Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

Topeka Public Schools

Kansas · Public School District
26
Schools
12,351
Students
$18,156
Per-Pupil Spend
+27% nat'l
76.3%
Free Lunch Rate
+24pp vs nat'l
79.4%
Graduation Rate
-7.1pp vs nat'l
District Overview

Topeka Public Schools is a public school district in Kansas serving 12,351 students across 26 schools. It includes 14 elementary, 6 middle, 5 high schools, among them 1 charter school. Its graduation rate of 79.4% is below the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $18,156 is above average for a US public school district. 76% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need in the community. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 41/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (26)
Elementary Schools14 schools
Middle Schools6 schools
High Schools5 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Capital City07–1267
Highland Park High09–12857
Hope Street Charter AcademyCharter09–1288
Topeka High09–121,514
Topeka West High09–121,085
Other School1 school
SchoolGradesStudents
Avondale AcademyKG–12379
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$18,156+27% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
72%
14%
State
72.4%
Local (property tax)
13.8%
Federal
13.8%

State funding accounts for 72% of the budget — this district relies more on state aid than local tax revenue.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
26
Schools
12,351
Students
76%
Free Lunch
$18K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate79.4%
Opportunity Score41/100
Strengths & Considerations
High per-student investment
Spends $18,156 per pupil — 27% above the national average of $14,347.
Range of school options
With 26 schools including 1 charter school, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
Below-average graduation rate
At 79.4%, graduation is 7.1 points below the national average of 86.5%.
High economic need in community
76% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Topeka Public Schools?
Topeka Public Schools has 26 public schools, serving a total of 12,351 students.
What is the graduation rate for Topeka Public Schools?
The graduation rate is 79.4%, which is below the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Topeka Public Schools spend per student?
Topeka Public Schools spends $18,156 per pupil — 27% above the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Topeka Public Schools?
76% of students in Topeka Public Schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Topeka Public Schools?
Yes — 1 of the 26 schools in Topeka Public Schools is a charter school.
What grade levels does Topeka Public Schools serve?
Topeka Public Schools serves grades PK through 12, covering elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the opportunity score for Topeka Public Schools?
The median opportunity score across schools in Topeka Public Schools is 41/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.