Blue Valley Schools has earned a spot on the Forbes Best Employers by State list for the eighth consecutive year, the district announced Aug. 17, making it one of the top-ranked workplaces in Kansas every year since the award launched in 2019.

The recognition lands as the district's more than 3,000 employees prepare for a new school year serving over 22,000 students across 36 schools in south Overland Park, Leawood and Olathe.

The district said in its announcement on X that the recognition reflects its commitment to creating a supportive and healthy work environment. A Facebook post from the district's July Board of Education meeting indicated Blue Valley ranked in the top five on the Kansas list, though the district's exact numerical position has not been independently confirmed.

How the ranking works

Forbes published the 2026 list on Aug. 13 in partnership with market research firm Statista. The ranking drew on a survey of more than 245,000 employees at companies with at least 500 workers nationwide. Respondents rated how likely they were to recommend their employer on a scale of zero to 10 and evaluated their workplace on wages, work culture, paths to professional advancement and whether the employer acts on serious issues.

Companies do not pay to participate.

This year's list included 2,499 total spots filled by 1,365 employers across the country, with each state ranking between three and 101 employers depending on size and survey responses.

What the district offers staff

Blue Valley employs 1,923 certified staff, 1,337 classified staff and 103 administrators, according to district data. Seventy-four percent of teaching staff hold a master's degree or higher.

The district offers a two-year mentoring program for new educators and employee well-being programs covering physical, emotional and financial health, according to its website. Superintendent Gillian Chapman leads the district, which is headquartered at 15020 Metcalf Ave. in Overland Park.

Blue Valley's streak covers every edition of the Forbes state ranking: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026. The full list is available at forbes.com. Blue Valley's 36 schools open for the 2026-27 school year later this month.