Enrollment
1,878
Kansas · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Topeka, KS
Washburn Rural High
Federal NCES profile for Washburn Rural High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 56/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 200320001073
👥 S:T ratio 42
📚 AP courses 100
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 46
📋 Attendance 20
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Washburn Rural High earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kansas median. It is also one of the largest schools in Kansas.
- #2 of 6
- high schools in Topeka · Resource Index
- 56
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.4:1
- students per teacher
- 25.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Washburn Rural High has class sizes near the Kansas median. Computed live against every Kansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Washburn Rural High ranks #2 of 6 high schools in Topeka, KS.
School address
District: Auburn Washburn · Kansas
NCES ID 200320001073 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
130.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.4:1
vs 13.8:1 Kansas avg
+4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
25.6%
vs 42.7% Kansas avg
-40% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Washburn Rural High compares with Kansas and U.S. medians
What stands out at Washburn Rural High
Washburn Rural High is a large high school in Topeka, Kansas, enrolling 1,878 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 14.4:1 puts it in the larger third of Kansas schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 25.6% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Kansas, bigger than 99% of state schools at 1,878 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,346 scored Kansas schools.
Among 20 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Kansas schools statewide, it ranks #3, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (73%) and Hispanic or Latino (12%) (diversity index 45/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 20 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 268 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 31.9% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Auburn Washburn spends $12,077 per pupil, 22% below the Kansas average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 11 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Topeka's high schools, it stands alongside Topeka High (1,578 students): Washburn Rural High is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.4:1 vs 16.8:1).
Auburn Washburn also operates Washburn Rural Middle School (966 students) and Farley Elementary (596 students) alongside Washburn Rural 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 Washburn Rural High compares
Washburn Rural 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 | 14.4:1 | ▲ 4% | 13.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 25.6% | ▼ 40% | 42.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,878 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.4:1
Leaner classes than 53% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,878
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
25.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 40% 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
14.4:1
students per teacher
- 4% above state mean
Top 65% in Kansas - lower ratio than 35% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
31.9%
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
$12,077
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
Counselors7.0 FTE
Per 268 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
146
in-school suspensions + 124 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 14.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 11 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 72.5%
Hispanic or Latino 11.7%
Two or More 8.6%
African American 4.6%
Asian 2.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 72.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 45.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 45.1, Washburn Rural High is more mixed than the Kansas school average of 39.4.
Programs
AP courses offered 20
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Auburn Washburn, which includes Washburn Rural High.
$12,077
Per student
-22%
vs Kansas
Avg $15,487
-27%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 23.3%
State 67.0%
Federal 9.7%
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 Washburn Rural High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washburn Rural Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Farley Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Jay Shideler Elementary | Smaller | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Wanamaker Elem | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Indian Hills Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Washburn Rural High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 966
- Students per teacher
- 12.1:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 596
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 492
- Students per teacher
- 12:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 475
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 440
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
Similar high schools in Topeka
5 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
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
Topeka West High
Standard public school
971 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 (~1,878 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.4:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Washburn Rural High's federal record.
- Compare Washburn Rural High against another school. Compare schools
- Auburn Washburn'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 Washburn Rural High
How many students attend Washburn Rural High?
Washburn Rural High has 1,878 students enrolled. It is a high school in Topeka, KS.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Washburn Rural High?
The student-teacher ratio at Washburn Rural High is 14.4:1, which is 4% higher than the Kansas average of 13.8:1 and 8% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Washburn Rural High?
25.6% of students at Washburn Rural High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kansas average of 42.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Washburn Rural High?
The largest demographic group at Washburn Rural High is White at 72.5% of enrollment, in Topeka, KS.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Washburn Rural High?
Washburn Rural High has a Resource Investment Index of 56/100 (higher 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 Washburn Rural High rank among high schools in Topeka?
By Resource Investment Index, Washburn Rural High ranks #2 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 Washburn Rural High a good school?
Washburn Rural High earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kansas median. 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 Auburn Washburn?
Besides Washburn Rural High, Auburn Washburn also operates Washburn Rural Middle School (966 students), Farley Elementary (596 students), and Jay Shideler Elementary (492 students). See the Auburn Washburn 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.