6.5 avg / 10

Best Schools in Topeka, Kansas

53 schools · 31 Elementary · 9 Middle · 9 High · 4 Other

Last updated: July 2026

Public: 42

Private: 11

Districts: 5

Avg Rating: 6.5/10

Move-ready shortlistcity map + schools

Choosing a school in Topeka?

Use this page to compare every school in Topeka 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 · Auburn-washburn. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

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

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

The short answer

The top-rated schools in Topeka for 2026 are Jay Shideler Elementary (8.6/10), Whitson Elem (8.6/10), and Elmont Elem (8.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 50 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.

Best value · beats the odds

Whitson Elem

Rates 8.6/10 despite 63% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.1 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Topeka schools.

Top-Rated Schools in Topeka

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (50 of 53). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

#	School	Rating	Level	Value	State %ile
1	Jay Shideler Elementary	8.6 / 10	Elementary	+1.3	92th
2	Whitson Elem	8.6 / 10	Elementary	+2.1	90th
3	Elmont Elem	8.4 / 10	Elementary	+1.2	87th
4	North Fairview	8.4 / 10	Elementary	+1.4	87th
5	Topeka Collegiate School	8.2 / 10	Elementary	—	91th
6	West Indianola Elem	8.0 / 10	Elementary	+0.9	79th
7	Northern Hills Elementary	8.0 / 10	Elementary	+1.1	79th
8	Jardine Elementary	7.8 / 10	Elementary	+1.6	76th
9	Indian Hills Elementary	7.7 / 10	Elementary	+0.5	75th
10	Mccarter Elem	7.7 / 10	Elementary	+1.3	74th

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: 6.5/10
Median household income: $65,945
Median home value: $153,714
Bachelor's degree or higher: 29%
Avg commute: 17 min
Owner-occupied homes: 62%

How Topeka compares

Kansas rank

#56 of 140

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

+0.1

above Kansas avg (6.4)

Median household income

$66k

92% of Kansas median

Schools in this city

51

About Schools in Topeka, Kansas

Topeka's public school system spans 41 ranked schools, giving families a broad range of options across the city. The system averages 6.1 out of 10, with meaningful variation between schools — nine schools, or 22% of the total, score 7 or higher. That upper tier rewards parents who research specific campuses rather than defaulting to proximity alone.

At the elementary level, the city's strongest performers cluster near the top of Kansas statewide rankings. McClure Elementary leads all Topeka public schools with an 8.6 out of 10, the highest score in the city. Whitson Elementary follows at 8.4, and Meadows Elementary scores 8.2. All three sit within that top-performing 22%, making elementary choice one of the more consequential decisions for Topeka families. Strength carries into middle school as well — Marjorie French Middle School scores 7.9, offering a competitive academic environment for students transitioning out of those strong elementary programs.

High school options are more limited in number but include standouts. Capital City High School scores 8.1 out of 10, ranking among the city's top five schools overall. Parents should evaluate high school options early, since program availability and performance gaps between campuses can affect course access and post-secondary preparation.

The practical takeaway for Topeka parents: the city-wide average of 6.1 is solid but masks real differences between schools. Families willing to look beyond their default attendance zone will find that roughly one in five Topeka public schools clears the 7-point threshold — a meaningful concentration of quality options for a mid-sized city. Start with the top-rated elementaries if you have young children, track feeder patterns toward Marjorie French Middle School, and factor Capital City into high school planning. Use school-level scores alongside visit-day observations, since rating data reflects academic performance metrics but won't capture school culture, extracurriculars, or fit for individual students.

Filter by Level: All Levels (53) Elementary (31) Middle (9) High (9)

Filter by Type: All Types (53) Public (42) Private (11)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (53) Academics (41) Growth (40) Resources (41)

Filter by ZIP: 66604 (8) 66606 (8) 66614 (8) 66605 (6) 66617 (4) 66608 (3) 66618 (3) 66619 (3) 66611 (2) 66612 (2) 66616 (2)

Elementary Schools

31 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Jay Shideler Elementary 519 students · Kindergarten–6th	519	Kindergarten–6th	8.6
2	Whitson Elem 434 students · Pre-K–5th	434	Pre-K–5th	8.6
3	Elmont Elem 313 students · Kindergarten–6th	313	Kindergarten–6th	8.4
4	North Fairview 302 students · Kindergarten–6th	302	Kindergarten–6th	8.4
5	West Indianola Elem 438 students · Kindergarten–6th	438	Kindergarten–6th	8.0
6	Northern Hills Elementary 419 students · Kindergarten–6th	419	Kindergarten–6th	8.0
7	Jardine Elementary 714 students · Pre-K–5th	714	Pre-K–5th	7.8
8	Indian Hills Elementary 445 students · Kindergarten–6th	445	Kindergarten–6th	7.7
9	Mccarter Elem 392 students · Pre-K–5th	392	Pre-K–5th	7.7
10	State Street Elem 419 students · Pre-K–5th	419	Pre-K–5th	7.7

Show all 31 elementary schools in Topeka

Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.

Middle Schools

9 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Marjorie French Middle School 462 students · 6th–8th	462	6th–8th	7.5
2	Landon Middle School 421 students · 6th–8th	421	6th–8th	7.0
3	Robinson Middle School 348 students · 6th–8th	348	6th–8th	6.4
4	Jardine Middle School 512 students · 6th–8th	512	6th–8th	6.2
5	Washburn Rural Middle School 1,008 students · 7th–8th	1,008	7th–8th	5.6
6	Chase Middle School 368 students · 6th–8th	368	6th–8th	5.6
7	Seaman Middle School 558 students · 7th–8th	558	7th–8th	4.5
8	Eisenhower Middle School 427 students · 6th–8th	427	6th–8th	4.0
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	Topeka Adventist School Private 8 students · 2nd–7th	8	2nd–7th	—

High Schools

9 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Capital City 64 students · 7th–12th	64	7th–12th	5.6
2	Washburn Rural High 1,885 students · 9th–12th	1,885	9th–12th	5.2
3	Topeka High 1,508 students · 9th–12th	1,508	9th–12th	4.9
4	Topeka West High 1,009 students · 9th–12th	1,009	9th–12th	4.9
5	Seaman High 1,179 students · 9th–12th	1,179	9th–12th	4.5
6	Hope Street Charter Academy 84 students · 9th–12th	84	9th–12th	4.2
7	Lawrence Gardner High School 77 students · 7th–12th	77	7th–12th	4.1
8	Highland Park High 836 students · 9th–12th	836	9th–12th	3.6
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	Hayden Catholic High School Private 335 students · 9th–12th	335	9th–12th	6.5

Other Schools

4 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Avondale Academy 18 students · Kindergarten–12th	18	Kindergarten–12th	—
Private Schools 3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	Heritage Christian School Private 124 students · Pre-K–12th	124	Pre-K–12th	7.5
2	Cair Paravel Latin School Private 408 students · Pre-K–12th	408	Pre-K–12th	5.9
3	Cair Paravel Latin School Private 410 students · Pre-K–12th	410	Pre-K–12th	5.9

Schools in Topeka

Topeka, Kansas · 53 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 15 ZIP codes

Median Income

$65,945

Median Home Value

$153,714

Median Rent

$1,013/mo

Population

161,578

College Educated

29%

Homeownership

62%

Avg Commute

17 min

Poverty Rate

14.2%

Community Profile

Topeka has a median household income of $65,945. It is an area where 29% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $153,714, with a median rent of $1,013/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.2%. Residents enjoy a short average commute of 17 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Schools by Level

State: Kansas
Elementary: 31
Middle: 9
High: 9
Other: 4

Resources

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

School Districts (5)

Department of Corrections

1 school · 77 students

Auburn-Washburn

9 schools · 6,008 students

Seaman

7 schools · 3,807 students

Shawnee Heights

6 schools · 3,659 students

Topeka Public Schools

27 schools · 12,601 students

Nearby Cities

Silver Lake (2 schools)

Carbondale (2 schools)

17 mi

Rossville (2 schools)

Burlingame (2 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 Shawnee 24 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 Topeka, Kansas

How many schools are in Topeka, Kansas?

Topeka has 53 schools, including 42 public and 11 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Topeka, Kansas?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Topeka is 6.5 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 Topeka, Kansas?

The top-ranked school in Topeka on MySchoolScout is Jay Shideler Elementary with a composite score of 8.6/10.

What is the best elementary school in Topeka, Kansas?

The top-ranked elementary school in Topeka on MySchoolScout is Jay Shideler Elementary with a composite score of 8.6/10.

What is the best middle school in Topeka, Kansas?

The top-ranked middle school in Topeka on MySchoolScout is Marjorie French Middle School with a composite score of 7.5/10.

What is the best high school in Topeka, Kansas?

The top-ranked high school in Topeka on MySchoolScout is Hayden Catholic High School with a composite score of 6.5/10.

How many school districts serve Topeka, Kansas?

Topeka is served by 5 school districts: Department of Corrections, Auburn-washburn, Seaman, Shawnee Heights, Topeka Public Schools.

What is the education level in Topeka, Kansas?

According to Census data, 29% of adults in Topeka have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Topeka, Kansas?

The median household income in Topeka is approximately $65,945 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Topeka, Kansas?

Yes, Topeka has 11 private schools alongside 42 public schools. The top-rated private school is Topeka Collegiate School with a score of 8.2/10.

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

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Topeka is 12.2:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Topeka, 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.