Caldwell County Schools & Education
Caldwell County, Missouri
NCES + U.S. Census BureauSchool Score
72/100
Higher = better
Rating
High Performing
Graduation Rate
95.3%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
95.3%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 91.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,544
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,334
School Score
72/100
Higher = better
State avg 43/100
Student-Teacher Ratio
N/A
National avg 15.8 : 1
Free Lunch (Median)
N/A
National median 48.2%
State School Rank
#1
of 115 counties (1 = best)
Education Advisory: Caldwell County
School Verdict
Caldwell County is a high-performing district with a school score of 72/100 and a graduation rate of 95.3%, reflecting strong academic outcomes.
Funding Context
At $7,544 per pupil, Caldwell County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Attainment Context
Educational attainment data for Caldwell County is not available.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 66% above the Missouri average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 4.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 19% higher than the state norm.
Education Overview
About Schools in Caldwell County, Missouri
Small Districts, Big Academic Results
Caldwell County operates a unique landscape of 14 public schools split among eight different districts. Despite only serving 1,496 total students, the county maintains a diverse split of eight elementary and four high schools.
Leading the State in Performance
The county boasts an exceptional 95.3% graduation rate, far surpassing the state average of 91.3%. This success is supported by a high per-pupil expenditure of $7,544, which is significantly more than both the Missouri average and neighboring counties.
Hamilton R-II Sets the Standard
Hamilton R-II is the largest district, serving 641 students across three schools including Hamilton Elementary and Penney High. There are no charter schools in the county, emphasizing the importance of these local public districts.
Intimate Rural Learning Environments
All 14 schools are in rural settings, with a tiny average school size of only 107 students. This creates a very personal atmosphere where the largest school, Hamilton Elementary, has only 289 students and some schools have even fewer.
Find Your Home in a High-Performing Area
If you value small class sizes and high graduation rates, the Hamilton R-II and Polo R-VII districts are excellent places to start a home search. These districts prove that small rural schools can offer some of the best academic outcomes in Missouri.
School Overview
Total Schools
14
in Caldwell County
Total Enrollment
1,496
students
School Districts
8
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
Student-Teacher Ratio
—
county average
Free Lunch (Median)
—
of students countywide
School Type Breakdown
8 School Districts in Caldwell County
HAMILTON R-II
POLO R-VII
BRAYMER C-4
BRECKENRIDGE R-I
COWGILL R-VI
MIRABILE C-1
KINGSTON 42
NEW YORK R-IV
14 Public Schools in Caldwell County
| School Name | District | Grades | Type | Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HAMILTON ELEM. | HAMILTON R-II | PK–5 | Primary | 289 |
| PENNEY HIGH | HAMILTON R-II | 9–12 | High | 203 |
| POLO HIGH | POLO R-VII | 9–12 | High | 156 |
| HAMILTON MIDDLE | HAMILTON R-II | 6–8 | Middle | 149 |
| POLO ELEM. | POLO R-VII | PK–4 | Primary | 142 |
| BRAYMER HIGH | BRAYMER C-4 | 7–12 | High | 136 |
| BRAYMER ELEM. | BRAYMER C-4 | PK–6 | Primary | 115 |
| POLO MIDDLE | POLO R-VII | 5–8 | Middle | 107 |
| COWGILL ELEM. | COWGILL R-VI | PK–8 | Primary | 45 |
| MIRABILE ELEM. | MIRABILE C-1 | PK–8 | Primary | 39 |
| KINGSTON ELEM. | KINGSTON 42 | PK–8 | Primary | 33 |
| BRECKENRIDGE ELEM. | BRECKENRIDGE R-I | PK–6 | Primary | 32 |
| BRECKENRIDGE HIGH | BRECKENRIDGE R-I | 7–12 | High | 27 |
| NEW YORK ELEM. | NEW YORK R-IV | PK–8 | Primary | 23 |
Educational Attainment
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,544
State avg $6,334
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do schools in Caldwell County rate?
What is the graduation rate in Caldwell County?
How much does Caldwell County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Caldwell County, Missouri — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Caldwell County, Missouri?
Caldwell County operates a unique landscape of 14 public schools split among eight different districts. Despite only serving 1,496 total students, the county maintains a diverse split of eight elementary and four high schools.
How do schools in Caldwell County perform academically?
The county boasts an exceptional 95.3% graduation rate, far surpassing the state average of 91.3%. This success is supported by a high per-pupil expenditure of $7,544, which is significantly more than both the Missouri average and neighboring counties.
What are the major school districts in Caldwell County, Missouri?
Hamilton R-II is the largest district, serving 641 students across three schools including Hamilton Elementary and Penney High. There are no charter schools in the county, emphasizing the importance of these local public districts.
What is the school experience like in Caldwell County?
All 14 schools are in rural settings, with a tiny average school size of only 107 students. This creates a very personal atmosphere where the largest school, Hamilton Elementary, has only 289 students and some schools have even fewer.
How can I find homes near good schools in Caldwell County, Missouri?
If you value small class sizes and high graduation rates, the Hamilton R-II and Polo R-VII districts are excellent places to start a home search. These districts prove that small rural schools can offer some of the best academic outcomes in Missouri.
Counties with Similar School Profile
Data Sources
Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics.
Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.