schoolsbycounty

Benton County Schools & Education

School Score

41/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

92.5%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

92.5%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 91.3%

Per-Pupil Spending

$5,747

National avg $13,239

State avg $6,334

School Score

41/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 43/100

State Score Position

#68

of 115 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Benton County

Measured School Summary

Benton County performs at an average level with a school score of 41/100 and a solid graduation rate of 92.5%.

Funding Context

At $5,747 per pupil, Benton County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 5% below the Missouri average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 1.2 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 9% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Benton 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

9 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

41/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #68 of 115 Missouri counties with school score data.

Completion

92.5%

1.2 pts above the state average

Funding context

$5,747

$587 below the state average

School coverage

9

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

Benton County has 9 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.

Parent decision brief

What Benton 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.

Mixed school landscape

Benton County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.

State position

#68

of 115 Missouri counties with school score data. The county score is 2 points below 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.

WARSAW R-IX

Elementary to high school visible

1,320 students

Elementary 2Middle 1High 1Other 0

4 listed schools in this county slice.

COLE CAMP R-I

Elementary and high visible

756 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 1

3 listed schools in this county slice.

LINCOLN R-II

Elementary and high visible

513 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 1Other 0

2 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

WARSAW R-IX is the largest listed district slice, with 4 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 Benton County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Benton 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 Benton 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.

Streamlined Schooling in Benton County

Benton County hosts 2,589 students in nine public schools across three districts. The system includes four elementary schools, one middle school, and three high schools, along with one additional specialized facility. This streamlined approach focuses student populations into a few well-defined regional hubs.

Warsaw R-IX Serves as the Hub

The Warsaw R-IX district is the county's largest, educating 1,320 students across four schools. Cole Camp R-I and Lincoln R-II also play significant roles, serving 756 and 513 students respectively. No charter schools exist in the county, emphasizing the role of the traditional district in these communities.

A Predominantly Rural Learning Experience

Eight of the county's nine schools are in rural locales, reflecting the area's spread-out nature. Schools average 288 students each, providing a balance between individual attention and social opportunities. Warsaw High School is the largest campus in the county with 403 students.

School Overview

Total Schools

9

in Benton County

Reported Enrollment

2,589

9 schools reporting

School Districts

3

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary4
Middle1
High3
Other1

3 School Districts in Benton County

WARSAW R-IX

4 schools
1,320 students

COLE CAMP R-I

3 schools
756 students

LINCOLN R-II

2 schools
513 students

9 Public Schools in Benton 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 data

Level

Showing 9 of 9 matching schools

WARSAW HIGH SCHOOL

WARSAW R-IX

WARSAW, 65355 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High403 students

COLE CAMP ELEM.

COLE CAMP R-I

COLE CAMP, 65325 / Rural: Remote

RecordKG–6Primary370 students

COLE CAMP HIGH

COLE CAMP R-I

COLE CAMP, 65325 / Rural: Remote

Record7–12High356 students

NORTH ELEMENTARY

WARSAW R-IX

WARSAW, 65355 / Town: Remote

RecordKG–5Primary355 students

SOUTH ELEMENTARY

WARSAW R-IX

EDWARDS, 65326 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary284 students

JOHN BOISE MIDDLE SCHOOL

WARSAW R-IX

WARSAW, 65355 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle278 students

LINCOLN ELEM.

LINCOLN R-II

LINCOLN, 65338 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–6Primary260 students

LINCOLN HIGH

LINCOLN R-II

LINCOLN, 65338 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High253 students

COLE CAMP PRESCHOOL

COLE CAMP R-I

Cole Camp, 65325 / Rural: Remote

RecordPKOther30 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$5,747

State avg $6,334

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Benton County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

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.
How should I read the school score in Benton County?
Benton County has a school score of 41/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Benton County?
The high school graduation rate in Benton County is 92.5%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Benton County spend per student?
Benton County spends $5,747 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Benton County, Missouri — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Benton County, Missouri?

Benton County hosts 2,589 students in nine public schools across three districts. The system includes four elementary schools, one middle school, and three high schools, along with one additional specialized facility. This streamlined approach focuses student populations into a few well-defined regional hubs.

What are the major school districts in Benton County, Missouri?

The Warsaw R-IX district is the county's largest, educating 1,320 students across four schools. Cole Camp R-I and Lincoln R-II also play significant roles, serving 756 and 513 students respectively. No charter schools exist in the county, emphasizing the role of the traditional district in these communities.

What is the school experience like in Benton County?

Eight of the county's nine schools are in rural locales, reflecting the area's spread-out nature. Schools average 288 students each, providing a balance between individual attention and social opportunities. Warsaw High School is the largest campus in the county with 403 students.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

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.