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McPherson High

Q: Is McPherson High a good school?

McPherson High ranks 189 th of 332 Kansas high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public, Magnet Grades 9-12

189^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 332 Kansas High Schools

Better than 43% of Kansas high schools

Summary

McPherson High is a public magnet high school serving grades 9-12 in McPherson, Kansas, with a student population of 692. The school is part of the McPherson school district, which is ranked 157 out of 264 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

While McPherson High has seen fluctuations in its statewide ranking over the past 10 years, it currently ranks #189 out of Kansas high schools, placing it in the bottom half. The school performs better for male students compared to female students, and Hispanic students compared to White students. However, McPherson High struggles with its performance for special education and low socioeconomic status (SES) students, ranking #112 out of 125 Kansas high schools for special education and #154 out of 246 for low-SES students.

When compared to nearby high schools, such as Little River High and Goessel High, McPherson High generally performs worse, with lower statewide rankings, test scores, and graduation rates. The school has also experienced high rates of chronic absenteeism, which may be impacting its academic performance. Additionally, the school's relatively high percentage of free and reduced-price lunch recipients suggests that socioeconomic factors may be playing a role in the school's outcomes, particularly for its lower-performing student subgroups.

658

Students ?

12.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,062

Per pupil spending ?

40.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

801 E First Street
McPherson, KS 67460

(620) 241-9500

District: McPherson

Feeder schools for McPherson High:

Elementary:	Eisenhower Elementary
	Lincoln Elementary
	Roosevelt Elementary
	Washington Elementary
Middle:	McPherson Middle School

Racial breakdown:

White:

75.4%

Hispanic:

16.1%

Two or more races:

7.3%

See top rated Kansas high schools

Compare McPherson High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 27th percentile in 2015 → 43rd in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 16 percentile points since 2015

✓Small classes — about 12 students per teacher

Worth a look

!Test scores below the Kansas average (34% vs 42% meeting standards)

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

!English Language Arts scores 12 pts below the Kansas average

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school34%

District avg39%

Kansas avg42%

189^th of 332

Kansas public high schools ?

Bottom 43%▲ up 16 pts since 2015

From bottom 27% (2015) to bottom 43% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Kansas High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

157^th of 264McPherson among Kansas districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2025	44.2	189 of 332	43.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	53.2	142 of 318	55.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	67.2	81 of 327	75.2%	★★★★☆
2022	44.4	185 of 324	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	53.7	141 of 320	55.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	52.2	149 of 325	54.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	45.7	166 of 314	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2017	25.0	245 of 316	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2016	13.9	279 of 313	10.9%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	36.7	239 of 326	26.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	45.1	221 of 323	31.6%	★★☆☆☆
2012	18.8	290 of 317	8.5%	☆☆☆☆☆
2010	41.2	218 of 302	27.8%	★☆☆☆☆
2009	60.4	125 of 291	57.0%	★★★☆☆
2008	45.7	172 of 267	35.6%	★★☆☆☆
2007	55.0	133 of 280	52.5%	★★★☆☆
2006	63.4	86 of 262	67.2%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2021	28.9	86 of 115	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	30.8	88 of 111	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	19.3	90 of 110	18.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2021	53.9	108 of 250	56.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	38.7	158 of 249	36.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	35.4	163 of 248	34.3%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2025	48.4	46 of 106	56.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.1	52 of 105	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	61.2	35 of 110	68.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	60.3	34 of 102	66.7%	★★★☆☆
2021	45.0	50 of 99	49.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	48.9	37 of 92	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	39.0	50 of 89	43.8%	★★☆☆☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2025	37.7	154 of 246	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2024	59.7	76 of 249	69.5%	★★★☆☆
2023	51.3	112 of 250	55.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	43.9	130 of 223	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	44.8	118 of 213	44.6%	★★☆☆☆
2019	36.2	152 of 229	33.6%	★★☆☆☆
2018	27.1	171 of 228	25.0%	★☆☆☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2021	54.4	102 of 258	60.5%	★★★☆☆
2019	63.6	78 of 252	69.0%	★★★☆☆
2018	53.1	110 of 248	55.6%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2024	40.5	38 of 67	43.3%	★★☆☆☆
2023	35.0	40 of 64	37.5%	★★☆☆☆
2021	57.0	23 of 55	58.2%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2025	22.6	112 of 125	10.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2024	52.2	43 of 124	65.3%	★★★☆☆
2023	47.3	51 of 122	58.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	28.0	93 of 117	20.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	28.9	86 of 115	25.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	30.8	88 of 111	20.7%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	19.3	90 of 110	18.2%	☆☆☆☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2025	47.6	157 of 306	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2024	54.7	116 of 295	60.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	69.2	72 of 309	76.7%	★★★★☆
2022	38.5	203 of 307	33.9%	★★☆☆☆
2021	53.0	124 of 302	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2019	54.4	131 of 306	57.2%	★★★☆☆
2018	45.0	158 of 296	46.6%	★★☆☆☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

Male (2021)60th percentile+5 vs school

Female (2021)57th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2025)57th percentile+14 vs school

White (2025)49th percentile+6 vs school

Multi-racial (2024)43rd percentile-12 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)37th percentile-6 vs school

Disabled (2021)25th percentile-31 vs school

Special Education (2025)10th percentile-33 vs school

By subject vs Kansas (2024-2025) ?

Mathematics36%-3 vs state

English Language Arts33%-12 vs state

★

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Schools Near McPherson High

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				KAP English Language Arts (2025)					KAP Mathematics (2025)					KAP Science (2025)		Per Pupil Expenditures (2024)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	KAP English Language Arts 6th Grade	KAP English Language Arts 7th Grade	KAP English Language Arts 8th Grade	KAP English Language Arts 10th Grade	KAP English Language Arts All Grades	KAP Mathematics 6th Grade	KAP Mathematics 7th Grade	KAP Mathematics 8th Grade	KAP Mathematics 10th Grade	KAP Mathematics All Grades	KAP Science 8th Grade	KAP Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
McPherson High	Public, Magnet	9-12	801 E First Street	McPherson	67460	McPherson County	McPherson	No	Yes	No	No	(620) 241-9500	658	55	12.0	40.3%	496 (75.4%)	5 (0.8%)	106 (16.1%)	3 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (7.3%)	44.2	189^th of 332 public high schools	43.1%		53.2	142^nd of 318 public high schools	55.3%	47				32.7	32.7				35.7	35.7			$16,062	$919	$15,142
Canton-Galva Junior/Senior High	Public	6-12	506 S. Kansas	Canton	67428	McPherson County	Canton-Galva	No	No	No	No	(620) 628-4401	174	14	12.7	36.8%	150 (86.2%)	2 (1.1%)	16 (9.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.4%)	26.3	255^th of 332 public high schools	23.2%		20.6	277^th of 318 public high schools	12.9%	22	31.6	40.0	33.3	21.7	31.5	15.8	30.0	37.0	30.4	29.2	22.2	22.2	$14,783	$853	$13,930
Inman Junior/Senior High School	Public	7-12	404 S Main	Inman	67546	McPherson County	Inman	No	No	No	No	(620) 585-6441	188	20	9.3	34.0%	170 (90.4%)	0 (0.0%)	11 (5.9%)	1 (0.5%)	1 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.7%)	53	142^nd of 332 public high schools	57.2%		58.2	112^th of 318 public high schools	64.8%	30		51.7	66.7	32.4	46.9		41.4	61.1	44.1	46.9	61.1	61.1	$14,694	$2,629	$12,066
Smoky Valley High	Public	9-12	1 Viking Blvd	Lindsborg	67456	McPherson County	Smoky Valley	No	No	No	No	(785) 227-2909	243	24	10.1	36.6%	224 (92.2%)	0 (0.0%)	13 (5.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.5%)	94.3	16^th of 332 public high schools	95.2%		50.9	153^rd of 318 public high schools	51.9%	137				61.5	61.5				59.6	59.6			$17,692	$667	$17,025
Moundridge High	Public	9-12	526 E. Cole	Moundridge	67107	McPherson County	Moundridge	No	No	No	No	(620) 345-5500	160	13	12.1	35.0%	144 (90.0%)	3 (1.9%)	10 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.9%)	90.3	27^th of 332 public high schools	91.9%		63.8	90^th of 318 public high schools	71.7%	63				52.2	52.2				63.0	63.0			$11,895	$946	$10,950
Buhler High	Public	9-12	611 N Main	Buhler	67522	Reno County	Buhler	No	No	No	No	(620) 543-2255	674	48	14.1	34.1%	587 (87.1%)	5 (0.7%)	61 (9.1%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	17 (2.5%)	47.1	173^rd of 332 public high schools	47.9%		49.8	159^th of 318 public high schools	50.0%	14				37.4	37.4				32.4	32.4			$12,798	$677	$12,121
Goessel High	Public	6-12	100 E Main	Goessel	67053	Marion County	Goessel	No	No	No	No	(620) 367-2242	154	17	9.2	24.0%	139 (90.3%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (5.2%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (3.9%)	75.5	67^th of 332 public high schools	79.8%		50.6	155^th of 318 public high schools	51.3%	88	36.8	69.6	45.8	43.5	49.4	10.5	34.8	41.7	52.2	35.9	41.7	41.7	$16,961	$1,255	$15,706
Little River High	Public	9-12	430 Waverly Street	Little River	67457	Rice County	Little River	No	No	No	No	(620) 897-6201	89	10	8.9	25.8%	74 (83.1%)	1 (1.1%)	10 (11.2%)	1 (1.1%)	1 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (2.2%)	90.8	26^th of 332 public high schools	92.2%		77.6	48^th of 318 public high schools	84.9%	22				59.1	59.1				54.5	54.5			$17,352	$591	$16,761

Frequently Asked Questions about McPherson High

Is McPherson High a good school?

McPherson High ranks 189^th of 332 Kansas high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools feed into McPherson High?

McPherson High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Eisenhower Elementary
Elementary : Lincoln Elementary
Elementary : Roosevelt Elementary
Elementary : Washington Elementary
Middle : McPherson Middle School

How many students attend McPherson High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 658 students attended McPherson High.

What district is McPherson High in?

McPherson

What is the racial makeup of McPherson High?

Students at McPherson High are 75% White, 16% Hispanic, 7% Two or more races.

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Kansas State Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.