By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

Three school districts in Ellis County were recently ranked among the top 100 schools in the state of Kansas for 2016.

Niche, an online review website ranked the top 100 school districts in Kansas on academics, teacher quality, health and safety, and student culture and diversity.

The Victoria school district ranked highest among area schools at No. 30. The Hays school district ranked 82nd and Ellis was No. 87.

According to Niche, Victoria received an A overall and got high marks in academics, health and safety, teacher quality, and resources and facilities — receiving at least an A- in all four categories. Victoria received a C in student culture and diversity.

The Hays school district received a B+ in six of the 10 categories including academics, educational outcomes, resources and facilities, and administration and policies. Both the quality of teaches and student culture and diversity were the lowest grade for the district at a B-. Niche gave Hays an overall grade of A-.

The Ellis district also received an overall grade of an A-. Niche graded teacher quality as a B. Student culture and diversity and health and safety was graded as a B-. Ellis received an A- for academics and extracurriculars and activities.

Blue Valley schools in Overland Park ranked No. 1, Shawnee Mission was second followed by the Triplains school district in Winona.

Phillipsburg was ranked 67th and Norton was 80th. La Crosse ranked No. 99. Kansas has 293 school districts.

The rankings factored in state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, SAT/ACT scores, teacher quality, and student and parent reviews.

The complete rankings can be found HERE.