Wyoming
State K-12 public school system overview
Wyoming's K-12 public education system serves 86,153 students across 59 school districts and 362 schools. The state employs 7,334.13 teachers. This structure reflects Wyoming's rural character, with relatively small districts serving dispersed populations across a large geographic area.
Student demographics indicate that 42.9% of Wyoming's students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, placing the state above the national average for economic disadvantage. English learners comprise 3.2% of the student population, which is notably below the national average of approximately 10%. Students with disabilities represent 16.7% of enrollment, near typical national proportions.
Academic proficiency measures show Wyoming students performing slightly below national averages. Math proficiency stands at 50.3%, while reading proficiency is 54.9%, both roughly aligned with or slightly below the typical 50th percentile range nationally. The state's graduation rate of 85.5% is above the national average of approximately 88%, indicating moderate completion rates.
The combination of high economic disadvantage and relatively lower proficiency levels suggests resource allocation and support for economically disadvantaged students represent significant considerations in Wyoming's education system. With a smaller proportion of English learners compared to the national average, the state faces different language support requirements than many other states. The data reflects a system primarily serving students in a rural context where district capacity and resource distribution across wide geographic areas influence system operations and outcomes.
This summary was generated by AI from public data sources. Last updated May 6, 2026.
This data is aggregated from state and federal public datasets. While we believe it is accurate, we always recommend confirming it on the corresponding state or federal site. See Data Notes for more.
Total Students
86.2K
Districts
59
Schools
362
Teachers
7,334.13
Per-Pupil Spending
N/A
Total Budget
N/A
State Overview
Demographics
Academic Performance
Finance Overview
District Distribution
By Size
By Location
Career & Technical Education
21,445 total CTE participants (2023-2024)
WAEA Performance Data
54.9%
ELA Proficiency
Statewide average
50.3%
Math Proficiency
Statewide average
19.5
ACT Composite
All 11th graders
85.5%
Graduation Rate
4-year cohort
Statewide WY-TOPP Proficiency
Percentage of students scoring Proficient or Advanced (grades 3-10)
WAEA Accountability Framework
Wyoming uses the WAEA (Wyoming Accountability in Education Act) to evaluate schools and districts. Schools are classified into one of four performance levels based on multiple indicators:
Exceeding Expectations
Highest performing schools
Meeting Expectations
Strong academic performance
Partially Meeting Expectations
Some improvement needed
Not Meeting Expectations
Additional support required
Key Indicators Include:
- WY-TOPP assessment scores in ELA, Math, and Science (grades 3-10)
- Student academic growth from year to year
- ACT scores for all 11th graders (required statewide)
- 4-year and 5-year graduation rates
- English Learner progress toward proficiency
Wyoming Education Overview
48
School Districts
86,153
Total Students
23
Counties
Wyoming has one of the smallest state education systems in the U.S., with county-based school districts serving predominantly rural communities. The state ranks among the highest in per-pupil spending nationwide.
Data source: Wyoming Department of Education, WY-TOPP Assessment Data and WAEA Accountability Reports (2024-25)