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High schools · Wichita, Kansas · Updated for 2026 on NCES and Kansas data

Best High Schools in Wichita, Kansas

11 high schools compared, ranked on the evidence each campus reports.

The fieldEvery ranked high school on the 1–10 scale.
Ranked schools run3.8Heights Highto7.0Sowers Alternative High Schoolon the one-to-ten scale.

11 ranked · top 11 from 3.8 to 7.0 · median 4.5

The brief

The top-rated high schools in Wichita for 2026 are Sowers Alternative High School (7.0/10), Maize South High School (5.7/10), and East High (5.0/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 11 high schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.

Wichita's 12 ranked high schools span a notable range of performance, with an average composite score of 5.2/10 across the metro. Leading the list is Sowers Alternative High School at 7.6/10, followed closely by Wichita Alternative High and Chisholm Life Skills Center — three schools that clear the 7/10 mark, representing 25% of ranked institutions in the area. That concentration at the top signals real variation across the district. East High and Campus High Haysville round out the upper tier, but the gap between the strongest performers and the metro average is wide enough to make school selection matter. Use the table below to sort by score, school type, or other factors relevant to your student. Whether you're prioritizing academic outcomes, specific programs, or proximity, the data gives you a direct look at how each school compares within the Wichita landscape.

Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.

  1. 17.0
  2. 25.7
  3. 3
    East HighWichita
    5.0
  4. 45.0
  5. 5
    North HighWichita
    4.7
  6. 64.5
  7. 7
    West HighWichita
    4.4
  8. 84.3
  9. 9
    South HighWichita
    4.0
  10. 103.9
The ten highest-rated high schools in Wichita, best first.MySchoolScout composite scores. Updated for 2026 on NCES and Kansas data.

All 11 ranked

Every ranked school on the axis, then the ledger.

All 11

Rating · students · student-teacher ratio · grades
  1. 1Sowers Alternative High SchoolWichitarating 7.0students 75student-teacher ratio 5.4:1grades 9th–12th
  2. 2Maize South High SchoolMaizerating 5.7students 1,121student-teacher ratio 17.0:1grades 9th–12th
  3. 3East HighWichitarating 5.0students 2,338student-teacher ratio 16.1:1grades 9th–12th
  4. 4Northwest HighWichitarating 5.0students 1,435student-teacher ratio 16.5:1grades 9th–12th
  5. 5North HighWichitarating 4.7students 2,078student-teacher ratio 16.9:1grades 9th–12th
  6. 6Wichita Alternative HighWichitarating 4.5students 266student-teacher ratio 16.6:1grades 9th–12th
  7. 7West HighWichitarating 4.4students 1,390student-teacher ratio 15.4:1grades 9th–12th
  8. 8Southeast HighWichitarating 4.3students 1,973student-teacher ratio 17.6:1grades 9th–12th
  9. 9South HighWichitarating 4.0students 1,661student-teacher ratio 14.7:1grades 9th–12th
  10. 10Campus High HaysvilleHaysvillerating 3.9students 1,833student-teacher ratio 19.5:1grades 9th–12th
  11. 11Heights HighWichitarating 3.8students 1,454student-teacher ratio 16.7:1grades 9th–12th

Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and Kansas education department. Rankings are relative to all public high schools in Kansas. Learn about our methodology.

The map

The top 11 pinned; open a pin for the campus.
The top 11 high schools in Wichita, pinned and colored by score.Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.

Campus by campus

What each of the top ten reports.
  1. 1

    Sowers Alternative High School

    Wichita

    75 students · 5.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th

    Top 39% in Kansas

    Academics
    5.5
    Growth
    9.8
    Environment
    9.0
  2. 2

    Maize South High School

    Maize

    1,121 students · 17.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th

    Top 65% in Kansas

    Academics
    5.3
    Growth
    5.9
    Environment
    3.6
  3. 3

    East High

    Wichita

    2,338 students · 16.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th

    Top 79% in Kansas

    Academics
    4.4
    Growth
    5.5
    Environment
    3.1
  4. 4

    Northwest High

    Wichita

    1,435 students · 16.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th

    Top 79% in Kansas

    Academics
    5.1
    Growth
    4.3
    Environment
    3.3
  5. 5

    North High

    Wichita

    2,078 students · 16.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th

    Top 85% in Kansas

    Academics
    3.8
    Growth
    6.1
    Environment
    2.7
  6. 6

    Wichita Alternative High

    Wichita

    266 students · 16.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th

    Top 88% in Kansas

    Academics
    1.6
    Growth
    9.2
    Environment
    2.1
  7. 7

    West High

    Wichita

    1,390 students · 15.4:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th

    Top 90% in Kansas

    Academics
    3.2
    Growth
    7.0
    Environment
    2.5
  8. 8

    Southeast High

    Wichita

    1,973 students · 17.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th

    Top 92% in Kansas

    Academics
    2.7
    Growth
    6.4
    Environment
    1.8
  9. 9

    South High

    Wichita

    1,661 students · 14.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th

    Top 95% in Kansas

    Academics
    3.3
    Growth
    4.9
    Environment
    3.1
  10. 10

    Campus High Haysville

    Haysville

    1,833 students · 19.5:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 9th–12th

    Top 95% in Kansas

    Academics
    3.1
    Growth
    2.2
    Environment
    1.9

Questions

What is the best high school in Wichita, Kansas?

According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Sowers Alternative High School is the top-rated high school in Wichita with a composite score of 7.0/10. The score blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools — with equity shown as context, not scored.

How many high schools are in Wichita, Kansas?

Wichita has 17 high schools. Of these, 15 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.

What is the average high school rating in Wichita?

Among 15 Wichita high schools with a composite score, the average is 5.1/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in Kansas).

How does MySchoolScout rate high schools?

Schools with enough data receive a 1-10 composite score that blends Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, with growth counting most in elementary and middle grades. Equity data is shown for context but not scored. All scores are computed within Kansas, so schools are compared to peers in the same state. Data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments.

What is a good school rating on MySchoolScout?

A score of 7 or above means a school is in roughly the top 30% of its state. A 5 is average. Anything above 8 is exceptional. Our ratings are relative to other schools in Kansas, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.

How should I use this ranking?

Consider your child's learning style. Some children thrive in smaller settings (look for student-teacher ratios under 14:1), while others do well in larger, more social environments. The schools on this list range widely in size and approach.

Look beyond the composite score. A school ranked #15 might be the best fit if it excels in growth (improving student outcomes year over year) even if its raw academic score is lower. Click into individual school profiles to see the breakdown.

Visit your top choices. Walk the hallways during a school day. Watch how teachers interact with students. Ask about before- and after-school care, transportation, and parent involvement. These details matter more than any dataset.

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