Missouri Schools & Education

Public school metrics and education data for all 115 counties.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Avg Graduation Rate

91.3%

Avg Per-Pupil Spending

$6,334

Avg School Score

43/100

Total Schools

2,473

565 districts

State Overview

About Schools in Missouri

This summary is generated from the NCES metrics shown on this page and reviewed against the source data by the Data Editor. It is not school advice.

High Graduation Rates Despite Lower Funding

Missouri boasts a 91.3% average graduation rate, significantly outpacing the national average of 87.0%. However, the state achieves this with just $6,334 in per-pupil spending, which is less than half of the $13,000 national benchmark.

Rural and Urban Excellence in Missouri

Caldwell and St. Louis County lead the state with identical 57.5 school scores, though Caldwell achieves a higher 95.3% graduation rate with less spending. Knox County follows closely with a 56.7 score, bolstered by a strong 95.0% graduation rate.

Efficient Education but Regional Disparities Persist

Missouri is a strong choice for education, offering graduation rates that exceed national norms at a fraction of the cost. Families find the most consistent success in Caldwell, St. Louis, and Knox counties, where scores remain well above the 50.0 national median.

State Score Context

How Missouri Counties Are Distributed

115 of 115 counties have enough NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data to receive a county school score. Use this distribution to understand whether the state has a concentrated cluster of high, midrange, or lower measured signals.

Scored county coverage

Counties with complete enough data for the composite score

100%

Higher measured signal

Score range 70-100

Midrange measured signal

Score range 40-69

Lower measured signal

Score range 0-39

Scores are comparative signals from available federal data, not ratings of individual schools.

Best school counties

Best Counties for Public School Research in Missouri

For a first-pass answer to parent searches about where the best schools are in Missouri, start with county-level evidence, then open individual school and district records. SchoolsByCounty ranks counties by public education signals, not by private opinions or paid school ratings.

Short answer for Missouri

Caldwell County is the strongest county-level starting point in Missouri by the current SchoolsByCounty score, with a measured school signal of 72/100. This is a county comparison signal, not a promise that every school in the county is the best fit for every family.

Ranking methodology

115 of 115 counties have enough federal education data for a county school score. The ranking favors counties with stronger available graduation-rate and school-finance signals, then asks parents to verify individual school fit locally. The table below should help parents choose what to compare next; it should not replace attendance-boundary checks, program eligibility, commute, services, or direct district confirmation.

State average per-pupil spending in this dataset: $6,334.

Top measured county school signals

Ranked by the county school score where enough federal data is available.

1Caldwell CountyGraduation 95.3% · Spending $7,54472/100 2Knox CountyGraduation 95.0% · Spending $7,26566/100 3Sullivan CountyGraduation 93.8% · Spending $7,36764/100 4Monroe CountyGraduation 94.3% · Spending $7,24864/100 5St. Charles CountyGraduation 94.7% · Spending $7,18564/100 6Stone CountyGraduation 95.3% · Spending $6,88863/100 7Putnam CountyGraduation 97.0% · Spending $6,61863/100

Graduation-focused starting point

Putnam County

97.0%

Putnam County has the strongest reported county graduation-rate signal in Missouri. Use this as a broad county context, then review individual high-school records.

Funding context to inspect

St. Louis County

$9,027

St. Louis County reports the highest per-pupil spending among counties with available data. Higher spending is context, not a guarantee of student fit.

Counties to research carefully

Cole County

9/100

Cole County has one of the lowest measured county school signals in Missouri. Review missing data, district context, and individual school records before drawing conclusions.

District research

Compare Missouri public school districts before narrowing by address

Missouri has 565 public school district records and 2,473 school records in the NCES file. Use the district hub to sort large district systems by enrollment, school count, county context, and generated district-guide coverage.

View District Rankings

All Missouri Counties

County-level school score, graduation rate, and per-pupil spending for Missouri.
County	School Score	Graduation Rate	Per-Pupil Spending
Caldwell County Graduation 95.3% Per pupil $7,544	72/100	95.3%	$7,544
Knox County Graduation 95.0% Per pupil $7,265	66/100	95.0%	$7,265
Sullivan County Graduation 93.8% Per pupil $7,367	64/100	93.8%	$7,367
Monroe County Graduation 94.3% Per pupil $7,248	64/100	94.3%	$7,248
St. Charles County Graduation 94.7% Per pupil $7,185	64/100	94.7%	$7,185
Stone County Graduation 95.3% Per pupil $6,888	63/100	95.3%	$6,888
Putnam County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $6,618	63/100	97.0%	$6,618
St. Louis County Graduation 89.2% Per pupil $9,027	62/100	89.2%	$9,027
Schuyler County Graduation 95.0% Per pupil $6,846	61/100	95.0%	$6,846
Shelby County Graduation 93.7% Per pupil $7,007	59/100	93.7%	$7,007
Clay County Graduation 96.0% Per pupil $6,414	58/100	96.0%	$6,414
Lewis County Graduation 95.1% Per pupil $6,521	58/100	95.1%	$6,521
Howell County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $6,195	58/100	97.0%	$6,195
Chariton County Graduation 88.9% Per pupil $8,427	57/100	88.9%	$8,427
Lafayette County Graduation 95.5% Per pupil $6,291	56/100	95.5%	$6,291
Mercer County Graduation 90.0% Per pupil $7,866	56/100	90.0%	$7,866
Carter County Graduation 92.9% Per pupil $6,913	55/100	92.9%	$6,913
Atchison County Graduation 89.6% Per pupil $7,993	55/100	89.6%	$7,993
Ste. Genevieve County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $7,152	55/100	92.0%	$7,152
Washington County Graduation 96.3% Per pupil $6,057	55/100	96.3%	$6,057
Greene County Graduation 94.5% Per pupil $6,467	55/100	94.5%	$6,467
Dallas County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $5,890	54/100	97.0%	$5,890
Cooper County Graduation 92.7% Per pupil $6,874	54/100	92.7%	$6,874
Platte County Graduation 92.9% Per pupil $6,823	54/100	92.9%	$6,823
Adair County Graduation 93.5% Per pupil $6,626	54/100	93.5%	$6,626
Oregon County Graduation 93.5% Per pupil $6,624	54/100	93.5%	$6,624
Miller County Graduation 95.4% Per pupil $6,107	54/100	95.4%	$6,107
Taney County Graduation 96.1% Per pupil $5,992	54/100	96.1%	$5,992
Morgan County Graduation 96.3% Per pupil $5,935	53/100	96.3%	$5,935
Dent County Graduation 97.0% Per pupil $5,742	53/100	97.0%	$5,742
Iron County Graduation 94.1% Per pupil $6,347	53/100	94.1%	$6,347
Clinton County Graduation 94.5% Per pupil $6,257	52/100	94.5%	$6,257
Randolph County Graduation 92.3% Per pupil $6,783	52/100	92.3%	$6,783
Reynolds County Graduation 92.6% Per pupil $6,590	50/100	92.6%	$6,590
Shannon County Graduation 95.3% Per pupil $5,767	50/100	95.3%	$5,767
Camden County Graduation 93.7% Per pupil $6,224	50/100	93.7%	$6,224
Carroll County Graduation 88.1% Per pupil $7,775	49/100	88.1%	$7,775
Phelps County Graduation 92.9% Per pupil $6,330	48/100	92.9%	$6,330
Osage County Graduation 94.3% Per pupil $5,941	48/100	94.3%	$5,941
Ralls County Graduation 95.0% Per pupil $5,698	48/100	95.0%	$5,698
Ozark County Graduation 92.9% Per pupil $6,278	48/100	92.9%	$6,278
Barton County Graduation 91.4% Per pupil $6,842	48/100	91.4%	$6,842
Pike County Graduation 92.5% Per pupil $6,343	47/100	92.5%	$6,343
Maries County Graduation 95.0% Per pupil $5,588	47/100	95.0%	$5,588
Laclede County Graduation 94.1% Per pupil $5,828	47/100	94.1%	$5,828
Nodaway County Graduation 90.4% Per pupil $6,963	46/100	90.4%	$6,963
Wright County Graduation 93.9% Per pupil $5,835	46/100	93.9%	$5,835
Crawford County Graduation 95.0% Per pupil $5,362	45/100	95.0%	$5,362
Boone County Graduation 91.2% Per pupil $6,696	45/100	91.2%	$6,696
Pettis County Graduation 93.8% Per pupil $5,757	45/100	93.8%	$5,757
Texas County Graduation 93.9% Per pupil $5,694	45/100	93.9%	$5,694
Bates County Graduation 92.2% Per pupil $6,167	44/100	92.2%	$6,167
Christian County Graduation 94.5% Per pupil $5,381	44/100	94.5%	$5,381
Scott County Graduation 92.6% Per pupil $6,009	44/100	92.6%	$6,009
Daviess County Graduation 87.8% Per pupil $7,404	44/100	87.8%	$7,404
Lincoln County Graduation 94.9% Per pupil $5,079	44/100	94.9%	$5,079
Wayne County Graduation 93.1% Per pupil $5,783	43/100	93.1%	$5,783
Bollinger County Graduation 93.6% Per pupil $5,627	43/100	93.6%	$5,627
Grundy County Graduation 89.4% Per pupil $7,043	43/100	89.4%	$7,043
Pemiscot County Graduation 91.4% Per pupil $6,407	43/100	91.4%	$6,407
Clark County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $6,141	42/100	92.0%	$6,141
Holt County Graduation 82.9% Per pupil $8,173	42/100	82.9%	$8,173
Stoddard County Graduation 93.0% Per pupil $5,667	42/100	93.0%	$5,667
Linn County Graduation 89.3% Per pupil $6,951	42/100	89.3%	$6,951
Johnson County Graduation 92.3% Per pupil $5,856	41/100	92.3%	$5,856
Gasconade County Graduation 93.5% Per pupil $5,331	41/100	93.5%	$5,331
Moniteau County Graduation 91.6% Per pupil $6,251	41/100	91.6%	$6,251
Benton County Graduation 92.5% Per pupil $5,747	41/100	92.5%	$5,747
Franklin County Graduation 90.9% Per pupil $6,434	41/100	90.9%	$6,434
Scotland County Graduation 84.0% Per pupil $7,879	41/100	84.0%	$7,879
Henry County Graduation 91.2% Per pupil $6,233	40/100	91.2%	$6,233
Montgomery County Graduation 91.7% Per pupil $6,107	40/100	91.7%	$6,107
McDonald County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $5,890	40/100	92.0%	$5,890
Marion County Graduation 90.4% Per pupil $6,428	39/100	90.4%	$6,428
Barry County Graduation 90.3% Per pupil $6,415	39/100	90.3%	$6,415
New Madrid County Graduation 89.9% Per pupil $6,677	39/100	89.9%	$6,677
St. Francois County Graduation 92.6% Per pupil $5,504	39/100	92.6%	$5,504
Worth County Graduation 90.0% Per pupil $6,540	39/100	90.0%	$6,540
Howard County Graduation 92.1% Per pupil $5,562	38/100	92.1%	$5,562
Jefferson County Graduation 91.4% Per pupil $6,048	38/100	91.4%	$6,048
Cape Girardeau County Graduation 91.4% Per pupil $6,017	38/100	91.4%	$6,017
Andrew County Graduation 92.5% Per pupil $5,270	38/100	92.5%	$5,270
Callaway County Graduation 91.7% Per pupil $5,851	37/100	91.7%	$5,851
Pulaski County Graduation 90.1% Per pupil $6,230	37/100	90.1%	$6,230
Audrain County Graduation 90.3% Per pupil $6,199	36/100	90.3%	$6,199
Butler County Graduation 91.4% Per pupil $5,877	36/100	91.4%	$5,877
Cedar County Graduation 87.0% Per pupil $7,016	36/100	87.0%	$7,016
Jackson County Graduation 88.2% Per pupil $6,741	36/100	88.2%	$6,741
Vernon County Graduation 90.8% Per pupil $6,009	35/100	90.8%	$6,009
Gentry County Graduation 86.2% Per pupil $7,107	35/100	86.2%	$7,107
Livingston County Graduation 90.7% Per pupil $5,959	35/100	90.7%	$5,959
Lawrence County Graduation 91.4% Per pupil $5,684	35/100	91.4%	$5,684
Douglas County Graduation 92.0% Per pupil $4,888	34/100	92.0%	$4,888
Hickory County Graduation 90.7% Per pupil $5,918	34/100	90.7%	$5,918
Mississippi County Graduation 89.8% Per pupil $6,007	31/100	89.8%	$6,007
Macon County Graduation 87.1% Per pupil $6,534	31/100	87.1%	$6,534
St. Louis city Graduation 75.6% Per pupil $7,652	31/100	75.6%	$7,652
Saline County Graduation 88.6% Per pupil $6,206	31/100	88.6%	$6,206
Dunklin County Graduation 89.7% Per pupil $5,868	30/100	89.7%	$5,868
Warren County Graduation 90.2% Per pupil $5,458	29/100	90.2%	$5,458
Polk County Graduation 89.4% Per pupil $5,826	29/100	89.4%	$5,826
Cass County Graduation 89.6% Per pupil $5,708	28/100	89.6%	$5,708
Webster County Graduation 88.9% Per pupil $5,798	27/100	88.9%	$5,798
Ray County Graduation 89.4% Per pupil $5,619	27/100	89.4%	$5,619
Jasper County Graduation 89.6% Per pupil $5,374	26/100	89.6%	$5,374
St. Clair County Graduation 87.3% Per pupil $5,939	25/100	87.3%	$5,939
Newton County Graduation 88.7% Per pupil $5,560	24/100	88.7%	$5,560
DeKalb County Graduation 79.3% Per pupil $7,003	24/100	79.3%	$7,003
Dade County Graduation 86.2% Per pupil $6,060	22/100	86.2%	$6,060
Perry County Graduation 87.0% Per pupil $5,760	22/100	87.0%	$5,760
Ripley County Graduation 87.6% Per pupil $5,441	21/100	87.6%	$5,441
Harrison County Graduation 79.0% Per pupil $6,799	21/100	79.0%	$6,799
Madison County Graduation 86.1% Per pupil $5,502	17/100	86.1%	$5,502
Buchanan County Graduation 81.2% Per pupil $5,963	13/100	81.2%	$5,963
Cole County Graduation 74.8% Per pupil $6,019	9/100	74.8%	$6,019

— = data not available for this county.

Compare county school profiles in Missouri

Use the comparison tool to review school scores, graduation rates, and spending side by side.

Compare Counties

Frequently Asked Questions About Missouri Schools

Which Missouri counties have the highest graduation rates?

Dallas County (97.0%), Dent County (97.0%), and Howell County (97.0%) currently lead Missouri among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.

What is per-pupil spending like in Missouri?

Across Missouri counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $6,334. The highest current county values are St. Louis County ($9,027), Chariton County ($8,427), and Holt County ($8,173). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.

What are the best school counties in Missouri?

Caldwell County, Knox County, Sullivan County have the strongest measured county-level school signals in Missouri, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data. These are county context rankings, not individual school ratings.

Which Missouri county has the strongest measured school score?

Caldwell County has the highest school score in Missouri with a score of 72/100, based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data.

What is the average graduation rate in Missouri?

The average high school graduation rate across Missouri counties is 91.3%, based on NCES data.

Which county in Missouri has the lowest school score?

Cole County has the lowest school score in Missouri with a score of 9/100. School scores reflect available graduation-rate and per-pupil spending signals.

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.

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