Carter County Schools & Education
Carter County, Missouri
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
55/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
92.9%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
92.9%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 91.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,913
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,334
School Score
55/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 43/100
State Score Position
#17
of 115 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Carter County
Measured School Summary
Carter County performs at an average level with a school score of 55/100 and a solid graduation rate of 92.9%.
Funding Context
At $6,913 per pupil, Carter County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 29% above the Missouri average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 1.6 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 9% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Carter 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
5 public schools and 2 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
55/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #17 of 115 Missouri counties with school score data.
Completion
92.9%
1.6 pts above the state average
Funding context
$6,913
$579 above the state average
School coverage
5
2 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
Carter County has 5 public schools across 2 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 Carter 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.
Small-system county
Carter County has a compact public-school footprint. A single school change, boundary rule, or district update can move the lived experience more than the county score suggests.
State position
#17
of 115 Missouri counties with school score data. The county score is 12 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.
EAST CARTER CO. R-II
Elementary to high school visible
652 students
3 listed schools in this county slice.
VAN BUREN R-I
Elementary and high visible
516 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
EAST CARTER CO. R-II is the largest listed district slice, with 3 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 Carter County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Carter 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 Carter 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.
Five Schools Serving Two Primary Districts
Carter County's education landscape is streamlined into two school districts serving 1,168 total students. The system consists of two elementary schools, one middle school, and two high schools. This concentrated infrastructure focuses on providing core educational services to a 100% rural student population.
East Carter and Van Buren Districts
The East Carter Co. R-II district is the largest in the county, educating 652 students across three schools. Van Buren R-I serves the remaining 516 students in two schools. Neither district hosts charter schools, maintaining a traditional public school focus for the community.
Small Schools in a Purely Rural Locale
All five schools in the county are classified as rural, creating a consistent and quiet learning environment. The average school size is 234 students, with East Carter Co. R-II Elementary being the largest at 327 students. This scale ensures that students and teachers maintain close, multi-year relationships.
School Overview
Total Schools
5
in Carter County
Reported Enrollment
1,168
5 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Carter County
EAST CARTER CO. R-II
VAN BUREN R-I
5 Public Schools in Carter 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 5 of 5 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EAST CARTER CO. R-II ELEM. | Record | EAST CARTER CO. R-II | ELLSINORE, 63937Rural: Remote | PK–5 | Primary | 327 |
| VAN BUREN ELEM. | Record | VAN BUREN R-I | VAN BUREN, 63965Rural: Remote | PK–6 | Primary | 291 |
| VAN BUREN HIGH | Record | VAN BUREN R-I | VAN BUREN, 63965Rural: Remote | 7–12 | High | 225 |
| EAST CARTER CO. R-II HIGH | Record | EAST CARTER CO. R-II | ELLSINORE, 63937Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 184 |
| EAST CARTER CO. R-II MIDDLE | Record | EAST CARTER CO. R-II | ELLSINORE, 63937Rural: Remote | 6–8 | Middle | 141 |
EAST CARTER CO. R-II ELEM.
EAST CARTER CO. R-II
ELLSINORE, 63937 / Rural: Remote
EAST CARTER CO. R-II HIGH
EAST CARTER CO. R-II
ELLSINORE, 63937 / Rural: Remote
EAST CARTER CO. R-II MIDDLE
EAST CARTER CO. R-II
ELLSINORE, 63937 / Rural: Remote
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,913
State avg $6,334
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Carter 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 Carter County?
What is the graduation rate in Carter County?
How much does Carter County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Carter County, Missouri — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Carter County, Missouri?
Carter County's education landscape is streamlined into two school districts serving 1,168 total students. The system consists of two elementary schools, one middle school, and two high schools. This concentrated infrastructure focuses on providing core educational services to a 100% rural student population.
What are the major school districts in Carter County, Missouri?
The East Carter Co. R-II district is the largest in the county, educating 652 students across three schools. Van Buren R-I serves the remaining 516 students in two schools. Neither district hosts charter schools, maintaining a traditional public school focus for the community.
What is the school experience like in Carter County?
All five schools in the county are classified as rural, creating a consistent and quiet learning environment. The average school size is 234 students, with East Carter Co. R-II Elementary being the largest at 327 students. This scale ensures that students and teachers maintain close, multi-year relationships.
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.