6.1 avg / 10

Best Schools in Lawrence, Kansas

23 schools · 14 Elementary · 4 Middle · 3 High · 2 Other

Last updated: May 2026

Public: 17

Private: 6

Districts: 1

Avg Rating: 6.1/10

Estimated Scores: 26%

Family Snapshot

At a glance

Avg school rating: 6.1/10
Median household income: $66,846
Median home value: $277,725
Bachelor's degree or higher: 54%
Avg commute: 20 min
Owner-occupied homes: 45%

How Lawrence compares

Kansas rank

#70 of 140

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-0.2

below Kansas avg (6.3)

Median household income

$67k

93% of Kansas median

Schools in this city

About Schools in Lawrence, Kansas

Lawrence, Kansas is home to 23 schools, including 17 public schools and 6 private schools. The city's schools span 14 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 3 high schools.

With an average rating of 6.1 out of 10, schools in Lawrence show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which measures academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

The highest-performing school in Lawrence is Sunflower Elementary with a composite score of 8.5/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.

Lawrence is served by 1 school district: Lawrence. These districts collectively serve 10,594 students.

Lawrence's community shows 54% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $66,846. The poverty rate in the area is 17.2%.

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 (23) Elementary (14) Middle (4) High (3)

Filter by Type: All Types (23) Public (17) Private (6)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (23) Academics (23) Growth (17) Resources (17)

Filter by ZIP: 66044 (9) 66049 (6) 66046 (4) 66047 (4)

Elementary Schools

14 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Sunflower Elementary 452 students · Kindergarten–5th	452	Kindergarten–5th	8.5
2	Quail Run Elementary 416 students · Kindergarten–5th	416	Kindergarten–5th	8.5
3	Langston Hughes Elem 544 students · Kindergarten–5th	544	Kindergarten–5th	7.4
4	Cordley Elem 333 students · Kindergarten–5th	333	Kindergarten–5th	7.3
5	New York Elem 425 students · Pre-K–5th	425	Pre-K–5th	6.5
6	Deerfield Elem 469 students · Kindergarten–5th	469	Kindergarten–5th	6.3
7	Hillcrest Elem 415 students · Kindergarten–5th	415	Kindergarten–5th	5.8
8	Prairie Park Elem 384 students · Kindergarten–5th	384	Kindergarten–5th	5.2
9	Woodlawn Elem 238 students · Kindergarten–5th	238	Kindergarten–5th	4.4
10	Schwegler Elem 407 students · Kindergarten–5th	407	Kindergarten–5th	4.2
Private Schools 4 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	ST JOHN CATHOLIC SCHOOL Private 247 students · Pre-K–8th	247	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
2	RAINTREE MONTESSORI SCHOOL Private 261 students · Pre-K–8th	261	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
3	PRAIRIE MOON WALDORF SCHOOL Private 52 students · Pre-K–8th	52	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
4	CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC SCHOOL Private 301 students · Pre-K–8th	301	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated

Middle Schools

4 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Billy Mills Middle School 484 students · 6th–8th	484	6th–8th	5.1
2	Lawrence Southwest Middle School 654 students · 6th–8th	654	6th–8th	4.5
3	Lawrence West Middle School 686 students · 6th–8th	686	6th–8th	4.1
4	Lawrence Liberty Memorial Central Mid School 394 students · 6th–8th	394	6th–8th	3.6

High Schools

3 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Lawrence Free State High 1,768 students · 9th–12th	1,768	9th–12th	6.2
2	Lawrence High 1,499 students · 9th–12th	1,499	9th–12th	5.2
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	BISHOP SEABURY ACADEMY Private 186 students · 6th–12th	186	6th–12th	Not Rated

Other Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Lawrence Virtual School 626 students · Kindergarten–12th	626	Kindergarten–12th	4.6
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	VERITAS CHRISTIAN SCHOOL Private 180 students · Pre-K–12th	180	Pre-K–12th	Not Rated

Schools in Lawrence

Lawrence, Kansas · 23 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 4 ZIP codes

Median Income

$66,846

Median Home Value

$277,725

Median Rent

$1,047/mo

Population

100,719

College Educated

54%

Homeownership

45%

Avg Commute

20 min

Poverty Rate

17.2%

Community Profile

Lawrence has a median household income of $66,846. It is a well-educated community where 54% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $277,725, with a median rent of $1,047/month. The area has a poverty rate of 17.2%. The average commute for residents is 20 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Quick Facts

State: Kansas
Total Schools: 23
Elementary: 14
Middle: 4
High: 3
Districts: 1
Avg Rating: 6.1/10

Resources

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

School District

Lawrence

18 schools · 10,594 students

Nearby Cities

Baldwin City (4 schools)

13 mi

Tonganoxie (4 schools)

14 mi

Mclouth (3 schools)

17 mi

Oskaloosa (2 schools)

18 mi

De Soto (4 schools)

15 mi

Wellsville (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

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Lawrence, Kansas

How many schools are in Lawrence, Kansas?

Lawrence has 23 schools, including 17 public and 6 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Lawrence, Kansas?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Lawrence is 6.1 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

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

The top-ranked school in Lawrence on MySchoolScout is Sunflower Elementary with a composite score of 8.5/10.

What is the best elementary school in Lawrence, Kansas?

The top-ranked elementary school in Lawrence on MySchoolScout is Sunflower Elementary with a composite score of 8.5/10.

What is the best middle school in Lawrence, Kansas?

The top-ranked middle school in Lawrence on MySchoolScout is Billy Mills Middle School with a composite score of 5.1/10.

What is the best high school in Lawrence, Kansas?

The top-ranked high school in Lawrence on MySchoolScout is Bishop Seabury Academy with a composite score of 7.7/10.

How many school districts serve Lawrence, Kansas?

Lawrence is served by 1 school district: Lawrence.

What is the education level in Lawrence, Kansas?

According to Census data, 54% of adults in Lawrence have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Lawrence, Kansas?

The median household income in Lawrence is approximately $66,846 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Lawrence, Kansas?

Yes, Lawrence has 6 private schools alongside 17 public schools. The top-rated private school is Bishop Seabury Academy with a score of 7.7/10.

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

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Lawrence is 14.9:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Lawrence, 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 based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.

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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, Kansas Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.