Cole County Schools & Education
Cole County, Missouri
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
9/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
74.8%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
74.8%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 91.3%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,019
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,334
School Score
9/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 43/100
State Score Position
#115
of 115 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Cole County
Measured School Summary
Cole County faces educational challenges with a school score of 9/100 and a graduation rate of 74.8%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $6,019 per pupil, Cole County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 79% below the Missouri average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 16.5 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 5% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Cole 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
28 public schools and 5 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
9/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #115 of 115 Missouri counties with school score data.
Completion
74.8%
16.5 pts below the state average
Funding context
$6,019
$315 below the state average
School coverage
28
5 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
Cole County has 28 public schools across 5 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 Cole 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
JEFFERSON CITY carries most of the listed public-school system, with 18 of 28 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#115
of 115 Missouri counties with school score data. The county score is 34 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.
JEFFERSON CITY
Elementary to high school visible
8,047 students
16 listed schools in this county slice.
BLAIR OAKS R-II
Elementary to high school visible
1,194 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
COLE CO. R-I
Elementary and high visible
626 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
COLE CO. R-V
Elementary and high visible
621 students
2 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
JEFFERSON CITY is the largest listed district slice, with 18 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 Cole County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Cole 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 Cole 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 Educational Hub of the State Capital
Cole County supports a large student population of 10,510 across 28 public schools and five districts. The infrastructure is diverse, featuring 14 elementary schools, nine high schools, and specialized facilities including four alternative and one special education school.
Investment and Performance Challenges
The county reports a graduation rate of 74.8%, which trails the Missouri state average of 91.3%. Per-pupil spending stands at $6,019, below both the state benchmark of $6,334 and the national average of $13,000.
Jefferson City District Dominates the Region
The Jefferson City school district is the largest by far, serving 8,683 students across 18 schools. No charter schools operate in the county, meaning traditional districts manage 100% of the public school enrollment.
An Urban and Rural Mix
Cole County offers a blend of 16 city schools and 11 rural schools, reflecting the geography of the state capital. Capital City High is the largest school with 1,404 students, contributing to a county-wide average school size of 457.
School Overview
Total Schools
28
in Cole County
Reported Enrollment
10,510
28 schools reporting
School Districts
5
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
5 School Districts in Cole County
JEFFERSON CITY
GuideBLAIR OAKS R-II
COLE CO. R-I
COLE CO. R-V
MO VIRTUAL INSTRUCTION PROGRAM
28 Public Schools in Cole County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 4 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 28 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAPITAL CITY HIGH SCHOOL | Profile | JEFFERSON CITY | JEFFERSON CITY, 65109Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,404 |
| JEFFERSON CITY HIGH | Profile | JEFFERSON CITY | JEFFERSON CITY, 65101City: Small | 9–12 | High | 1,296 |
| LEWIS AND CLARK MIDDLE | Profile | JEFFERSON CITY | JEFFERSON CITY, 65101City: Small | 6–8 | Middle | 1,005 |
| THOMAS JEFFERSON MIDDLE | Profile | JEFFERSON CITY | JEFFERSON CITY, 65109Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 957 |
| PIONEER TRAIL ELEMENTARY | Record | JEFFERSON CITY | JEFFERSON CITY, 65109Suburb: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 477 |
| BLAIR OAKS HIGH | Record | BLAIR OAKS R-II | JEFFERSON CITY, 65101Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 457 |
| CLARENCE LAWSON ELEM. | Record | JEFFERSON CITY | JEFFERSON CITY, 65109Rural: Fringe | KG–5 | Primary | 419 |
| BELAIR ELEM. | Record | JEFFERSON CITY | JEFFERSON CITY, 65109City: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 377 |
| EUGENE ELEM. | Record | COLE CO. R-V | EUGENE, 65032Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 334 |
| MOREAU HEIGHTS ELEM. | Record | JEFFERSON CITY | JEFFERSON CITY, 65101City: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 328 |
| CEDAR HILL ELEM. | Record | JEFFERSON CITY | JEFFERSON CITY, 65109City: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 324 |
| COLE CO. R-I ELEM. | Record | COLE CO. R-I | RUSSELLVILLE, 65074Rural: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 320 |
| SOUTH ELEM. | Record | JEFFERSON CITY | JEFFERSON CITY, 65109City: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 312 |
| WEST ELEM. | Record | JEFFERSON CITY | JEFFERSON CITY, 65109City: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 307 |
| RUSSELLVILLE HIGH | Record | COLE CO. R-I | RUSSELLVILLE, 65074Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 306 |
| EAST ELEM. | Record | JEFFERSON CITY | JEFFERSON CITY, 65101City: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 305 |
| EUGENE HIGH | Record | COLE CO. R-V | EUGENE, 65032Rural: Distant | 7–12 | High | 287 |
| THORPE J. GORDON ELEM. | Record | JEFFERSON CITY | JEFFERSON CITY, 65101City: Small | KG–5 | Primary | 281 |
| BLAIR OAKS MIDDLE SCHOOL | Record | BLAIR OAKS R-II | JEFFERSON CITY, 65101Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 264 |
| BLAIR OAKS INTERMEDIATE | Record | BLAIR OAKS R-II | JEFFERSON CITY, 65101Rural: Fringe | 3–5 | Primary | 255 |
CAPITAL CITY HIGH SCHOOL
JEFFERSON CITY
JEFFERSON CITY, 65109 / Rural: Fringe
JEFFERSON CITY HIGH
JEFFERSON CITY
JEFFERSON CITY, 65101 / City: Small
LEWIS AND CLARK MIDDLE
JEFFERSON CITY
JEFFERSON CITY, 65101 / City: Small
THOMAS JEFFERSON MIDDLE
JEFFERSON CITY
JEFFERSON CITY, 65109 / Rural: Fringe
PIONEER TRAIL ELEMENTARY
JEFFERSON CITY
JEFFERSON CITY, 65109 / Suburb: Small
CLARENCE LAWSON ELEM.
JEFFERSON CITY
JEFFERSON CITY, 65109 / Rural: Fringe
THORPE J. GORDON ELEM.
JEFFERSON CITY
JEFFERSON CITY, 65101 / City: Small
BLAIR OAKS MIDDLE SCHOOL
BLAIR OAKS R-II
JEFFERSON CITY, 65101 / Rural: Fringe
BLAIR OAKS INTERMEDIATE
BLAIR OAKS R-II
JEFFERSON CITY, 65101 / Rural: Fringe
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,019
State avg $6,334
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Cole 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 Cole County?
What is the graduation rate in Cole County?
How much does Cole County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Cole County, Missouri — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Cole County, Missouri?
Cole County supports a large student population of 10,510 across 28 public schools and five districts. The infrastructure is diverse, featuring 14 elementary schools, nine high schools, and specialized facilities including four alternative and one special education school.
How do schools in Cole County perform academically?
The county reports a graduation rate of 74.8%, which trails the Missouri state average of 91.3%. Per-pupil spending stands at $6,019, below both the state benchmark of $6,334 and the national average of $13,000.
What are the major school districts in Cole County, Missouri?
The Jefferson City school district is the largest by far, serving 8,683 students across 18 schools. No charter schools operate in the county, meaning traditional districts manage 100% of the public school enrollment.
What is the school experience like in Cole County?
Cole County offers a blend of 16 city schools and 11 rural schools, reflecting the geography of the state capital. Capital City High is the largest school with 1,404 students, contributing to a county-wide average school size of 457.
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.