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Hill City, KansasPhoto: ADKMatthew · CC BY-SA 4.0
D
Schools in Hill City · Graham County Unified School District 281

Hill City’s public schools score below 86% of Kansas districts on tests and graduation

In Hill City, 20% of tested students read at a proficient level, below the Kansas average (32%). The grade covers the public school district serving Hill City, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within Kansas, not nationally.

≈could be anywhere from D− to B−K–12Where will my kid go?

From Kansas state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
20%
▼ 12 pts vs KS 32%
2021–22
Math proficiency
19%
▼ 10 pts vs KS 29%
2021–22
Graduate on time
80–89%
▼ 1–8 pts vs KS 88%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$17.2K
▲ 15% vs KS $15.0K
FY2024
Students per teacher
9.8
KS 13.3 · smaller classes
Schools in town
0
383 students on the public path
In brief

Hill City’s schools, in brief

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 20% of tested students were proficient in reading and 19% in math, against 32% and 29% statewide; 100% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

80–89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 88% across Kansas (the state reports Hill City’s rate as a range). Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $17,246 per student, against $14,966 across Kansas (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

One elementary school, then one middle school

From grade 7 the district’s path is Hill City Junior-Senior High. Enrollment is down 5% since 2020–21. See the path ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Hill City’s grade

D Test scoresC− Graduation

D: better than 14% of Kansas school districts. Both inputs trail the Kansas average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

Kansas school districts we grade (283)Better than 14%
Lower resultsHigher results
Kansas towns with similar household incomes (499)Better than 16%
D−B−A rough placement. Ordinary sampling error in 213 test results and a graduating class of 34 could put Hill City anywhere from D− to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Hill City’s students in the tested grades sat them (213 in math, 213 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Hill City, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–6Hill City ElemGraham County Unified School District 281C
7–12Hill City Junior-Senior HighGraham County Unified School District 281C−

Hill City’s public schools are run by Graham County Unified School District 281. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Graham County Unified School District 281Grades PK–12 · 2 schools · 383 students, down 5% since 2020–21 · 9.8 per teacher (KS 13.3)
$17,246KS $14,966 · FY2024
D
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading20%
State average 32.5% · 213 students tested
Math19%
State average 29.4% · 213 students tested

Hill City vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the Kansas towns that share Hill City’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Hill CityDGraham County Unified School District 281

Every school in Hill City

2 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with Kansas’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

Also serving Hill Cityin other towns
Hill City Elem
Elementary · Grades PK–6
C
212 students11:1Rate it →
Hill City Junior-Senior High
High · Grades 7–12
C−
171 students9:1Rate it →

Questions about Hill City’s schools

Are Hill City’s schools good?

On Kansas’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Hill City children attend score below 86% of Kansas’s school districts on tests and graduation, a D Schools grade. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 16%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Hill City in?

Graham County Unified School District 281, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 383 students in 2 schools (2024–25).

What is Hill City’s graduation rate?

80–89% of the class of 2023 in Graham County Unified School District 281 graduated in four years, against 88% across Kansas.

How much does Hill City spend per student?

$17,246 in Graham County Unified School District 281 (FY2024), against $14,966 across Kansas. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Hill City families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Hill City → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within Kansas. Stars are from neighbors.