Summary:
Lawrence has two high schools, Lawrence Free State High and Lawrence High, and both serve grades 9–12. In 2025–26, chronic absenteeism was high at both: 43% at Free State and 48% at Lawrence High, compared with 18% statewide. The most important difference for families to note is the gap between the schools, which is widest in science.
Lawrence Free State High stands out at the top of the pair: its 2025–26 proficiency was 55% in ELA, 52% in math, and 45% in science. Lawrence High had 46% in ELA, 46% in math, and 32% in science, leaving Free State ahead by 10, 6, and 13 percentage points, respectively. Free State was above state results in all three subjects; Lawrence High was about level with the state in ELA, 5 points above in math, and 6 points below in science. Across the two schools, average results were strongest relative to the state in math, about 8 points higher, while science was close to the state average.
Results have improved, especially at Lawrence High: from 2024–25 to 2025–26, its ELA proficiency rose 8 percentage points and math rose 11; Free State gained 1 point in ELA and 3 in math. SchoolDigger ranks Free State 36th of 340 schools statewide, at the 89th percentile, and Lawrence High 102nd, at the 70th percentile. Free State has more students (1,774 versus 1,454) and a slightly higher student–teacher ratio (16.4 versus 14.5), yet stronger results in every reported subject. Its free/reduced-lunch rate was lower, 30% versus 42%; this is context, not an explanation for the difference.
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