Barton County Schools & Education
Barton County, Missouri
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
48/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
91.4%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
91.4%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 91.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,842
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,334
School Score
48/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 43/100
State Score Position
#42
of 115 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Barton County
Measured School Summary
Barton County performs at an average level with a school score of 48/100 and a solid graduation rate of 91.4%.
Funding Context
At $6,842 per pupil, Barton County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 10% above the Missouri average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 0.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 8% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Barton County before comparing districts
County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.
Local context that changes the interpretation
10 public schools and 3 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.
Overall screen
48/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #42 of 115 Missouri counties with school score data.
Completion
91.4%
0.1 pts above the state average
Funding context
$6,842
$508 above the state average
School coverage
10
3 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Barton County has 10 public schools across 3 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.
Verify local rules
Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.
What Barton County school data means before you move
County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.
Dominant-district county
LAMAR R-I carries most of the listed public-school system, with 6 of 10 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#42
of 115 Missouri counties with school score data. The county score is 5 points above the state average.
Data confidence
Usable
3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.
K-12 continuity check
These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.
LAMAR R-I
Elementary to high school visible
1,202 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
LIBERAL R-II
Elementary to high school visible
301 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
GOLDEN CITY R-III
Elementary and high visible
155 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
LAMAR R-I is the largest listed district slice, with 6 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.
What the data cannot tell you
NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.
Questions to ask before choosing an address
Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Barton County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Barton County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Barton County, Missouri
This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.
Barton County's Small-Scale School System
Barton County manages 1,658 students within 10 public schools across three school districts. The education landscape is composed of four elementary schools, two middle schools, and four high schools. This balanced structure ensures that students have dedicated facilities at every stage of their K-12 journey.
Lamar R-I Dominates the County
The Lamar R-I district is the primary educator in the county, overseeing six schools and 1,227 students. Smaller districts like Liberal R-II and Golden City R-III serve fewer than 310 students each. The county maintains a traditional public school model with no charter schools currently available.
Quiet Schools with Personal Attention
Six of the county's schools are located in rural areas, while four are situated in town settings. Schools are relatively small, averaging 184 students per building, which fosters a close community feel. Lamar High is the largest at 393 students, while Liberal Elementary serves just 119.
School Overview
Total Schools
10
in Barton County
Reported Enrollment
1,658
10 schools reporting
School Districts
3
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
3 School Districts in Barton County
LAMAR R-I
LIBERAL R-II
GOLDEN CITY R-III
10 Public Schools in Barton County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 10 of 10 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LAMAR HIGH | Record | LAMAR R-I | LAMAR, 64759Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 393 |
| EAST ELEM. | Record | LAMAR R-I | LAMAR, 64759Rural: Fringe | PK–2 | Primary | 275 |
| LAMAR ELEM. | Record | LAMAR R-I | LAMAR, 64759Town: Distant | 3–5 | Primary | 268 |
| LAMAR MIDDLE | Record | LAMAR R-I | LAMAR, 64759Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 266 |
| LIBERAL ELEM. | Record | LIBERAL R-II | LIBERAL, 64762Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 119 |
| LIBERAL HIGH | Record | LIBERAL R-II | LIBERAL, 64762Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 116 |
| GOLDEN CITY HIGH | Record | GOLDEN CITY R-III | GOLDEN CITY, 64748Rural: Distant | 6–12 | High | 84 |
| GOLDEN CITY ELEM. | Record | GOLDEN CITY R-III | GOLDEN CITY, 64748Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 71 |
| LIBERAL MIDDLE | Record | LIBERAL R-II | LIBERAL, 64762Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 66 |
| LAMAR CAREERTECHNICAL CENTER | Record | LAMAR R-I | LAMAR, 64759Town: Distant | 9–12 | Vocational | 0 |
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,842
State avg $6,334
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Barton County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which Missouri counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in Missouri?
How should I read the school score in Barton County?
What is the graduation rate in Barton County?
How much does Barton County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Barton County, Missouri — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Barton County, Missouri?
Barton County manages 1,658 students within 10 public schools across three school districts. The education landscape is composed of four elementary schools, two middle schools, and four high schools. This balanced structure ensures that students have dedicated facilities at every stage of their K-12 journey.
What are the major school districts in Barton County, Missouri?
The Lamar R-I district is the primary educator in the county, overseeing six schools and 1,227 students. Smaller districts like Liberal R-II and Golden City R-III serve fewer than 310 students each. The county maintains a traditional public school model with no charter schools currently available.
What is the school experience like in Barton County?
Six of the county's schools are located in rural areas, while four are situated in town settings. Schools are relatively small, averaging 184 students per building, which fosters a close community feel. Lamar High is the largest at 393 students, while Liberal Elementary serves just 119.
Counties with Similar School Profile
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.