📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NCES EDFacts, 2021–22 for most districts), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
All 5 Rated Districts in Cowley County, KS
Sorted by rating, then state percentile
| County Rank | District | District Office | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Dexter Unified School District 471 | Dexter | 9/10 Excellent | 89th |
| #2 | Central Unified School District 462 | Burden | 6/10 Average | 58th |
| #3 | Udall Unified School District 463 | Udall | 5/10 Average | 46th |
| #4 | Winfield Unified School District 465 | Winfield | 2/10 Poor | 17th |
| #5 | Arkansas City Unified School District 470 | Arkansas City | 1/10 Poor | 4th |
Best School Districts in Cowley County, Kansas (2026)
This page lists the 5 public school districts headquartered in Cowley County, Kansas that have a SchoolDistrictFinder rating, scored using EDFacts 2021–22 state assessment data. The county rank is simply their order here; the state percentile compares each district with every rated district in Kansas, which is how the 1–10 rating is set. Ratings are not comparable with districts in other states.
Districts are placed in the county of their NCES directory listing. A district's boundaries can cross county lines, and a home in Cowley County may be served by a district headquartered next door — search your address or zip code to confirm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best-rated school district in Cowley County, Kansas? ▼
Among the 5 rated districts in Cowley County, Kansas, the highest-rated is Dexter Unified School District 471 (Dexter), rated 9/10 (Excellent) and in the 89th percentile of Kansas districts on EDFacts 2021–22 reading and math proficiency.
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Each district's rating comes from the share of its students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (EDFacts 2021–22), percentile-ranked against all rated districts in Kansas and converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.