 9.0%
African American 5.4%
Asian 3.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 70.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 48.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 48.4, Lawrence Free State High is more mixed than the Kansas school average of 39.4.
Programs
AP courses offered 16
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Lawrence, which includes Lawrence Free State High.
$12,091
Per student
-22%
vs Kansas
Avg $15,487
-27%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 33.8%
State 59.4%
Federal 6.8%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Lawrence Free State High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lawrence West Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lawrence Southwest Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Langston Hughes Elem | Smaller | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lawrence Virtual School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Lawrence Free State High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,454
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 648
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 641
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 560
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 543
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
Similar high schools in Lawrence
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Kansas, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,774 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~19.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Lawrence Free State High's federal record.
- Compare Lawrence Free State High against another school. Compare schools
- Lawrence's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Lawrence Free State High
How many students attend Lawrence Free State High?
Lawrence Free State High has 1,774 students enrolled. It is a high school in Lawrence, KS.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lawrence Free State High?
The student-teacher ratio at Lawrence Free State High is 19.7:1, which is 43% higher than the Kansas average of 13.8:1 and 25% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Lawrence Free State High?
24.6% of students at Lawrence Free State High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kansas average of 42.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Lawrence Free State High?
The largest demographic group at Lawrence Free State High is White at 70.3% of enrollment, in Lawrence, KS.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Lawrence Free State High?
Lawrence Free State High has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Lawrence Free State High rank among public schools in Lawrence?
By Resource Investment Index, Lawrence Free State High ranks #20 of 20 public schools in Lawrence, KS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Lawrence on the city page.
Is Lawrence Free State High a good school?
Lawrence Free State High earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 96% of Kansas schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Kansas. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Lawrence?
Besides Lawrence Free State High, Lawrence also operates Lawrence High (1,454 students), Lawrence West Middle School (648 students), and Lawrence Southwest Middle School (641 students). See the Lawrence district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.