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McCarter Elementary

Q: Is McCarter Elementary a good school?

McCarter Elementary ranks 403 rd of 656 Kansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

Public Grades PK, KG-5

403^rd

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 656 Kansas Elementary Schools

Better than 39% of Kansas elementary schools

Summary

McCarter Elementary is a public elementary school in Topeka, Kansas, serving 392 students in grades PK-5. While the school consistently outperforms the Topeka Public Schools district and the state of Kansas in academic proficiency, it lags behind some of the nearby schools in the Auburn-Washburn district, such as Farley Elementary and Indian Hills Elementary.

McCarter Elementary has a relatively high chronic absenteeism rate, ranging from 19.5% to 35.7% over the past few years, which is significantly higher than the state average and the nearby Auburn-Washburn district schools. The school performs well for female and multi-racial students, but struggles with the performance of male, Hispanic, and special education students, ranking in the bottom half or bottom third of Kansas elementary schools for these subgroups. Additionally, McCarter has a high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds, with 52.88% to 75.84% of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch.

The performance of McCarter Elementary has declined over the past several years, with the school's statewide ranking dropping from the top quarter of Kansas elementary schools in 2018-2019 to the bottom half in more recent years. This trend suggests the need for the school and district to implement targeted interventions and support to improve student outcomes. Addressing the significant performance gaps between student subgroups and learning from the success of nearby Auburn-Washburn district schools could be crucial for improving outcomes at McCarter Elementary.

401

Students ?

12.4

Student/teacher ratio ?

$15,778

Per pupil spending ?

68.3%

Free/discounted lunch ?

5512 SW 16th St
Topeka, KS 66604

(785) 438-4660

District: Topeka Public Schools

Students who attend McCarter Elementary usually attend:

Middle:	Landon Middle School
High:	Topeka West High

Racial breakdown:

White:

35.7%

Hispanic:

29.4%

Two or more races:

21.2%

See top rated Kansas elementary schools

Compare McCarter Elementary to nearby elementary schools!

At a glance

▲ Ranking trend: Improving — 20th percentile in 2015 → 39th in 2025

Strengths

✓Ranking is trending up — up 19 percentile points since 2015

✓Among the top-ranked schools in Topeka Public Schools

Worth a look

!High chronic absenteeism (30% vs 20% Kansas)

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

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school41%

District avg26%

Kansas avg42%

403^rd of 656

Kansas public elementary schools ?

Bottom 39%▲ up 18 pts since 2015

From bottom 20% (2015) to bottom 39% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of Kansas Elementary Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

2^nd of 14Elementary Schools in the Topeka Public Schools

247^th of 264Topeka Public Schools 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	41.1	403 of 656	38.6%	★★☆☆☆
2024	45.2	373 of 653	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2023	42.0	389 of 660	41.1%	★★☆☆☆
2022	42.4	403 of 668	39.7%	★★☆☆☆
2021	50.7	336 of 670	49.9%	★★☆☆☆
2019	70.2	166 of 667	75.1%	★★★★☆
2018	68.6	174 of 656	73.5%	★★★★☆
2017	46.1	369 of 659	44.0%	★★☆☆☆
2016	24.7	524 of 656	20.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2015	27.9	540 of 678	20.4%	★☆☆☆☆
2013	50.9	418 of 668	37.4%	★★☆☆☆
2012	55.1	387 of 660	41.4%	★★☆☆☆
2011	50.6	390 of 631	38.2%	★★☆☆☆
2010	72.4	149 of 630	76.3%	★★★★☆
2009	66.3	230 of 621	63.0%	★★★☆☆
2008	82.0	46 of 614	92.5%	★★★★★
2007	76.4	106 of 600	82.3%	★★★★☆
2006	67.7	196 of 585	66.5%	★★★☆☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2018	53.5	60 of 140	57.1%	★★★☆☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2021	57.9	234 of 591	60.4%	★★★☆☆
2019	72.3	132 of 591	77.7%	★★★★☆
2018	63.5	197 of 574	65.7%	★★★☆☆

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2025	59.0	80 of 262	69.5%	★★★★☆
2024	38.6	170 of 260	34.6%	★★☆☆☆
2023	24.3	213 of 245	13.1%	★☆☆☆☆
2022	51.9	108 of 254	57.5%	★★★☆☆
2021	92.2	8 of 229	96.5%	★★★★★
2019	86.7	15 of 235	93.6%	★★★★★
2018	85.7	12 of 207	94.2%	★★★★★

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2025	50.6	255 of 533	52.2%	★★★☆☆
2024	42.5	323 of 546	40.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	48.3	268 of 541	50.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	54.8	207 of 512	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2019	82.0	26 of 509	94.9%	★★★★★
2018	78.9	44 of 512	91.4%	★★★★★

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2021	43.0	359 of 605	40.7%	★★☆☆☆
2019	67.4	151 of 586	74.2%	★★★★☆
2018	72.0	128 of 575	77.7%	★★★★☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2025	56.3	10 of 35	71.4%	★★★★☆
2024	57.5	15 of 41	63.4%	★★★☆☆
2022	36.2	19 of 29	34.5%	★★☆☆☆
2018	80.0	1 of 15	93.3%	★★★★★

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2025	41.2	176 of 313	43.8%	★★☆☆☆
2024	38.0	178 of 306	41.8%	★★☆☆☆
2023	52.9	131 of 296	55.7%	★★★☆☆
2022	30.4	225 of 305	26.2%	★☆☆☆☆
2018	53.5	60 of 140	57.1%	★★★☆☆

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	Kansas percentile	Rating
2025	57.4	237 of 576	58.9%	★★★☆☆
2024	62.1	191 of 579	67.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	59.9	213 of 584	63.5%	★★★☆☆
2022	56.5	242 of 596	59.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	56.9	236 of 587	59.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	64.1	183 of 592	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2018	62.9	190 of 574	66.9%	★★★☆☆

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)

Multi-racial (2025)71st percentile+33 vs school

Hispanic (2025)69th percentile+31 vs school

Female (2021)60th percentile+11 vs school

White (2025)59th percentile+20 vs school

Disabled (2018)57th percentile-16 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)52nd percentile+14 vs school

Special Education (2025)44th percentile+5 vs school

Male (2021)41st percentile-9 vs school

By subject vs Kansas (2024-2025) ?

English Language Arts46%~ state avg

Science42%~ state avg

Mathematics36%-3 vs state

5.0

2 ratings · 1 written review

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What people are saying

by a parent
Wednesday, October 16, 2013

McCarter is an excellent school with excellent teachers and staff. Close Quote

Schools Near McCarter Elementary

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 3rd Grade	KAP English Language Arts 4th Grade	KAP English Language Arts 5th Grade	KAP English Language Arts 6th Grade	KAP English Language Arts All Grades	KAP Mathematics 3rd Grade	KAP Mathematics 4th Grade	KAP Mathematics 5th Grade	KAP Mathematics 6th Grade	KAP Mathematics All Grades	KAP Science 5th Grade	KAP Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
McCarter Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	5512 SW 16th St	Topeka	66604	Shawnee County	Topeka Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(785) 438-4660	401	32	12.4	68.3%	143 (35.7%)	50 (12.5%)	118 (29.4%)	3 (0.7%)	2 (0.5%)	0 (0.0%)	85 (21.2%)	41.1	403^rd of 656 public elementary schools	38.6%		45.2	373^rd of 653 public elementary schools	42.9%	30	43.5	41.4	54.2		46.0	31.4	32.4	44.1		35.5	42.4	42.4	$15,778	$2,927	$12,851
McClure Elementary	Public	K-5	2529 SW Chelsea Dr	Topeka	66614	Shawnee County	Topeka Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(785) 438-4340	301	23	13.0	69.1%	131 (43.5%)	35 (11.6%)	78 (25.9%)	1 (0.3%)	1 (0.3%)	4 (1.3%)	51 (16.9%)	21.4	539^th of 656 public elementary schools	17.8%		38.4	427^th of 653 public elementary schools	34.6%	112	34.0	28.8	46.8		36.3	17.0	19.2	29.8		21.9	32.6	32.6	$15,907	$3,069	$12,838
Whitson Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1725 SW Arnold Ave	Topeka	66604	Shawnee County	Topeka Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(785) 438-4570	416	32	12.8	64.2%	207 (49.8%)	31 (7.5%)	126 (30.3%)	4 (1.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	48 (11.5%)	50.7	330^th of 656 public elementary schools	49.7%		60.6	238^th of 653 public elementary schools	63.6%	92	55.1	63.6	44.6		54.5	43.5	43.9	33.8		40.5	38.5	38.5	$16,511	$2,935	$13,576
Wanamaker Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	6630 SW 10th	Topeka	66615	Shawnee County	Auburn-Washburn	No	No	No	No	(785) 339-4800	475	35	13.5	39.6%	286 (60.2%)	18 (3.8%)	78 (16.4%)	36 (7.6%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	57 (12.0%)	59.8	260^th of 656 public elementary schools	60.4%		70	159^th of 653 public elementary schools	75.7%	101	47.8	51.7	51.6	66.1	54.3	40.3	42.6	34.9	59.7	44.6	57.1	57.1	$11,874	$713	$11,161
McEachron Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	4433 SW 29th Terr	Topeka	66614	Shawnee County	Topeka Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(785) 438-4430	422	30	13.9	68.2%	185 (43.8%)	58 (13.7%)	91 (21.6%)	5 (1.2%)	3 (0.7%)	1 (0.2%)	79 (18.7%)	19.2	554^th of 656 public elementary schools	15.5%		36.3	440^th of 653 public elementary schools	32.6%	114	31.2	44.6	17.2		31.7	20.3	28.0	16.9		22.1	34.4	34.4	$15,034	$2,793	$12,240
Randolph Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1400 SW Randolph Ave	Topeka	66604	Shawnee County	Topeka Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(785) 438-4480	346	26	13.1	72.8%	158 (45.7%)	40 (11.6%)	89 (25.7%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.6%)	2 (0.6%)	55 (15.9%)	30.6	484^th of 656 public elementary schools	26.2%		24.8	516^th of 653 public elementary schools	21.0%	32	46.3	28.6	47.9		41.1	45.4	18.0	30.6		31.8	28.6	28.6	$15,894	$2,921	$12,972
Farley Elementary	Public	PK, KG-6	6701 SW 33rd Street	Topeka	66614	Shawnee County	Auburn-Washburn	No	No	No	No	(785) 408-8300	596	43	13.7	32.7%	372 (62.4%)	31 (5.2%)	59 (9.9%)	41 (6.9%)	6 (1.0%)	5 (0.8%)	82 (13.8%)	66.4	211^th of 656 public elementary schools	67.8%		67	189^th of 653 public elementary schools	71.1%	22	52.0	57.4	45.4	49.3	50.4	54.7	72.3	42.9	57.1	55.1	57.1	57.1	$13,304	$757	$12,547
Lowman Hill Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	1101 SW Garfield Ave	Topeka	66604	Shawnee County	Topeka Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(785) 235-7060	294	23	12.5	82.7%	108 (36.7%)	33 (11.2%)	111 (37.8%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (0.7%)	1 (0.3%)	39 (13.3%)	24.5	516^th of 656 public elementary schools	21.3%		27.7	496^th of 653 public elementary schools	24.0%	20	27.9	40.4	31.9		33.6	27.9	29.2	38.3		31.9	29.8	29.8	$20,295	$3,379	$16,916
Jardine Elementary	Public	PK, KG-5	2600 SW 33rd St	Topeka	66611	Shawnee County	Topeka Public Schools	No	No	No	Yes	(785) 295-3000	729	51	14.2	73.8%	256 (35.1%)	126 (17.3%)	205 (28.1%)	8 (1.1%)	2 (0.3%)	2 (0.3%)	130 (17.8%)	22.7	532^nd of 656 public elementary schools	18.9%		20.2	547^th of 653 public elementary schools	16.2%	15	42.4	31.2	38.3		37.7	31.1	18.4	19.7		23.3	36.1	36.1	$14,313	$3,731	$10,582
Indian Hills Elementary	Public	K-6	7445 SW 29th	Topeka	66614	Shawnee County	Auburn-Washburn	No	No	No	No	(785) 339-4500	440	32	13.6	28.2%	297 (67.5%)	23 (5.2%)	47 (10.7%)	30 (6.8%)	1 (0.2%)	0 (0.0%)	42 (9.5%)	67.9	183^rd of 656 public elementary schools	72.1%		76	118^th of 653 public elementary schools	81.9%	65	55.6	54.4	53.5	57.7	55.3	51.6	57.3	38.0	64.8	52.9	54.9	54.9	$11,823	$669	$11,154

Frequently Asked Questions about McCarter Elementary

How many students attend McCarter Elementary?

In the 2024-25 school year, 401 students attended McCarter Elementary.

What is the racial makeup of McCarter Elementary?

Students at McCarter Elementary are 36% White, 29% Hispanic, 21% Two or more races, 12% African American.

What district is McCarter Elementary in?

Topeka Public Schools

Is McCarter Elementary a good school?

McCarter Elementary ranks 403^rd of 656 Kansas elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 2 stars out of 5.

What schools do graduates of McCarter Elementary attend?

Students who attend McCarter Elementary usually go on to attend:

Middle : Landon Middle School
High : Topeka West High

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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.