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Paola Middle

Q: Is Paola Middle a good school?

Paola Middle ranks 104 th of 363 Kansas middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 6-8

104^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 363 Kansas Middle Schools

Better than 71% of Kansas middle schools

Summary

Paola Middle is a public middle school in Paola, Kansas, serving grades 6-8 with a total enrollment of 431 students. The school is part of the Paola District, which is ranked 65 out of 264 districts in Kansas and is rated 4 stars out of 5 by SchoolDigger.

Paola Middle has consistently ranked in the top 25% of Kansas middle schools over the past 10 years, with a 4-star rating in the 2024-2025 school year. The school's performance on state assessments is generally above the state average, particularly in English Language Arts and Science. Paola Middle has also shown strong performance for Hispanic and Special Education students, ranking in the top 25% and top 15% of Kansas middle schools, respectively, in recent years. However, the school has experienced a relatively high chronic absenteeism rate, ranging from 11.4% to 19.7% in recent years, which is higher than the state average.

Compared to nearby schools like Aubry Bend Middle School and Woodland Spring Middle School, which are ranked among the top 25 middle schools in Kansas, Paola Middle performs well but lags behind in some areas, such as English Language Arts and Mathematics proficiency rates. Paola Middle's per-student spending of $12,013 in 2018-2019 is higher than the state average, but lower than some nearby schools, and its student-teacher ratio of 13.9 in 2023-2024 is similar to the nearby schools, indicating a relatively small class size.

413

Students ?

13.0

Student/teacher ratio ?

$16,218

Per pupil spending ?

39.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

405 Hospital Drive
Paola, KS 66071

(913) 294-8030

District: Paola

Students who attend Paola Middle usually attend:

High:

Paola High

Feeder schools for Paola Middle:

Elementary:	Cottonwood Elementary
	Sunflower Elementary

Racial breakdown:

White:

87.7%

Hispanic:

5.6%

Two or more races:

4.4%

See top rated Kansas middle schools

Compare Paola Middle to nearby middle schools!

At a glance

▬ Ranking trend: Holding steady — 73rd percentile in 2015 → 71st in 2025

Strengths

✓Above the Kansas median (71st percentile)

Worth a look

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school46%

District avg49%

Kansas avg42%

104^th of 363

Kansas public middle schools ?

Top 29%▼ down 1 pts since 2015

See the entire ranking list of Kansas Middle Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

65^th of 264Paola 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	63.4	104 of 363	71.3%	★★★★☆
2024	64.6	87 of 362	76.0%	★★★★☆
2023	52.5	129 of 362	64.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	62.4	91 of 368	75.3%	★★★★☆
2021	64.9	88 of 367	76.0%	★★★★☆
2019	43.3	203 of 368	44.8%	★★☆☆☆
2018	39.6	204 of 350	41.7%	★★☆☆☆
2017	51.9	143 of 358	60.1%	★★★☆☆
2016	63.3	93 of 343	72.9%	★★★★☆
2015	63.8	101 of 368	72.6%	★★★★☆
2013	65.5	126 of 355	64.5%	★★★☆☆
2012	58.8	171 of 342	50.0%	★★★☆☆
2011	67.2	94 of 320	70.6%	★★★★☆
2010	70.6	71 of 316	77.5%	★★★★☆
2009	57.3	139 of 307	54.7%	★★★☆☆
2008	60.7	119 of 296	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2007	48.7	168 of 286	41.3%	★★☆☆☆
2006	57.0	121 of 277	56.3%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2021	37.9	102 of 160	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	38.8	95 of 157	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	64.0	31 of 132	76.5%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2021	65.4	76 of 313	75.7%	★★★★☆
2019	45.6	155 of 294	47.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	41.6	161 of 275	41.5%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2024	61.5	37 of 144	74.3%	★★★★☆
2023	90.6	5 of 140	96.4%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2025	64.5	72 of 285	74.7%	★★★★☆
2024	64.8	56 of 296	81.1%	★★★★☆
2023	46.9	137 of 300	54.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	65.4	46 of 270	83.0%	★★★★☆
2021	58.1	86 of 275	68.7%	★★★☆☆
2019	50.0	123 of 270	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2018	48.1	112 of 255	56.1%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2021	64.0	78 of 308	74.7%	★★★★☆
2019	39.6	179 of 301	40.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	36.7	180 of 280	35.7%	★★☆☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2023	54.0	34 of 90	62.2%	★★★☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2025	58.8	52 of 177	70.6%	★★★★☆
2024	72.9	24 of 164	85.4%	★★★★☆
2023	87.6	11 of 178	93.8%	★★★★★
2022	39.2	95 of 171	44.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	37.9	102 of 160	36.3%	★★☆☆☆
2019	38.8	95 of 157	39.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	64.0	31 of 132	76.5%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2025	60.1	113 of 349	67.6%	★★★☆☆
2024	61.0	89 of 347	74.4%	★★★★☆
2023	46.0	166 of 349	52.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.6	106 of 349	69.6%	★★★☆☆
2021	61.7	92 of 349	73.6%	★★★★☆
2019	35.1	230 of 344	33.1%	★★☆☆☆
2018	32.2	233 of 333	30.0%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Female (2021)76th percentile~ school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)75th percentile+3 vs school

Male (2021)75th percentile~ school

Hispanic (2024)74th percentile~ school

Special Education (2025)71st percentile~ school

White (2025)68th percentile-4 vs school

Multi-racial (2023)62nd percentile~ school

Disabled (2021)36th percentile-40 vs school

By subject vs Kansas (2024-2025) ?

Science48%+7 vs state

English Language Arts46%~ state avg

Mathematics45%+6 vs state

★

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Schools Near Paola Middle

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 5th Grade	KAP English Language Arts 6th Grade	KAP English Language Arts 7th Grade	KAP English Language Arts 8th Grade	KAP English Language Arts All Grades	KAP Mathematics 5th Grade	KAP Mathematics 6th Grade	KAP Mathematics 7th Grade	KAP Mathematics 8th Grade	KAP Mathematics All Grades	KAP Science 5th Grade	KAP Science 8th Grade	KAP Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Paola Middle	Public	6-8	405 Hospital Drive	Paola	66071	Miami County	Paola	No	No	No	No	(913) 294-8030	413	32	13.0	39.5%	362 (87.7%)	6 (1.5%)	23 (5.6%)	1 (0.2%)	2 (0.5%)	1 (0.2%)	18 (4.4%)	63.4	104^th of 363 public middle schools	71.3%		64.6	87^th of 362 public middle schools	76.0%	17		40.2	52.0	44.0	45.8		43.1	44.4	46.7	44.8		48.0	48.0	$16,218	$3,272	$12,946
Osawatomie Middle School	Public	6-8	428 Pacific	Osawatomie	66064	Miami County	Osawatomie	No	No	No	No	(913) 755-4155	195	15	12.6	68.7%	160 (82.1%)	2 (1.0%)	15 (7.7%)	1 (0.5%)	2 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (7.7%)	31.9	263^rd of 363 public middle schools	27.5%		43.1	182^nd of 362 public middle schools	49.7%	81		24.1	37.3	26.3	29.8		28.3	23.9	35.1	28.8		43.1	43.1	$15,377	$1,295	$14,082
Louisburg Middle	Public	6-8	505 E. Amity	Louisburg	66053	Miami County	Louisburg	No	No	No	No	(913) 837-1800	378	25	15.0	21.2%	332 (87.8%)	2 (0.5%)	24 (6.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	19 (5.0%)	90.1	24^th of 363 public middle schools	93.4%		89.3	22^nd of 362 public middle schools	93.9%	2		62.7	56.8	73.9	65.0		55.1	55.1	68.8	60.2		74.6	74.6	$12,068	$1,154	$10,914
Spring Hill Middle School	Public	6-8	301 E South Street	Spring Hill	66083	Miami County	Spring Hill	No	No	No	No	(913) 592-7288	288	28	10.2	33.3%	230 (79.9%)	5 (1.7%)	24 (8.3%)	1 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	28 (9.7%)	61.8	112^th of 363 public middle schools	69.1%		58.3	113^th of 362 public middle schools	68.8%	1		45.4	52.6	40.9	46.4		40.2	47.9	34.8	41.1		51.7	51.7	$18,708	$3,248	$15,460
Forest Spring Middle School	Public	6-8	18701 W 191st St	Spring Hill	66083	Johnson County	Spring Hill	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(913) 592-7388	296	23	12.7	14.2%	246 (83.1%)	7 (2.4%)	19 (6.4%)	8 (2.7%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	16 (5.4%)	90.5	23^rd of 363 public middle schools	93.7%					(n/a)		68.6	72.0	55.8	66.0		61.3	64.4	60.9	62.2		55.2	55.2	$14,196	$2,566	$11,630
Wellsville Middle School	Public	6-8	602 Walnut Street	Wellsville	66092	Franklin County	Wellsville	No	No	No	No	(785) 883-4350	167	15	11.3	34.1%	155 (92.8%)	2 (1.2%)	5 (3.0%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.4%)	51.7	162^nd of 363 public middle schools	55.4%		31	263^rd of 362 public middle schools	27.3%	101		35.7	54.8	38.8	43.7		30.4	34.9	36.7	33.9		51.0	51.0	$15,672	$21	$15,652
Prairie View Middle	Public	6-8	13667 KS Hwy 152	LaCygne	66040	Linn County	Prairie View	No	No	No	No	(913) 757-4497	195	16	12.1	48.2%	167 (85.6%)	3 (1.5%)	12 (6.2%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.5%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (5.1%)	55.5	143^rd of 363 public middle schools	60.6%		47.6	163^rd of 362 public middle schools	55.0%	20		39.3	37.7	55.9	43.9		50.8	32.4	39.0	40.3		42.4	42.4	$16,623	$575	$16,048
Trail Ridge Middle School	Public	5-8	495 E. Grand Street	Gardner	66030	Johnson County	Gardner Edgerton	No	No	No	Yes	(913) 856-3550	679	55	12.3	44.0%	469 (69.1%)	26 (3.8%)	132 (19.4%)	10 (1.5%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	40 (5.9%)	40.9	211^th of 363 public middle schools	41.9%		40.9	199^th of 362 public middle schools	45.0%	12	57.0	28.0	38.1	35.6	39.5	57.8	31.2	31.6	47.3	41.7	45.8	38.2	41.9	$12,620	$954	$11,666
Wheatridge Middle School	Public	5-8	318 E. Washington Street	Gardner	66030	Johnson County	Gardner Edgerton	No	No	No	Yes	(913) 856-2900	517	45	11.4	42.2%	377 (72.9%)	30 (5.8%)	60 (11.6%)	7 (1.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	42 (8.1%)	52.6	157^th of 363 public middle schools	56.7%		49.6	153^rd of 362 public middle schools	57.7%	4	50.4	37.5	51.6	49.3	47.3	50.4	35.0	41.5	34.3	40.0	46.9	35.0	40.4	$13,406	$839	$12,567
Aubry Bend Middle School	Public	6-8	12501 W. 175th Street	Overland Park	66221	Johnson County	Blue Valley	No	No	No	No	(913) 624-2300	792	56	14.2	5.6%	605 (76.4%)	16 (2.0%)	36 (4.5%)	94 (11.9%)	1 (0.1%)	1 (0.1%)	39 (4.9%)	98.3	2^nd of 363 public middle schools	99.4%		93.6	13^th of 362 public middle schools	96.4%	11		78.0	78.1	73.5	76.5		72.7	81.0	77.1	76.8		74.9	74.9	$11,592	$794	$10,798

Frequently Asked Questions about Paola Middle

What district is Paola Middle in?

Paola

How many students attend Paola Middle?

In the 2024-25 school year, 413 students attended Paola Middle.

What high school do graduates of Paola Middle attend?

Students who attend Paola Middle usually go on to attend Paola High

Is Paola Middle a good school?

Paola Middle ranks 104^th of 363 Kansas middle schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Paola Middle?

Students at Paola Middle are 88% White, 6% Hispanic, 4% Two or more races, 1% African American.

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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.