Public schools in Topeka, KS
44 open public schools with an address in Topeka, operated by 5 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
44
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
21,180
42 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
13.1:1
Kansas median 12.7:1
Charter schools
1
3 magnet · 1 virtual
An overview of Topeka public schools
The federal directory lists 44 public schools in Topeka, KS: 25 elementary, 9 middle, 9 high, 1 combined or other. The 42 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 21,180 students, an average of 504 per school. The largest campus is Washburn Rural High (1,878 students), and the largest elementary school is Jardine Elementary (729).
Topeka Public Schools operates the most schools here (27), and 4 regular districts have at least one Topeka campus, plus 1 charter, service, or other agency. 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 13.1:1, similar to 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, 3 magnet schools, 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 8 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 5 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 1 of 9 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 58% 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 Topeka
Topeka Public Schools
Public school district
27 schools in Topeka
Auburn-Washburn
Public school district
8 schools in Topeka · 10 total
Seaman
Public school district
7 schools in Topeka
Department of Corrections
State operated agency
1 school in Topeka
Shawnee Heights
Public school district
1 school in Topeka · 6 total
Elementary schools in Topeka
25| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elmont Elem Seaman | KG–06 | 303 | 15.9:1 | |
| Farley Elementary Auburn-Washburn | PK–05 | 596 | 13.7:1 | |
| Highland Park Central Topeka Public Schools | KG–05 | 318 | 12.5:1 | |
| Indian Hills Elementary Auburn-Washburn | KG–05 | 440 | 13.6:1 | |
| Jardine Elementary Topeka Public Schools | PK–05 | 729 | 14.2:1 | |
| Jay Shideler Elementary Auburn-Washburn | KG–05 | 492 | 12.2:1 | |
| Logan Elementary Seaman | PK–06 | 558 | 16.9:1 | |
| Lowman Hill Elem Topeka Public Schools | PK–05 | 294 | 12.6:1 | |
| McCarter Elem Topeka Public Schools | PK–05 | 401 | 12.4:1 | |
| McClure Elem Topeka Public Schools | KG–05 | 301 | 13:1 | |
| McEachron Elem Topeka Public Schools | PK–05 | 422 | 13.9:1 | |
| Meadows Elementary Topeka Public Schools · Magnet | PK–05 | — | — | |
| North Fairview Seaman | KG–06 | 278 | 13.1:1 | |
| Northern Hills Elementary Seaman | KG–06 | 408 | 13.2:1 | |
| Pauline Central Primary Auburn-Washburn | PK–02 | 406 | 11:1 | |
| Quincy Elem Topeka Public Schools | KG–05 | 142 | 9.1:1 | |
| Randolph Elem Topeka Public Schools | PK–05 | 346 | 13.1:1 | |
| Ross Elementary Topeka Public Schools | PK–05 | 563 | 11.7:1 | |
| Scott Dual Language Magnet Topeka Public Schools · Magnet | PK–05 | 402 | 13.2:1 | |
| Shawnee Heights Elem Shawnee Heights | PK–06 | 429 | 13.1:1 | |
| State Street Elem Topeka Public Schools | PK–05 | 411 | 11.9:1 | |
| Wanamaker Elem Auburn-Washburn | PK–05 | 475 | 13.6:1 | |
| West Indianola Elem Seaman | KG–06 | 395 | 14.6:1 | |
| Whitson Elem Topeka Public Schools | PK–05 | 416 | 12.9:1 | |
| Williams Science and Fine Arts Magnet School Topeka Public Schools · Magnet | PK–05 | 447 | 10.8:1 |
Middle schools in Topeka
9| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chase Middle School Topeka Public Schools | 06–08 | 390 | 10.1:1 | |
| Eisenhower Middle School Topeka Public Schools | 06–08 | 440 | 11.6:1 | |
| Jardine Middle School Topeka Public Schools | 06–08 | 508 | 12.4:1 | |
| Landon Middle School Topeka Public Schools | 06–08 | 430 | 12.9:1 | |
| Marjorie French Middle School Topeka Public Schools | 06–08 | 480 | 14.3:1 | |
| Robinson Middle School Topeka Public Schools | 06–08 | 361 | 11:1 | |
| Seaman Middle School Seaman | 07–08 | 560 | 12.7:1 | |
| Washburn Rural Middle School Auburn-Washburn | 06–08 | 966 | 12:1 | |
| Washburn Rural North Middle School Auburn-Washburn | 06–08 | — | — |
High schools in Topeka
9| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avondale Academy Topeka Public Schools | 06–12 | 23 | 2.4:1 | |
| Capital City Topeka Public Schools | 06–12 | 0 | 0:1 | |
| Highland Park High Topeka Public Schools | 09–12 | 835 | 14.4:1 | |
| Hope Street Charter Academy Topeka Public Schools · Charter | 10–12 | 103 | 6.3:1 | |
| Lawrence Gardner High School Department of Corrections | 07–12 | 111 | 41.7:1 | |
| Seaman High Seaman | 09–12 | 1,190 | 14.2:1 | |
| Topeka High Topeka Public Schools | 09–12 | 1,578 | 14.7:1 | |
| Topeka West High Topeka Public Schools | 09–12 | 971 | 13.3:1 | |
| Washburn Rural High Auburn-Washburn | 09–12 | 1,878 | 14.1:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Topeka
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka Virtual School Topeka Public Schools · Virtual | 03–12 | 384 | 128.9:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White50.3%
- Hispanic25.7%
- Black10.1%
- Asian1.4%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.7%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial11.7%
Enrollment-weighted across 41 Topeka schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (21,180 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Topeka
How many public schools are in Topeka, KS?
The current NCES directory lists 44 open public schools with a location address in Topeka: 25 elementary, 9 middle, 9 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 21,180 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Topeka?
Schools with an address in Topeka belong to 5 education agencies, led by Topeka Public Schools (27 schools), Auburn-Washburn (8 schools), Seaman (7 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Topeka?
Washburn Rural High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Topeka, with 1,878 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Topeka?
Yes. 1 of the 44 public schools in Topeka are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Hope Street Charter Academy. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Topeka schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Topeka public schools is 13.1:1, similar to 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 Topeka 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