Butler County Schools & Education
Butler County, Missouri
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
36/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower 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
$5,877
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,334
School Score
36/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 43/100
State Score Position
#86
of 115 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Butler County
Measured School Summary
Despite a lower school score of 36/100, Butler County maintains a strong graduation rate of 91.4%, suggesting effective student support systems.
Funding Context
At $5,877 per pupil, Butler County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 16% below the Missouri average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 0.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 7% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Butler 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
20 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
36/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #86 of 115 Missouri counties with school score data.
Completion
91.4%
0.1 pts above the state average
Funding context
$5,877
$457 below the state average
School coverage
20
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
Butler County has 20 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 Butler 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.
Review-carefully county
Butler County has a lower measured county-level school signal. Use the school table to look for specific districts or grade bands that may differ from the county average.
State position
#86
of 115 Missouri counties with school score data. The county score is 7 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.
POPLAR BLUFF R-I
Elementary to high school visible
5,204 students
10 listed schools in this county slice.
TWIN RIVERS R-X
Elementary to high school visible
827 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
NEELYVILLE R-IV
Elementary and high visible
637 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
POPLAR BLUFF R-I is the largest listed district slice, with 10 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 Butler County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Butler 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 Butler 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.
Education in the Heart of Southeast Missouri
Butler County manages 20 public schools serving a total of 6,756 students through three distinct districts. The infrastructure includes nine elementary schools and six high schools, providing a broad range of options for local families.
Meeting State Standards in Graduation
The graduation rate of 91.4% perfectly matches the Missouri state average and exceeds the national average of 87.0%. Per-pupil expenditure is $5,877, which is lower than the state's $6,334 average but yields competitive academic outcomes.
Poplar Bluff R-I Leads Growth
Poplar Bluff R-I is the county's central district, educating 5,204 students across 10 different schools. Poplar Bluff High School is the largest single campus, serving 1,504 students in a county with zero charter school options.
A Blend of Town and Rural Living
The county features 13 rural schools and 7 town-based schools, with an average enrollment of 356 students per facility. While large campuses like Poplar Bluff Middle School host over 1,000 students, Fisk Elementary offers a smaller community feel for 345 learners.
School Overview
Total Schools
20
in Butler County
Reported Enrollment
6,756
20 schools reporting
School Districts
3
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
3 School Districts in Butler County
POPLAR BLUFF R-I
GuideTWIN RIVERS R-X
NEELYVILLE R-IV
20 Public Schools in Butler County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 2 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 20 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| POPLAR BLUFF HIGH | Profile | POPLAR BLUFF R-I | POPLAR BLUFF, 63901Town: Remote | 9–12 | High | 1,504 |
| POPLAR BLUFF MIDDLE SCHOOL | Profile | POPLAR BLUFF R-I | POPLAR BLUFF, 63901Town: Remote | 4–6 | Middle | 1,018 |
| POPLAR BLUFF JR. HIGH | Record | POPLAR BLUFF R-I | POPLAR BLUFF, 63901Town: Remote | 7–8 | Middle | 782 |
| POPLAR BLUFF KINDERGARTEN CTR. | Record | POPLAR BLUFF R-I | POPLAR BLUFF, 63901Rural: Fringe | KG | Primary | 375 |
| FISK ELEMENTARY | Record | TWIN RIVERS R-X | FISK, 63940Rural: Distant | PK–8 | Primary | 345 |
| O'NEAL ELEM. | Record | POPLAR BLUFF R-I | POPLAR BLUFF, 63901Town: Remote | 1–3 | Primary | 325 |
| OAK GROVE ELEM. | Record | POPLAR BLUFF R-I | POPLAR BLUFF, 63901Rural: Fringe | 1–3 | Primary | 318 |
| LAKE ROAD ELEM. | Record | POPLAR BLUFF R-I | POPLAR BLUFF, 63901Rural: Fringe | 1–6 | Primary | 305 |
| POPLAR BLUFF EARLY CHILDHOOD C | Record | POPLAR BLUFF R-I | POPLAR BLUFF, 63901Rural: Fringe | PK | Other | 305 |
| EUGENE FIELD ELEM. | Record | POPLAR BLUFF R-I | POPLAR BLUFF, 63901Town: Remote | 1–3 | Primary | 272 |
| NEELYVILLE HIGH | Record | NEELYVILLE R-IV | NEELYVILLE, 63954Rural: Remote | 7–12 | High | 271 |
| TWIN RIVERS HIGH | Record | TWIN RIVERS R-X | BROSELEY, 63932Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 249 |
| NEELYVILLE ELEM. | Record | NEELYVILLE R-IV | NEELYVILLE, 63954Rural: Remote | 3–6 | Primary | 214 |
| HILLVIEW ELEM. | Record | NEELYVILLE R-IV | HARVIELL, 63945Rural: Distant | PK–2 | Primary | 152 |
| QULIN MIDDLE | Record | TWIN RIVERS R-X | QULIN, 63961Rural: Remote | 4–8 | Middle | 120 |
| QULIN ELEMENTARY | Record | TWIN RIVERS R-X | QULIN, 63961Rural: Remote | PK–3 | Primary | 113 |
| W. E. SEARS YOUTH CTR. | Record | DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICE | POPLAR BLUFF, 63901Rural: Distant | 5–12 | High | 43 |
| SHADY GROVE SCHOOL | Record | MO SCHLS FOR THE SEV DISABLED | POPLAR BLUFF, 63901Town: Remote | KG–12 | Special Education | 25 |
| SIERRA-OSAGE TREATMENT CTR. | Record | DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICE | POPLAR BLUFF, 63901Rural: Distant | 5–12 | High | 20 |
| POPLAR BLUFF TECH. CAREER CTR. | Record | POPLAR BLUFF R-I | POPLAR BLUFF, 63901Town: Remote | 10–12 | Vocational | 0 |
POPLAR BLUFF HIGH
POPLAR BLUFF R-I
POPLAR BLUFF, 63901 / Town: Remote
POPLAR BLUFF MIDDLE SCHOOL
POPLAR BLUFF R-I
POPLAR BLUFF, 63901 / Town: Remote
POPLAR BLUFF KINDERGARTEN CTR.
POPLAR BLUFF R-I
POPLAR BLUFF, 63901 / Rural: Fringe
POPLAR BLUFF EARLY CHILDHOOD C
POPLAR BLUFF R-I
POPLAR BLUFF, 63901 / Rural: Fringe
W. E. SEARS YOUTH CTR.
DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICE
POPLAR BLUFF, 63901 / Rural: Distant
SHADY GROVE SCHOOL
MO SCHLS FOR THE SEV DISABLED
POPLAR BLUFF, 63901 / Town: Remote
SIERRA-OSAGE TREATMENT CTR.
DIVISION OF YOUTH SERVICE
POPLAR BLUFF, 63901 / Rural: Distant
POPLAR BLUFF TECH. CAREER CTR.
POPLAR BLUFF R-I
POPLAR BLUFF, 63901 / Town: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$5,877
State avg $6,334
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Butler 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 Butler County?
What is the graduation rate in Butler County?
How much does Butler County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Butler County, Missouri — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Butler County, Missouri?
Butler County manages 20 public schools serving a total of 6,756 students through three distinct districts. The infrastructure includes nine elementary schools and six high schools, providing a broad range of options for local families.
How do schools in Butler County perform academically?
The graduation rate of 91.4% perfectly matches the Missouri state average and exceeds the national average of 87.0%. Per-pupil expenditure is $5,877, which is lower than the state's $6,334 average but yields competitive academic outcomes.
What are the major school districts in Butler County, Missouri?
Poplar Bluff R-I is the county's central district, educating 5,204 students across 10 different schools. Poplar Bluff High School is the largest single campus, serving 1,504 students in a county with zero charter school options.
What is the school experience like in Butler County?
The county features 13 rural schools and 7 town-based schools, with an average enrollment of 356 students per facility. While large campuses like Poplar Bluff Middle School host over 1,000 students, Fisk Elementary offers a smaller community feel for 345 learners.
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.