Public schools in Hays, KS
6 open public schools with an address in Hays, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
6
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
3,160
6 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
15.4:1
Kansas median 12.7:1
Charter schools
0
1 virtual
An overview of Hays public schools
The federal directory lists 6 public schools in Hays, KS: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high, 1 combined or other. The 6 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 3,160 students, an average of 527 per school. The largest campus is Hays High (1,017 students), and the largest elementary school is Roosevelt Elem (420).
Every listed school belongs to Hays. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 15.4:1, higher than the statewide school median of 12.7:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 0 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 40% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Hays
Elementary schools in Hays
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kathryn O'Loughlin McCarthy Elem Hays | KG–05 | 371 | 14.1:1 | |
| Roosevelt Elem Hays | PK–05 | 420 | 14.7:1 | |
| Woodrow Wilson Elem Hays | KG–05 | 364 | 14.5:1 |
Middle schools in Hays
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hays Middle School Hays | 06–08 | 726 | 16.1:1 |
High schools in Hays
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hays High Hays | 09–12 | 1,017 | 16.1:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Hays
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hays Virtual School Hays · Virtual | 01–12 | 262 | 262:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White81.6%
- Hispanic11.1%
- Black1.6%
- Asian1.1%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial4.5%
Enrollment-weighted across 6 Hays schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (3,160 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Hays
How many public schools are in Hays, KS?
The current NCES directory lists 6 open public schools with a location address in Hays: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 3,160 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Hays?
All listed public schools with an address in Hays belong to Hays. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Hays?
Hays High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Hays, with 1,017 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Hays?
No school with an address in Hays is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in Kansas.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Hays schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Hays public schools is 15.4:1, higher than the Kansas school median of 12.7:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Hays guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby Kansas cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All Kansas cities