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B+
Overall Niche Grade
How are grades calculated?
  1. Academics
    B
  2. Diversity
    A-
  3. Teachers
    B+
  4. College Prep
    A
  5. Clubs & Activities
    A
  6. Health & Safety
    B-
  7. Administration
    C+
  8. Sports
    A
  9. Food
    B+
  10. Resources & Facilities
    B-
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Lawrence Unified School District is an above average, public school district located in Lawrence, KS. It has 11,989 students in grades PK, K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 15 to 1. According to state test scores, 42% of students are at least proficient in math and 51% in reading.
Address
110 Mcdonald Drive
Lawrence, KS 66044
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Telephone
(785) 832-5000
Website
usd497.org

Lawrence Unified School District Rankings

Niche ranks nearly 100,000 schools and districts based on statistics and millions of opinions from students and parents.
  • Elementary
  • Middle
  • High

Academics

Percent Proficient - Reading
51%
Percent Proficient - Math
42%
Average Graduation Rate
81%
Average SAT
1330
100 responses
Average ACT
27
425 responses
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Students

Diversity
A-
Based on racial and economic diversity and survey responses on school culture and diversity from students and parents.
Students
11,989
Free or Reduced Lunch
39.8%

Teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
National
17:1
Average Teacher Salary
$48,215
Teachers in First/Second Year
9.8%

Finances

Total Expenses
$116,770,000
Expenses Per Student
$15,487/ student
National
$12,239
Education Expenses
  • Instruction
    62%
  • Support Services
    34%
  • Other
    4%

Lawrence Unified School District Reviews

17 reviews
All Categories
I find that a lot of their teachers really value their students and genuinely care about them as people, outside of the classroom. They also work with students to help them better achieve, even if it's outside of classroom norms. On the other hand, the administration is notorious for being ineffective in helping students, and it requires a lot of connections and work to get the help students need. Personally, I have had a lot of luck in earning accommodations through my relationships to social workers and teachers in the schools, but I know far too many people who haven't had the same luck as myself. At the classroom level, I'd give 5 stars any day, but with the administration issues, it brings my overall rating down.
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Lawrence school districts are both fantastic and horrible. Teachers are eonderful and caring about their students. Resources available to students are numerous and in close reach. However, there are large amounts of bullying, racism, and unfair treatment between schools. Free state High is better quality and more advanced than Lawrence High. LHS is lacking in sanitary safe conditions. At both schools students feel unsafe. Both schools care more about sports than other activities. The arts, music and journalism are ignored by a majority of the school and administration. Lawrence schools do have a great community and social life.
A public school district experience is pretty standard, USD 497 is no different. From firsthand experience, I can tell that the district is serving its purpose, but is in need of dire reconstruction.