Summary
Paola High serves 567 students in grades 9–12 in Paola, Kansas. In 2025–26, students were proficient at higher rates than the state average in English language arts (ELA), math and science. The school’s clearest strength is ELA and science, while math is less strong compared with local schools. The most important finding is that Paola now exceeds the state in all three tested subjects: 59% in ELA, 45% in math and 50% in science, versus state rates of 46%, 41% and 38%.
Compared with seven nearby conventional high schools, Paola ranked second of eight in ELA and science, and fourth of eight in math. Its ELA and science results were 11 points above the nearby-school averages of 48% and 39%; its math result was 2 points below the nearby average of 47%. Paola was also above the Paola district in ELA (59% versus 56%), but below it in math (45% versus 49%) and science (50% versus 52%). Math is still above the state, but it is the clearest area for improvement relative to the district and nearby schools.
Results have climbed substantially: from 2022–23 to 2025–26, ELA rose from 22% to 59% proficient and math from 16% to 45%, moving both subjects from below the state to above it. SchoolDigger’s statewide rating rose to 4 stars and the 89th percentile in 2025–26, up from the 61st percentile the year before; its rank was 37th of 340 schools. SchoolDigger’s subgroup rankings are especially strong for students receiving special education: the group ranked at the 98th percentile statewide, 3rd of 127 schools, compared with Paola’s overall 89th percentile. The student-teacher ratio is 14.1, and 31% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, close to the nearby-school average of 29%; these are context, not explanations for results. Graduation was 98% in 2023–24, while chronic absenteeism was 17% in 2025–26, 4 points above the district’s 13%.
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