FAFSA Challenge

Started in 2021, the Kansas FAFSA Challenge is a statewide FAFSA completion competition among Kansas high schools.  Schools will be grouped by size and recognized in two different categories, Highest Completion Rate & Most Improved Completion Rate.

Competition Structure

The 2024 FAFSA Challenge is pending for this year, given the delays with the FAFSA application.

The Kansas FAFSA Challenge will be active from October 1*, when the FAFSA opens, until June 30 each year.  We use senior class size data as reported to KSDE, and the completion numbers for this year and last are reported by FAFSA state-wide data.  The winning schools will be announced and recognized annually by both the Kansas Board of Regents and the Kansas State Board of Education at the joint September board meeting. *The 2024-2025 FAFSA application will open for students around January 1, 2024

Track your progress with the Kansas FAFSA Tracker

The new Kansas FAFSA Tracker allows schools to see weekly updates of their FAFSA completion percentages. This website shows a calculated FAFSA percentage for every Kansas High School* and creates a leaderboard for Kansas high schools and each KSHSAA division. 

(*Schools will only show on the leaderboard if they have at least 1 FAFSA completion for this year.  Click the FAFSA state-wide data to see the most recent number of FAFSA completions for your school, if you do not see your school listed)  

If you see an error or cannot find your school contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.      

To see a brief walk thru on how to use the Kansas FAFSA Tracker website: Kansas FAFSA Tracker Demo Video (7 mins) 

2023 Kansas FAFSA Challenge Winners

2023_FAFSA_Winners_Map.jpeg

(Click on the picture above for an interactive map of our 2023 Kansas FAFSA Challenge Winners)

2023 Kansas FAFSA Challenge Winners & top 5 schools in each category

 *indicates winning school in each category

6A 

Highest Completion Rate      Most improved over last year   Improved

*Blue Valley Northwest HS

59.3%

 

*Wichita High School Northwest

59%

+60%

Blue Valley West High School

59.2%

 

J.C. Harmon High School

36%

+33%

Wichita High School Northwest

59.1%

 

Liberal Senior High School

40%

+31%

Wichita High School South

58.4%

 

Wichita High School West

39%

+26%

Olathe East High School

58.3%

 

Wichita High School South

58%

+25%

 

5A

Highest Completion Rate          Most improved over last year    Improved

*Sumner Academy of Arts & Science

83%

 

*Newton High School

53%

+28%

Kapaun Mt Carmel Catholic High School

72%

 

Maize South High School

63%

+22%

St. James Academy

67%

 

Eisenhower High School

63%

+20%

St. Thomas Aquinas High School

65%

 

Spring Hill High School

55%

+17%

Maize South High School

63%

 

Topeka West High School

44%

+16%

4A

Highest Completion Rate        Most improved over last year   Improved

*Hayden Catholic High School

74%

 

*Rose Hill High School

55%

+70%

Clay Center Community High School

70%

 

Wellington High School

51%

+68%

Eudora High School

65%

 

Abilene High School

55%

+44%

Louisburg High School

63%

 

Wamego High School

61%

+31%

Bishop Miege High School

63%

 

Louisburg High School

63%

+27%

 

3A

Highest Completion Rate        Most improved over last year   Improved

*Humboldt High School

100%

 

*Atchison Co. Community Junior/Senior High School

62%

+148%

Silver Lake Jr/Sr High School

81%

 

Maur Hill-Mount Academy

67%

+59%

Southeast of Saline High School

76%

 

Lyons High School

58%

+53%

Bishop Ward High School

76%

 

Hoisington High School

70%

+43%

Smoky Valley High School

73%

 

Larned Senior High School

55%

+41%

 

2A

Highest Completion Rate         Most improved over last year   Improved 

*Wichita County Jr-Sr High School

85%

 

*Jefferson County North HS

64%

+77%

West Elk Schools

85%

 

Uniontown High School

50%

+66%

Ellis Jr/Sr High School

83%

 

West Elk Schools

85%

+64%

Smith Center Jr/Sr High School

79%

 

Pleasant Ridge High School

50%

+62%

Sterling Jr/Sr High School

77%

 

Inman Jr/Sr High School

58%

+61%

 

1A

Highest Completion Rate       Most improved over last year   Improved 

*Axtell High School

100%

 

*Brewster High School

100%

+120%

*Brewster High School

100%

 

Burrton Middle & High School

63%

+113%

*Kiowa County High School

100%

 

Greeley County Jr/Sr High School

69%

+107%

*Tipton Catholic High School

100%

 

Lakeside Jr/Sr High School

77%

+102%

Deerfield High School

88%

 

Udall High School

39%

+84%

Wilson Jr/Sr High School 88%        

Virtual Schools & Academies

Highest Completion Rate          Most improved over last year    Improved

*Northeast Magnet High School

63%

 

*Kansas Connections Academy

37%

+76%

Maize Virtual Preparatory School

53%

 

Garden City Achieve

44%

+39%

Garden City Achieve

44%

 

Lawrence Virtual School

44%

+28%

Lawrence Virtual School

44%

 

Insight School of Kansas 14% +7% 

Hope Street Charter Academy

42%

 

     

 

Kansas FAFSA Stats

  • 389 high schools in Kansas
  • As of June 2023 our state wide FAFSA completion rate was 49.8% This is 2% higher* than 2022. (*National FAFSA Tracker)
  • Our goal is to have all Kansas high schools move toward a FAFSA completion rate of 60% in the next 5 years

 

Let's reach for 60%!

There are 96 Kansas High Schools with a FAFSA Completion percentage above 60%.  Let's see how many more schools we can add to this list next year!

 

 A video with some of the 2021 Winners

 

FAFSA Event Resources

One of the best ways to increase FAFSA completion rates and support your students and families in navigating the FAFSA is by holding a FAFSA completion event at your school.  Listed below are some lessons & resources you can share with your school community.  Everything you need to plan, experts to call, and steps to follow to host a FAFSA event for your students & parents.

Planning a FAFSA Completion Event 

FAFSA & Financial Aid Resources

FAFSA Website

FAFSA Completion Event Webinar Recording- January 21, 2021

Kansas Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (KASFAA)- Counselor Training Webinars