Enrollment
971
Kansas · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Topeka, KS
Topeka West High
Federal NCES profile for Topeka West High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 201226001478
👥 S:T ratio 40
📚 AP courses 35
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 35
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Topeka West High earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 72% of Kansas schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Kansas.
- #6 of 6
- high schools in Topeka · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.9:1
- large classes for Kansas
- 51.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Topeka West High has class sizes larger than 72% of Kansas schools. Computed live against every Kansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Topeka West High ranks #6 of 6 high schools in Topeka, KS.
School address
District: Topeka Public Schools · Kansas
NCES ID 201226001478 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
65.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.9:1
vs 13.8:1 Kansas avg
+8% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
51.8%
vs 42.7% Kansas avg
+21% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Topeka West High compares with Kansas and U.S. medians
What stands out at Topeka West High
Topeka West High is a higher-need, large high school in Topeka, Kansas, enrolling 971 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 14.9:1 puts it in the larger third of Kansas schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 51.8% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Kansas, bigger than 96% of state schools at 971 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,346 scored Kansas schools.
Among 47 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Kansas schools statewide, it ranks #37, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (44%) and Hispanic or Latino (25%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 70/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 7 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 324 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 45.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Topeka's high schools, it stands alongside Washburn Rural High (1,878 students): Topeka West High is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (14.9:1 vs 14.4:1).
Topeka Public Schools also operates Topeka High (1,578 students) and Highland Park High (835 students) alongside Topeka West 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 Topeka West High compares
Topeka West 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 | 14.9:1 | ▲ 8% | 13.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 51.8% | ▲ 21% | 42.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 971 | top 4% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.9:1
Leaner classes than 48% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
971
Bigger than 91% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
51.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 21% above the Kansas average of 42.7%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.9:1
students per teacher
- 8% above state mean
Top 72% in Kansas - lower ratio than 28% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
45.2%
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
$16,138
per pupil, district-wide
- above Kansas avg of $15,487
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 324 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
75
in-school suspensions + 87 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 16.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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 43.7%
Hispanic or Latino 25.2%
Two or More 16.1%
African American 13.4%
Asian 0.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 43.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.2, Topeka West High is more mixed than the Kansas school average of 39.4.
Programs
AP courses offered 7
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Topeka Public Schools, which includes Topeka West High.
$16,138
Per student
+4%
vs Kansas
Avg $15,487
-3%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 13.8%
State 72.4%
Federal 13.8%
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 Topeka West High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Highland Park High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Jardine Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ross Elementary | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Jardine Middle School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Topeka West High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,578
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 835
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 729
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 563
- Students per teacher
- 13.4:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 508
- Students per teacher
- 11.8:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Similar high schools in Topeka
5 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Washburn Rural High
Standard public school
1,878 students 14.4:1 students per teacher
Topeka High
Standard public school
1,578 students 16.8:1 students per teacher
Seaman High
Standard public school
1,190 students 14.9:1 students per teacher
Highland Park High
Standard public school
835 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Hope Street Charter Academy
Standard public school
103 students 6.4:1 students per teacher
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 (~971 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Topeka West High's federal record.
- Compare Topeka West High against another school. Compare schools
- Topeka Public Schools'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 Topeka West High
How many students attend Topeka West High?
Topeka West High has 971 students enrolled. It is a high school in Topeka, KS.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Topeka West High?
The student-teacher ratio at Topeka West High is 14.9:1, which is 8% higher than the Kansas average of 13.8:1 and 5% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Topeka West High?
51.8% of students at Topeka West High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kansas average of 42.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Topeka West High?
The largest demographic group at Topeka West High is White at 43.7% of enrollment, in Topeka, KS. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Topeka West High?
Topeka West High has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (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 Topeka West High rank among high schools in Topeka?
By Resource Investment Index, Topeka West High ranks #6 of 6 high schools in Topeka, KS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Topeka on the city page.
Is Topeka West High a good school?
Topeka West High earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 72% 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 Topeka Public Schools?
Besides Topeka West High, Topeka Public Schools also operates Topeka High (1,578 students), Highland Park High (835 students), and Jardine Elementary (729 students). See the Topeka Public Schools 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.