Atchison is focused on education. For over 150 years – dating back even before Catholic missionaries settled here and established institutions of higher learning – Atchison has prioritized the education of its next generation of leaders. It’s in the marrow of the community.
Atchison is home to a thriving public school system through USD 409. The community also supports faith-based schools such as St. Benedict Catholic School and Trinity Lutheran. Maur Hill Mount Academy is a renowned parochial school for secondary education, taking in local scholars as well as boarders from around the world. Riverbend International School is a boarding school and day school offering STEM-focused curriculum.
Benedictine College is one of the country’s leading private Catholic universities and Atchison is proud to claim it as its own. Its breathtaking campus is perched on the bluffs overlooking the Missouri River, perfectly evoking the postcard American college experience. In return, its students and faculty bring a depth of culture to Atchison as well as a devotion to service that amplifies the core values of the community.
Atchison is also the proud home of Highland Community College Technical Center, a regional center of Highland Community College which was itself the first college in Kansas. Whether serving as a conduit to a four-year degree, for professional enhancement, or personal development, the college has provided affordable access to higher education in Northeast Kansas.
Perhaps the best example of how much Atchison cares for its young people is Atchison Child Care. Since 1968, this child care center and preschool has been a labor of love by the Strieby-Sowers family and the community as a whole to provide engaged, instructional child care under one roof for Atchison’s families. Offering child care service for infants and older, preschool programs for young children,and summer programs up to fifth grade, Atchison’s children grow up together surrounded by a community invested in their future.
Find a list of Atchison schools here.