Buchanan County Schools & Education
Buchanan County, Missouri
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
13/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
81.2%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
81.2%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 91.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$5,963
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,334
School Score
13/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 43/100
State Score Position
#114
of 115 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Buchanan County
Measured School Summary
Buchanan County faces educational challenges with a school score of 13/100 and a graduation rate of 81.2%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $5,963 per pupil, Buchanan County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 70% below the Missouri average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 10.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 6% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Buchanan 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
34 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
13/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #114 of 115 Missouri counties with school score data.
Completion
81.2%
10.1 pts below the state average
Funding context
$5,963
$371 below the state average
School coverage
34
3 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Buchanan County has 34 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 Buchanan 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
ST. JOSEPH carries most of the listed public-school system, with 25 of 34 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#114
of 115 Missouri counties with school score data. The county score is 30 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.
ST. JOSEPH
Elementary to high school visible
10,568 students
25 listed schools in this county slice.
MID-BUCHANAN CO. R-V
Elementary and high visible
865 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
BUCHANAN CO. R-IV
Elementary and high visible
290 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
ST. JOSEPH is the largest listed district slice, with 25 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 Buchanan County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Buchanan County district systems?
What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?
Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?
Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?
Education Overview
About Schools in Buchanan 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.
The St. Joseph Education Corridor
Buchanan County's educational landscape is comprised of 34 public schools serving 11,954 students within three districts. This system includes 16 elementary schools, 9 high schools, and specialized alternative and special education facilities.
Challenges in Graduation and Funding
The county's graduation rate currently stands at 81.2%, trailing both the Missouri average of 91.3% and the national 87% benchmark. Spending is also leaner than state norms, with a per-pupil expenditure of $5,963 compared to the $6,334 state average.
St. Joseph District Serves the Majority
The St. Joseph school district is the largest by far, overseeing 25 schools and 10,568 students. Central High is the county's flagship school with 1,728 students, while no charter schools are available to local families.
Urban Hub with Rural Pockets
With 25 schools located in city settings and 9 in rural areas, the county feels distinctly urban with an average school size of 412 students. Oak Grove Elementary serves a large primary population of 842 students, making it one of the busiest elementary campuses in the region.
School Overview
Total Schools
34
in Buchanan County
Reported Enrollment
11,954
34 schools reporting
School Districts
3
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
3 School Districts in Buchanan County
ST. JOSEPH
GuideMID-BUCHANAN CO. R-V
BUCHANAN CO. R-IV
34 Public Schools in Buchanan County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 34 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CENTRAL HIGH | Profile | ST. JOSEPH | ST JOSEPH, 64501City: Small | 9–12 | High | 1,728 |
| OAK GROVE ELEM | Record | ST. JOSEPH | St. Joseph, 64505Rural: Fringe | PK–6 | Primary | 842 |
| LAFAYETTE HIGH | Record | ST. JOSEPH | ST JOSEPH, 64505City: Small | 9–12 | High | 717 |
| BENTON HIGH | Record | ST. JOSEPH | ST JOSEPH, 64504City: Small | 9–12 | High | 676 |
| CARDEN PARK ELEM | Record | ST. JOSEPH | St. Joseph, 64501City: Small | KG–6 | Primary | 577 |
| BODE MIDDLE | Record | ST. JOSEPH | ST JOSEPH, 64506City: Small | 7–8 | Middle | 486 |
| LINDBERGH ELEM. | Record | ST. JOSEPH | ST JOSEPH, 64505City: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 484 |
| TRUMAN MIDDLE | Record | ST. JOSEPH | ST JOSEPH, 64507City: Small | 7–8 | Middle | 482 |
| SPRING GARDEN MIDDLE | Record | ST. JOSEPH | ST JOSEPH, 64503City: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 474 |
| MID-BUCHANAN ELEM. | Record | MID-BUCHANAN CO. R-V | FAUCETT, 64448Rural: Fringe | PK–6 | Primary | 471 |
| HOSEA ELEM. | Record | ST. JOSEPH | ST JOSEPH, 64504City: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 438 |
| MID-BUCHANAN SR. HIGH | Record | MID-BUCHANAN CO. R-V | FAUCETT, 64448Rural: Fringe | 7–12 | High | 394 |
| ROBIDOUX MIDDLE | Record | ST. JOSEPH | ST JOSEPH, 64505Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 390 |
| PARKWAY ELEM. | Record | ST. JOSEPH | ST JOSEPH, 64507City: Small | KG–6 | Primary | 379 |
| HYDE ELEM. | Record | ST. JOSEPH | ST JOSEPH, 64504City: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 377 |
| SKAITH ELEM. | Record | ST. JOSEPH | ST JOSEPH, 64503City: Small | PK–6 | Primary | 367 |
| ELLISON ELEM. | Record | ST. JOSEPH | ST JOSEPH, 64507Rural: Fringe | KG–6 | Primary | 364 |
| COLEMAN ELEM. | Record | ST. JOSEPH | ST JOSEPH, 64506City: Small | KG–6 | Primary | 349 |
| MARK TWAIN ELEM. | Record | ST. JOSEPH | ST JOSEPH, 64507City: Small | KG–6 | Primary | 315 |
| PICKETT ELEM. | Record | ST. JOSEPH | ST JOSEPH, 64503City: Small | PK–6 | Primary | 290 |
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$5,963
State avg $6,334
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Buchanan 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 Buchanan County?
What is the graduation rate in Buchanan County?
How much does Buchanan County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Buchanan County, Missouri — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Buchanan County, Missouri?
Buchanan County's educational landscape is comprised of 34 public schools serving 11,954 students within three districts. This system includes 16 elementary schools, 9 high schools, and specialized alternative and special education facilities.
How do schools in Buchanan County perform academically?
The county's graduation rate currently stands at 81.2%, trailing both the Missouri average of 91.3% and the national 87% benchmark. Spending is also leaner than state norms, with a per-pupil expenditure of $5,963 compared to the $6,334 state average.
What are the major school districts in Buchanan County, Missouri?
The St. Joseph school district is the largest by far, overseeing 25 schools and 10,568 students. Central High is the county's flagship school with 1,728 students, while no charter schools are available to local families.
What is the school experience like in Buchanan County?
With 25 schools located in city settings and 9 in rural areas, the county feels distinctly urban with an average school size of 412 students. Oak Grove Elementary serves a large primary population of 842 students, making it one of the busiest elementary campuses in the region.
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.