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Paola High

Q: Is Paola High a good school?

Paola High ranks 129 th of 332 Kansas high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

129^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 332 Kansas High Schools

Better than 61% of Kansas high schools

Summary

Paola High is a public high school serving 589 students in grades 9-12 in Paola, Kansas, which is part of the Paola District. The school has shown steady improvement in its academic performance, moving up in the statewide rankings over the past few years and performing well compared to many nearby schools, such as Blue Valley Southwest High School and Louisburg High.

Paola High's student performance on state assessments has improved, with increasing percentages of students proficient or better in English Language Arts and Mathematics across all grades. The school's performance is particularly strong in certain student subgroups, such as Hispanic students and Special Education students, where it ranks among the top schools in the state. Paola High has also maintained a high four-year graduation rate, ranging from 88.1% to 98.0% in recent years, which is on par with or better than the nearby schools.

However, Paola High has experienced higher chronic absenteeism rates compared to the state average, ranging from 11.4% to 19.7% in recent years. Additionally, the percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch at the school has increased from 25.31% in 2021-2022 to 32.77% in 2023-2024, indicating a growing population of students from low-income families. The school may need to address these areas of concern to ensure continued progress and success for all students.

567

Students ?

14.1

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,943

Per pupil spending ?

31.2%

Free/discounted lunch ?

401 N Angela
Paola, KS 66071

(913) 294-8010

District: Paola

Feeder schools for Paola High:

Elementary:	Cottonwood Elementary
	Sunflower Elementary
Middle:	Paola Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

88.4%

Hispanic:

7.2%

Two or more races:

2.6%

See top rated Kansas high schools

Compare Paola High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 56th percentile in 2015 → 61st in 2025

Strengths

✓98% graduate in 4 years — above the Kansas average (90%)

✓Ranking is trending up — up 5 percentile points since 2015

✓Above the Kansas median (61st percentile)

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school38%

District avg47%

Kansas avg42%

129^th of 332

Kansas public high schools ?

Top 39%▲ up 5 pts since 2015

From top 44% (2015) to top 39% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Kansas High 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	56.5	129 of 332	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	57.1	117 of 318	63.2%	★★★☆☆
2023	46.6	173 of 327	47.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.5	203 of 324	37.3%	★★☆☆☆
2021	41.5	202 of 320	36.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	50.3	155 of 325	52.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	47.2	161 of 314	48.7%	★★☆☆☆
2017	37.6	193 of 316	38.9%	★★☆☆☆
2016	51.7	151 of 313	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2015	56.4	142 of 326	56.4%	★★★☆☆
2013	57.6	156 of 323	51.7%	★★★☆☆
2012	61.4	144 of 317	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2011	74.4	61 of 298	79.5%	★★★★☆
2010	79.8	36 of 302	88.1%	★★★★☆
2009	68.3	90 of 291	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2008	50.9	156 of 267	41.6%	★★☆☆☆
2007	49.3	149 of 280	46.8%	★★☆☆☆
2006	69.5	69 of 262	73.7%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2021	36.1	70 of 115	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	63.1	16 of 111	85.6%	★★★★☆
2018	78.8	12 of 110	89.1%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2021	42.1	150 of 250	40.0%	★★☆☆☆
2019	57.0	100 of 249	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2018	46.7	133 of 248	46.4%	★★☆☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2025	89.2	12 of 106	88.7%	★★★★☆
2023	69.1	19 of 110	82.7%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2025	53.5	103 of 246	58.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	72.0	37 of 249	85.1%	★★★★☆
2023	50.2	117 of 250	53.2%	★★★☆☆
2022	37.5	153 of 223	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2021	64.8	49 of 213	77.0%	★★★★☆
2019	56.4	80 of 229	65.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	53.6	100 of 228	56.1%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2021	40.0	159 of 258	38.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	39.4	163 of 252	35.3%	★★☆☆☆
2018	45.3	133 of 248	46.4%	★★☆☆☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2025	96.9	5 of 125	96.0%	★★★★★
2024	80.2	13 of 124	89.5%	★★★★★
2023	92.4	4 of 122	96.7%	★★★★★
2021	36.1	70 of 115	39.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	63.1	16 of 111	85.6%	★★★★☆
2018	78.8	12 of 110	89.1%	★★★★☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2025	49.1	149 of 306	51.3%	★★★☆☆
2024	49.9	134 of 295	54.6%	★★★☆☆
2023	39.5	192 of 309	37.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	30.6	238 of 307	22.5%	★☆☆☆☆
2021	31.7	235 of 302	22.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2019	43.1	176 of 306	42.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	44.6	159 of 296	46.3%	★★☆☆☆

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)

Special Education (2025)96th percentile+35 vs school

Hispanic (2025)89th percentile+28 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)58th percentile-3 vs school

White (2025)51st percentile-10 vs school

Female (2021)40th percentile+3 vs school

Disabled (2021)39th percentile~ school

Male (2021)38th percentile~ school

By subject vs Kansas (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts44%~ state avg

Mathematics33%-6 vs state

★

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Schools Near Paola High

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Ranking:

E Elementary M Middle H High A Alternative P Private

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 7th Grade	KAP English Language Arts 8th Grade	KAP English Language Arts 10th Grade	KAP English Language Arts All Grades	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
Paola High	Public	9-12	401 N Angela	Paola	66071	Miami County	Paola	No	No	No	No	(913) 294-8010	567	40	14.1	31.2%	501 (88.4%)	5 (0.9%)	41 (7.2%)	1 (0.2%)	4 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	15 (2.6%)	56.5	129^th of 332 public high schools	61.1%		57.1	117^th of 318 public high schools	63.2%	12			43.7	43.7			32.9	32.9			$15,943	$3,283	$12,661
Osawatomie Virtual School	Public, Virtual	9-12	1200 Trojan Drive	Osawatomie	66064	Miami County	Osawatomie	No	No	Yes	No	(913) 755-2191	18			16.7%	17 (94.4%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (5.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)											$22,259	$1,295	$20,964
Osawatomie High	Public	9-12	1200 Trojan Dr	Osawatomie	66064	Miami County	Osawatomie	No	No	No	No	(913) 755-2191	295	27	10.8	55.6%	247 (83.7%)	3 (1.0%)	23 (7.8%)	2 (0.7%)	2 (0.7%)	0 (0.0%)	18 (6.1%)	23.7	267^th of 332 public high schools	19.6%		18.7	280^th of 318 public high schools	11.9%	13			30.5	30.5			18.3	18.3			$15,377	$1,295	$14,082
Louisburg High	Public	9-12	202 Aquatic Drive	Louisburg	66053	Miami County	Louisburg	No	No	No	No	(913) 837-1720	529	37	14.3	14.7%	454 (85.8%)	3 (0.6%)	39 (7.4%)	4 (0.8%)	2 (0.4%)	0 (0.0%)	27 (5.1%)	92.9	20^th of 332 public high schools	94.0%		91.2	16^th of 318 public high schools	95.0%	4			60.3	60.3			57.4	57.4			$12,284	$1,173	$11,111
Insight School of Kansas	Public, Virtual, Charter	7-12	101 E South St	Spring Hill	66083	Miami County	Spring Hill	Yes	No	Yes	No	(913) 592-4600	1,159	34	33.6		737 (63.6%)	96 (8.3%)	173 (14.9%)	7 (0.6%)	8 (0.7%)	1 (0.1%)	137 (11.8%)	25.7	258^th of 332 public high schools	22.3%		39.3	207^th of 318 public high schools	34.9%	51	42.7	42.8	34.8	40.0	17.7	11.8	12.0	13.6	31.5	31.5	$5,515	$00	$5,515
Louisburg Virtual Program	Public, Virtual	6-12	29020 Mission Belleview Road	Louisburg	66053	Miami County	Louisburg	No	No	Yes	No	(913) 837-1700	31				28 (90.3%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (3.2%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (6.5%)								(n/a)											$11,402	$00	$11,402
Spring Hill High School	Public	9-12	19701 S. Ridgeview	Spring Hill	66083	Johnson County	Spring Hill	No	No	No	No	(913) 592-7299	1,121	78	14.3	17.4%	947 (84.5%)	34 (3.0%)	79 (7.0%)	11 (1.0%)	1 (0.1%)	2 (0.2%)	47 (4.2%)	77.3	63^rd of 332 public high schools	81.0%		87.1	24^th of 318 public high schools	92.5%	39			44.2	44.2			53.5	53.5			$13,311	$3,026	$10,285
Wellsville High	Public	9-12	602 Walnut	Wellsville	66092	Franklin County	Wellsville	No	No	No	No	(785) 883-2057	278	16	16.9	29.5%	255 (91.7%)	4 (1.4%)	14 (5.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (1.8%)	13.2	301^st of 332 public high schools	9.3%		44.6	183^rd of 318 public high schools	42.5%	118			20.7	20.7			17.2	17.2			$14,068	$19	$14,049
Prairie View High	Public	9-12	13731 KS Hwy 152	LaCygne	66040	Linn County	Prairie View	No	No	No	No	(913) 757-4447	258	26	9.9	44.6%	219 (84.9%)	2 (0.8%)	20 (7.8%)	3 (1.2%)	6 (2.3%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (3.1%)	40.6	202^nd of 332 public high schools	39.2%		52.9	143^rd of 318 public high schools	55.0%	59			40.3	40.3			22.2	22.2			$19,116	$382	$18,734
Gardner Edgerton High	Public	9-12	425 N. Waverly Road	Gardner	66030	Johnson County	Gardner Edgerton	No	No	No	No	(913) 856-2600	1,794	118	15.2	35.5%	1,299 (72.4%)	88 (4.9%)	223 (12.4%)	48 (2.7%)	5 (0.3%)	0 (0.0%)	131 (7.3%)	35.2	227^th of 332 public high schools	31.6%		39.7	204^th of 318 public high schools	35.8%	23			34.3	34.3			25.7	25.7			$10,697	$511	$10,186

Frequently Asked Questions about Paola High

What district is Paola High in?

Paola

What is the racial makeup of Paola High?

Students at Paola High are 88% White, 7% Hispanic, 3% Two or more races.

Is Paola High a good school?

Paola High ranks 129^th of 332 Kansas high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

What schools feed into Paola High?

Paola High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Cottonwood Elementary
Elementary : Sunflower Elementary
Middle : Paola Middle

How many students attend Paola High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 567 students attended Paola High.

Rate Paola High!

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Latest Kansas data All new data »

2023–24 school spending dataJan 8, 2026

2024–25 dropout ratesDec 4, 2025

2024–25 attendance dataOct 14, 2025

2024–25 KAP test scoresOct 14, 2025

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.