Is McPherson High a good school?

McPherson High ranks 142 nd of 318 Kansas high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

How many students attend McPherson High?

In the 2023-24 school year, 692 students attended McPherson High.

What is the racial makeup of McPherson High?

Students at McPherson High are 75% White, 17% Hispanic, 6% Two or more races, 1% African American.

What schools feed into McPherson High?

McPherson High is fed by the following schools: Elementary : Eisenhower Elementary Elementary : Lincoln Elementary Elementary : Roosevelt Elementary Elementary : Washington Elementary Middle : McPherson Middle School

McPherson High

Summary:

McPherson High is a public magnet high school serving grades 9-12 in McPherson, Kansas, with a student population of 709. The school is part of the McPherson school district, which is ranked 146 out of 266 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

McPherson High has had a fluctuating statewide ranking, ranging from 81st out of 327 Kansas high schools in 2022-2023 (4-star rating) to 185th out of 324 in 2021-2022 (2-star rating). Its current 2023-2024 ranking is 142nd out of 318 (3-star rating). The school's performance has varied across different student subgroups, with male, Hispanic, and White students generally outperforming female, special education, and disabled students. McPherson High's test scores in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science have been mixed compared to state averages, with proficiency rates below the state in ELA and Math, but above in Science.

Compared to nearby schools, such as Little River High, Goessel High, and Buhler High, McPherson High generally performs in the middle to lower range, with these schools consistently outperforming it in statewide rankings and test scores, especially in Mathematics and Science. McPherson High's per-student spending and student-teacher ratio are in the middle range compared to nearby schools, suggesting that resource allocation may not be a primary driver of the school's academic performance.

Detail:

Public, Magnet 9-12

801 E First Street
McPherson, KS 67460

(620) 241-9500

District: McPherson

SchoolDigger Rank:
142^nd of 318 Kansas High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures: $11,147

Feeder schools for McPherson High:

Elementary:	Eisenhower Elementary
	Lincoln Elementary
	Roosevelt Elementary
	Washington Elementary
Middle:	McPherson Middle School

Student/teacher ratio: 12.9

Number of students: 692

Racial breakdown:

White:

75.0%

Hispanic:

17.1%

Two or more races:

5.9%

Free/discounted lunch recipients: 40.8%

See top rated Kansas high schools

Compare McPherson High to nearby high schools!

Performance Trends

Compare Details McPherson High ranks better than 55.3% of high schools in Kansas. (See more...)

Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 53.17. (See more...)

The four-year cohort graduation rate measures the percentage of students at McPherson High who earn a standard high school diploma within four years of starting ninth grade.

Student Body

Compare Details Racial makeup is: White (75%), Hispanic (17.1%), two or more races (5.9%). (See more...)

Compare Details 40.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)

Teachers

Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at McPherson High is 12.9. (See more...)

Compare McPherson High employs 53.4 full-time teachers.

Finance

Compare Details The average total spent per student at McPherson High is $11,147.

Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

McPherson High:

SchoolDigger ranks McPherson High 142^nd of 318 Kansas public high schools. (See McPherson High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

Multi-racial students:

Special Education students:

Low Socio Economic Status students:

Hispanic students:

White students:

McPherson:

SchoolDigger ranks McPherson 146^th of 266 Kansas school districts. (See district ranking list.)

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Your rating for McPherson High?

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Rank History for McPherson High

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Rank History for all students at McPherson High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KS State Percentile
2006	63.41	86^th	262	67.2%
2007	54.96	133^rd	280	52.5%
2008	45.72	172^nd	267	35.6%
2009	60.43	125^th	291	57.0%
2010	41.15	218^th	302	27.8%
2012	18.84	290^th	317	8.5%
2013	45.07	221^st	323	31.6%
2015	36.71	239^th	326	26.7%
2016	13.89	279^th	313	10.9%
2017	25.04	245^th	316	22.5%
2018	45.73	166^th	314	47.1%
2019	52.15	149^th	325	54.2%
2021	53.71	141^st	320	55.9%
2022	44.44	185^th	324	42.9%
2023	67.15	81^st	327	75.2%
2024	53.17	142^nd	318	55.3%

See the entire list of Kansas High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at McPherson High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KS State Percentile
2021	57.01	23^rd	55	58.2%
2023	34.97	40^th	64	37.5%
2024	40.55	38^th	67	43.3%

See the entire list of Best Kansas High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at McPherson High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KS State Percentile
2018	19.32	90^th	110	18.2%
2019	30.84	88^th	111	20.7%
2021	28.92	86^th	115	25.2%
2022	27.97	93^rd	117	20.5%
2023	47.29	51^st	122	58.2%
2024	52.23	43^rd	124	65.3%

See the entire list of Best Kansas High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at McPherson High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KS State Percentile
2018	27.09	171^st	228	25.0%
2019	36.21	152^nd	229	33.6%
2021	44.80	118^th	213	44.6%
2022	43.85	130^th	223	41.7%
2023	51.29	112^th	250	55.2%
2024	59.71	76^th	249	69.5%

See the entire list of Best Kansas High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at McPherson High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KS State Percentile
2018	35.41	163^rd	248	34.3%
2019	38.66	158^th	249	36.5%
2021	53.85	108^th	250	56.8%

See the entire list of Best Kansas High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at McPherson High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KS State Percentile
2018	19.32	90^th	110	18.2%
2019	30.84	88^th	111	20.7%
2021	28.92	86^th	115	25.2%

See the entire list of Best Kansas High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Male students at McPherson High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KS State Percentile
2018	53.10	110^th	248	55.6%
2019	63.60	78^th	252	69.0%
2021	54.35	102^nd	258	60.5%

See the entire list of Best Kansas High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at McPherson High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KS State Percentile
2018	39.01	50^th	89	43.8%
2019	48.86	37^th	92	59.8%
2021	44.98	50^th	99	49.5%
2022	60.29	34^th	102	66.7%
2023	61.15	35^th	110	68.2%
2024	46.12	52^nd	105	50.5%

See the entire list of Best Kansas High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at McPherson High

Year	Avg Standard Score	Statewide Rank	Total # Ranked High Schools	KS State Percentile
2018	45.02	158^th	296	46.6%
2019	54.37	131^st	306	57.2%
2021	52.97	124^th	302	58.9%
2022	38.49	203^rd	307	33.9%
2023	69.15	72^nd	309	76.7%
2024	54.65	116^th	295	60.7%

See the entire list of Best Kansas High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Kansas State Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Data source: Kansas State Department of Education

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Enrollment information for McPherson High

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Year	White	African American	Asian	Hispanic	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Not Specified	Total
1988	687	7	11	8	2	n/a	n/a	0	715
1989	646	4	9	9	3	n/a	n/a	0	671
1990	646	5	8	11	1	n/a	n/a	0	671
1991	646	8	10	10	0	n/a	n/a	0	674
1992	672	5	7	14	0	n/a	n/a	0	698
1993	732	6	5	19	0	n/a	n/a	0	762
1994	756	8	7	19	3	n/a	n/a	0	793
1995	794	11	11	30	6	n/a	n/a	0	852
1996	794	11	11	30	6	n/a	n/a	0	852
1997	797	15	18	31	4	n/a	n/a	0	865
1998	841	12	12	26	7	n/a	n/a	0	898
1999	888	10	9	21	4	n/a	n/a	0	932
2000	911	12	8	16	4	n/a	n/a	0	951
2001	930	13	9	21	3	n/a	n/a	0	976
2002	848	19	12	22	6	n/a	n/a	0	907
2003	848	19	12	22	6	n/a	n/a	0	907
2004	789	19	9	22	4	n/a	n/a	1	844
2005	829	23	8	44	3	n/a	n/a	8	915
2006	783	23	13	46	2	n/a	n/a	13	880
2007	781	26	20	66	2	n/a	n/a	0	895
2008	776	28	26	75	4	n/a	n/a	0	909
2009	670	24	24	54	5	n/a	n/a	0	777
2010	670	12	11	64	8	0	30	0	795
2011	665	14	17	51	7	1	34	0	789
2012	611	18	7	64	8	3	22	0	733
2013	625	15	6	59	7	1	12	0	725
2014	607	15	16	59	7	1	14	0	719
2015	622	16	20	72	5	1	19	0	755
2016	634	17	11	81	4	0	23	0	770
2017	611	8	14	96	4	0	38	0	771
2018	613	10	8	95	0	0	33	0	759
2019	592	14	7	125	0	0	38	0	776
2020	549	8	6	107	1	0	45	0	716
2021	551	9	2	111	2	0	40	0	715
2022	558	6	3	116	1	0	46	0	730
2023	541	8	4	107	1	0	48	0	709
2024	519	8	6	118	0	0	41	0	692

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at McPherson High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	715	47.0	15.2	0
1989	671	48.0	13.9	n/a
1990	671	50.6	13.2	0
1991	674	5.7	118.2	n/a
1992	698	56.6	12.3	n/a
1993	762	51.8	14.7	8.1
1994	793	55.3	14.3	9.5
1995	852	57.0	14.9	11
1996	852	57.0	14.9	11
1997	865	53.2	16.3	12.4
1998	898	63.1	14.2	12
1999	932	66.1	14.1	9.5
2000	951	67.7	14.0	9
2001	976	69.8	14.0	12.2
2002	907	61.6	14.7	12.2
2003	907	61.6	14.7	12.2
2004	844	61.0	13.8	13.2
2005	915	61.2	15.0	13.7
2006	880	61.5	14.3	17.2
2007	895	64.1	14.0	17.5
2008	909	55.8	16.3	15.3
2009	777	49.2	15.8	22.5
2010	795	43.8	18.1	24.8
2011	789	41.1	19.1	27.2
2012	733	55.1	13.2	35.2
2013	725	50.4	14.3	37.5
2014	719	51.0	14.0	33.9
2015	755	48.0	15.7	33.1
2016	770	52.0	14.8	33
2017	771	52.3	14.7	34
2018	759	56.5	13.4	33.6
2019	776	57.9	13.4	34
2020	716	57.8	12.3	33.4
2021	715	49.3	14.4	34.1
2022	730	51.3	14.2	33.3
2023	709	51.7	13.6	36
2024	692	53.4	12.9	40.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio McPherson High

Compare

Year	# Students	Full-time Teachers	Student/Teacher ratio	% Free/Discounted Lunch
1988	715	47.0	15.2	0
1989	671	48.0	13.9	n/a
1990	671	50.6	13.2	0
1991	674	5.7	118.2	n/a
1992	698	56.6	12.3	n/a
1993	762	51.8	14.7	8.1
1994	793	55.3	14.3	9.5
1995	852	57.0	14.9	11
1996	852	57.0	14.9	11
1997	865	53.2	16.3	12.4
1998	898	63.1	14.2	12
1999	932	66.1	14.1	9.5
2000	951	67.7	14.0	9
2001	976	69.8	14.0	12.2
2002	907	61.6	14.7	12.2
2003	907	61.6	14.7	12.2
2004	844	61.0	13.8	13.2
2005	915	61.2	15.0	13.7
2006	880	61.5	14.3	17.2
2007	895	64.1	14.0	17.5
2008	909	55.8	16.3	15.3
2009	777	49.2	15.8	22.5
2010	795	43.8	18.1	24.8
2011	789	41.1	19.1	27.2
2012	733	55.1	13.2	35.2
2013	725	50.4	14.3	37.5
2014	719	51.0	14.0	33.9
2015	755	48.0	15.7	33.1
2016	770	52.0	14.8	33
2017	771	52.3	14.7	34
2018	759	56.5	13.4	33.6
2019	776	57.9	13.4	34
2020	716	57.8	12.3	33.4
2021	715	49.3	14.4	34.1
2022	730	51.3	14.2	33.3
2023	709	51.7	13.6	36
2024	692	53.4	12.9	40.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.

Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for McPherson High

Year	Expenditures from Federal Funds	Expenditures from State and Local Funds	Total Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019	$26 (0.2%)	$11,121 (99.8%)	$11,147

Data source: Kansas Department of Education

Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on McPherson High

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Rank Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Ranks 149^th of 325 High schools	Ranks 81^st of 327 High schools	21.1%

Test Scores

	% proficient Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	% proficient Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
10th Grade English Language Arts (McPherson High)	21.2	30.2	9%
10th Grade English Language Arts (McPherson)	21.2	30.2	9%
10th Grade English Language Arts (Kansas)	28.5	26.7	1.7%
10th Grade Mathematics (McPherson High)	24.2	27.9	3.6%
10th Grade Mathematics (McPherson)	24.2	27.9	3.6%
10th Grade Mathematics (Kansas)	24.5	21	3.5%
11th Grade Science (McPherson High)	39	33.7	5.2%
11th Grade Science (McPherson)	39	33.7	5.2%
11th Grade Science (Kansas)	32.4	28.9	3.5%

Student Body

	Number of students Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)	Number of students Post pandemic (2022-2023)	Change (%)
Total Students	776	709	8.6%
African American	14	8	42.9%
American Indian	0	1
Asian	7	4	42.9%
Hispanic	125	107	14.4%
Pacific Islander	0	0
White	592	541	8.6%
Two or More Races	38	48	26.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	34%	36%	1.9%

Schools Near McPherson High

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2024)				Ranking (2023)				KAP English Language Arts (2024)					KAP Mathematics (2024)					KAP Science (2024)			Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
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 (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	SchoolDigger Rating (2024)	Average Standard Score (2023)	Statewide Rank (2023)	State Percentile (2023)	Rank Change from Previous Year	KAP English Language Arts 6th Grade	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 6th Grade	KAP Mathematics 7th Grade	KAP Mathematics 8th Grade	KAP Mathematics 10th Grade	KAP Mathematics All Grades	KAP Science 8th Grade	KAP Science 11th Grade	KAP Science All Grades	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
McPherson High	Public, Magnet	9-12	801 E First Street	McPherson	67460	McPherson County	McPherson	No	Yes	No	No	(620) 241-9500	692	53	12.9	40.8%	519 (75.0%)	8 (1.2%)	118 (17.1%)	6 (0.9%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	41 (5.9%)	53.2	142^nd of 318 public high schools	55.3%		67.2	81^st of 327 public high schools	75.2%	61				24.4	24.4				23.7	23.7		32.6	32.6	$11,147	$26	$11,121
Canton-Galva Junior/Senior High	Public	6-12	506 S. Kansas	Canton	67428	McPherson County	Canton-Galva	No	No	No	No	(620) 628-4401	177	12	14.3	32.2%	150 (84.7%)	2 (1.1%)	20 (11.3%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (2.8%)	20.6	277^th of 318 public high schools	12.9%		45.2	177^th of 327 public high schools	45.9%	100	9.1	21.4	21.2	13.6	17.1	4.5	25.0	21.2	4.5	15.2	27.3	25.9	26.7	$14,856	$446	$14,410
Inman Junior/Senior High School	Public	7-12	404 S Main	Inman	67546	McPherson County	Inman	No	No	No	No	(620) 585-6441	186	15	12.1	25.8%	170 (91.4%)	0 (0.0%)	10 (5.4%)	0 (0.0%)	2 (1.1%)	0 (0.0%)	4 (2.2%)	58.2	112^th of 318 public high schools	64.8%		69.2	76^th of 327 public high schools	76.8%	36		35.3	19.4	25.0	24.7		29.4	27.8	22.7	25.8	33.3	38.5	35.5	$12,619	$2,937	$9,682
Smoky Valley High	Public	9-12	1 Viking Blvd	Lindsborg	67456	McPherson County	Smoky Valley	No	No	No	No	(785) 227-2909	251	20	12.2	31.9%	233 (92.8%)	1 (0.4%)	11 (4.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	6 (2.4%)	50.9	153^rd of 318 public high schools	51.9%		46.1	174^th of 327 public high schools	46.8%	21				35.5	35.5				6.5	6.5		33.9	33.9	$13,102	$164	$12,938
Moundridge High	Public	9-12	526 E. Cole	Moundridge	67107	McPherson County	Moundridge	No	No	No	No	(620) 345-5500	154	10	14.9	34.4%	141 (91.6%)	2 (1.3%)	7 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (1.9%)	63.8	90^th of 318 public high schools	71.7%		53.9	140^th of 327 public high schools	57.2%	50				25.0	25.0				36.4	36.4		32.1	32.1	$12,364	$230	$12,133
Buhler High	Public	9-12	611 N Main	Buhler	67522	Reno County	Buhler	No	No	No	No	(620) 543-2255	675	37	18.4	32.3%	591 (87.6%)	4 (0.6%)	58 (8.6%)	1 (0.1%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	21 (3.1%)	49.8	159^th of 318 public high schools	50.0%		43.7	181^st of 327 public high schools	44.6%	22				25.6	25.6				23.6	23.6		28.2	28.2	$9,917	$563	$9,355
Ad Astra Alternative Academy	Public	9-12	406 W. 7th	Buhler	67522	Reno County	Buhler	No	(n/a)	No	(n/a)	(620) 543-2258	8	1	16.0		7 (87.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (12.5%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)								(n/a)
Goessel High	Public	6-12	100 E Main	Goessel	67053	Marion County	Goessel	No	No	No	No	(620) 367-2242	157	14	11.6	22.9%	141 (89.8%)	0 (0.0%)	7 (4.5%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.6%)	0 (0.0%)	8 (5.1%)	50.6	155^th of 318 public high schools	51.3%		78.1	48^th of 327 public high schools	85.3%	107	57.1	52.2	26.3	30.0	42.2	38.1	30.4	47.4	25.0	34.9	26.3	22.7	24.4	$11,586	$669	$10,917
Little River High	Public	9-12	430 Waverly	Little River	67457	Rice County	Little River	No	No	No	No	(620) 897-6201	79	9	8.4	27.8%	68 (86.1%)	0 (0.0%)	5 (6.3%)	2 (2.5%)	1 (1.3%)	0 (0.0%)	3 (3.8%)	77.6	48^th of 318 public high schools	84.9%		57.9	125^th of 327 public high schools	61.8%	77				43.5	43.5				30.4	30.4		33.3	33.3	$13,669	$292	$13,376

McPherson High

McPherson High:

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:

McPherson:

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Rank History for McPherson High

Rank History for all students at McPherson High

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