Kansas FAFSA Challenge

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 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.

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 walkthru on how to use the Kansas FAFSA Tracker website: Kansas FAFSA Tracker Demo Video (7 mins) 

 

2022 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

*Olathe East High School

57%

 

*Wichita High School South

47%

+69%

Olathe Northwest High School

56%

 

Wichita High School North

47%

+32%

Blue Valley West High School

56%

 

Hutchinson High School

42%

+29%

Shawnee Mission East High School

56%

 

Shawnee Mission West HS

53%

+25%

Blue Valley Northwest High School

55%

 

Wyandotte High School

55%

+24%

 

5A

Highest Completion Rate          Most improved over last year    Improved

*Sumner Academy of Arts & Science

82%

 

*Highland Park High School

38%

+36%

Kapaun Mt Carmel Catholic High School

69%

 

Washington High School

40%

+30%

Bishop Carroll Catholic High School

65%

 

Sumner Academy of Arts & Science

82%

+20%

St. Thomas Aquinas High School

65%

 

Basehor-Linwood High School

54%

+18%

St. James Academy

62%

 

Eisenhower High School

52%

+17%

4A

Highest Completion Rate        Most improved over last year   Improved

*Hayden Catholic High School

72%

 

*Chapman High School

65%

+61%

Clay Center Community High School

69%

 

Pratt Senior High School

45%

+43%

Bishop Miege High School

67%

 

Field Kindley High School

37%

+28%

Wallace County High School

67%

 

Clay Center Community High School

69%

+24%

Chapman High School

65%

 

Parsons Senior High School

48%

+21%

 

3A

Highest Completion Rate        Most improved over last year   Improved

*Humboldt High School

82%

 

*Nickerson High School

37%

+64%

Neodesha High School

73%

 

Riverton High School

69%

+49%

Nemaha Central High School

71%

 

Columbus High School

63%

+46%

Fredonia Jr/Sr High School

70%

 

Osage City High School

58%

+45%

Smoky Valley High School

69%

 

Chaparral Jr/Sr High School

56%

+32%

 

2A

Highest Completion Rate         Most improved over last year   Improved 

*Syracuse High School

90%

 

Syracuse High School

90%

+86%

Sacred Heart Jr/Sr High School

87%

 

*McLouth High School

46%

+68%

Hill City Jr/Sr High School

83%

 

Valley Falls High School

65%

+58%

Smith Center Jr/Sr High School

83%

 

North East High School

57%

+49%

Hoxie High School

82%

 

Jayhawk-Linn High School

53%

+43%

 

1A

Highest Completion Rate       Most improved over last year   Improved 

*Macksville High School

100%

 

*Pretty Prairie High School

80%

+167%

*Northern Valley High School

100%

 

Crest High School

85%

+154%

*Wheatland High School

100%

 

Doniphan West Jr/Sr High School

68%

+132%

South Gray High School

93%

 

Northern Valley High School

100%

+117%

St. Francis High School

88%

 

South Central High School

58%

+90%

Virtual Schools & Academies

Highest Completion Rate          Most improved over last year    Improved

*Northeast Magnet High School

63%

 

*Garden City Achieve

31%

+101%

Maize Virtual Preparatory School

58%

 

Andover Ecademy

27%

+74%

Hope Street Charter Academy

49%

 

Maize Virtual Preparatory School

58%

+26%

Lawrence Virtual School

34%

 

Northeast Magnet High School 63% +18% 

Garden City Achieve

31%

 

     

 

Kansas FAFSA Stats

  • 389 high schools in Kansas
  • As of June 2022 our state wide FAFSA completion rate was 46.5% This is 1% higher than 2021. (National FAFSA Tracker)
  • Our goal is to have all Kansas high schools move toward a FAFSA completion rate of 60% in the next 3 years

 

Let's reach for 60%!

There are 99 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