6.7 avg / 10

Best Schools in Hays, Kansas

8 schools · 4 Elementary · 1 Middle · 2 High · 1 Other

Last updated: July 2026

Public: 7

Private: 1

Districts: 1

Avg Rating: 6.7/10

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Choosing a school in Hays?

Use this page to compare every school in Hays by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.

Explore the map How we rate schools

Shortlist starter

Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.

Elementary · Hays. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Hays for 2026 are Woodrow Wilson Elem (8.9/10), Kathryn O'loughlin Mccarthy Elem (8.9/10), and Roosevelt Elem (7.3/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 8 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.

Top-Rated Schools in Hays

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (8 of 8). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#	School	Rating	Level	Value	State %ile
1	Woodrow Wilson Elem	8.9 / 10	Elementary	—	96th
2	Kathryn O'loughlin Mccarthy Elem	8.9 / 10	Elementary	—	96th
3	Roosevelt Elem	7.3 / 10	Elementary	—	67th
4	Thomas More Prep-marian High	7.1 / 10	High	—	71th
5	Lincoln Elem	6.9 / 10	Elementary	—	59th
6	Hays Middle School	5.8 / 10	Middle	—	36th
7	Hays High	4.5 / 10	High	—	15th
8	Hays Virtual School	4.1 / 10	Other	—	10th

See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.

Family Snapshot

At a glance

Avg school rating: 6.7/10
Median household income: $58,480
Median home value: $221,400
Bachelor's degree or higher: 42%
Owner-occupied homes: 60%

How Hays compares

Kansas rank

#47 of 140

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

+0.3

above Kansas avg (6.4)

Median household income

$58k

81% of Kansas median

Schools in this city

8

About Schools in Hays, Kansas

Hays, Kansas is home to 8 schools, including 7 public schools and 1 private school. The city's schools span 4 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 2 high schools.

With an average rating of 6.7 out of 10, schools in Hays show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.

The highest-performing school in Hays is Woodrow Wilson Elem with a composite score of 8.9/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.

Hays is served by 1 school district: Hays. These districts collectively serve 3,522 students.

Hays's community shows 42% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $58,480. The poverty rate in the area is 18.4%.

Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.

Filter by Level: All Levels (8) Elementary (4) Middle (1) High (2)

Filter by Type: All Types (8) Public (7) Private (1)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (8) Academics (7) Growth (6) Resources (7)

Filter by ZIP: 67601 (8)

Elementary Schools

4 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Woodrow Wilson Elem 369 students · Kindergarten–5th	369	Kindergarten–5th	8.9
2	Kathryn O'loughlin Mccarthy Elem 396 students · Kindergarten–5th	396	Kindergarten–5th	8.9
3	Roosevelt Elem 395 students · Kindergarten–5th	395	Kindergarten–5th	7.3
4	Lincoln Elem 257 students · Pre-K–5th	257	Pre-K–5th	6.9

Middle Schools

1 school

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Hays Middle School 731 students · 6th–8th	731	6th–8th	5.8

High Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Hays High 1,013 students · 9th–12th	1,013	9th–12th	4.5
Private Schools 1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	Thomas More Prep-marian High Private 271 students · 7th–12th	271	7th–12th	7.1

Other Schools

1 school

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Hays Virtual School 250 students · Kindergarten–12th	250	Kindergarten–12th	4.1

Schools in Hays

Hays, Kansas · 8 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code

Median Income

$58,480

Median Home Value

$221,400

Median Rent

$902/mo

Population

24,279

College Educated

42%

Homeownership

60%

Poverty Rate

18.4%

Community Profile

Hays has a median household income of $58,480. It is a well-educated community where 42% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $221,400, with a median rent of $902/month. The area has a poverty rate of 18.4%. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Schools by Level

State: Kansas
Elementary: 4
Middle: 1
High: 2
Other: 1

Resources

🔍 Google "Hays schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Hays 📊 Niche Hays Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School District

Hays

7 schools · 3,522 students

Nearby Cities

La Crosse (3 schools)

24 mi

Plainville (3 schools)

Other Major Cities in Kansas

Top metros statewide by school count.

Wichita 124 schools Kansas City 63 schools Overland Park 59 schools Olathe 57 schools Topeka 53 schools

How we rate schools

A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.

See how we rate

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Hays, Kansas

How many schools are in Hays, Kansas?

Hays has 8 schools, including 7 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Hays, Kansas?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Hays is 6.7 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.

What is the top-ranked school in Hays, Kansas?

The top-ranked school in Hays on MySchoolScout is Woodrow Wilson Elem with a composite score of 8.9/10.

What is the best elementary school in Hays, Kansas?

The top-ranked elementary school in Hays on MySchoolScout is Woodrow Wilson Elem with a composite score of 8.9/10.

What is the best middle school in Hays, Kansas?

The top-ranked middle school in Hays on MySchoolScout is Hays Middle School with a composite score of 5.8/10.

What is the best high school in Hays, Kansas?

The top-ranked high school in Hays on MySchoolScout is Thomas More Prep-marian High with a composite score of 7.1/10.

How many school districts serve Hays, Kansas?

Hays is served by 1 school district: Hays.

What is the education level in Hays, Kansas?

According to Census data, 42% of adults in Hays have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Hays, Kansas?

The median household income in Hays is approximately $58,480 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Hays, Kansas?

Yes, Hays has 1 private school alongside 7 public schools. The top-rated private school is Thomas More Prep-marian High with a score of 7.1/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Hays, Kansas?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Hays is 14.7:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Hays, Kansas?

MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.