Public schools in Lawrence, KS
18 open public schools with an address in Lawrence, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
18
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
10,380
18 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
14.6:1
Kansas median 12.7:1
Charter schools
1
1 virtual
An overview of Lawrence public schools
The federal directory lists 18 public schools in Lawrence, KS: 11 elementary, 4 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. The 18 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 10,380 students, an average of 577 per school. The largest campus is Lawrence Free State High (1,774 students), and the largest elementary school is Langston Hughes Elem (560).
Every listed school belongs to Lawrence. 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 14.6:1, 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 charter school, 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 3 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 3 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 3 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 41% 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 Lawrence
Elementary schools in Lawrence
11| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cordley Elem Lawrence | KG–05 | 348 | 11.9:1 | |
| Deerfield Elem Lawrence | KG–05 | 433 | 15.2:1 | |
| Hillcrest Elem Lawrence | KG–05 | 393 | 11.8:1 | |
| Langston Hughes Elem Lawrence | KG–05 | 560 | 19.2:1 | |
| New York Elem Lawrence | PK–05 | 415 | 19.9:1 | |
| Prairie Park Elem Lawrence | KG–05 | 354 | 13.6:1 | |
| Quail Run Elementary Lawrence | KG–05 | 421 | 15.4:1 | |
| Schwegler Elem Lawrence | KG–05 | 434 | 13.9:1 | |
| Sunflower Elementary Lawrence | PK–05 | 444 | 13.4:1 | |
| Sunset Hill Elem Lawrence | KG–05 | 398 | 14:1 | |
| Woodlawn Elem Lawrence | PK–05 | 240 | 12.1:1 |
Middle schools in Lawrence
4| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billy Mills Middle School Lawrence | 06–08 | 494 | 14.6:1 | |
| Lawrence Liberty Memorial Central Mid School Lawrence | 06–08 | 386 | 13.9:1 | |
| Lawrence Southwest Middle School Lawrence | 06–08 | 641 | 15.6:1 | |
| Lawrence West Middle School Lawrence | 06–08 | 648 | 14.6:1 |
High schools in Lawrence
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence Free State High Lawrence | 09–12 | 1,774 | 16.4:1 | |
| Lawrence High Lawrence | 09–12 | 1,454 | 14.6:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Lawrence
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence Virtual School Lawrence · Charter · Virtual | KG–12 | 543 | 21.8:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White61.9%
- Hispanic13.6%
- Black6%
- Asian2.8%
- American Indian / Alaska Native2.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial13.5%
Enrollment-weighted across 18 Lawrence schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (10,380 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Lawrence
How many public schools are in Lawrence, KS?
The current NCES directory lists 18 open public schools with a location address in Lawrence: 11 elementary, 4 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 10,380 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Lawrence?
All listed public schools with an address in Lawrence belong to Lawrence. 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 Lawrence?
Lawrence Free State High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Lawrence, with 1,774 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Lawrence?
Yes. 1 of the 18 public schools in Lawrence are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Lawrence Virtual School. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Lawrence schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Lawrence public schools is 14.6:1, 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 Lawrence 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